7 rue de la Gascogne, Biarritz, France | (618) 248-8274
Quiet retreat near Biarritz’s bustling center
Within walking distance of popular beaches and tourist sites
A broad range of room sizes (161- to 377-square feet)
Uncluttered contemporary rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars
One-bedroom suite includes a private patio
Stylish, book-lined common area with a fireplace
Oasis-like communal patio that’s comfortably furnished
Room service, laundry service, and childcare (for a fee)
Reliable free Wi-Fi throughout
Only the suite has tea/coffee-making equipment
No pool or fitness room
No on-site restaurant
Belle Epoque style abounds all over the Biarritz area, so the upper-middle-range Villa Koegui stands out as a contemporary alternative. Situated in a quiet residential neighborhood close to sites and sand, the hotel offers 15 modern, minimalist rooms equipped with flat-screen TVs and minibars. Guests can linger in the comfortable library-lounge or go alfresco on the pretty patio, but other facilities are noticeably missing, such as a pool, restaurant, and fitness center. If you’re looking for a vintage vibe and more recreational features, consider Le Regina Biarritz Hotel & Spa - MGallery Collection, an upscale Belle Epoque beauty overlooking the Bay of Biscay.
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Scene
A contemporary alternative in an otherwise time-warped resort town
Although black-and-white photos in the foyer capture images of “Old Biarritz,” there's nothing antiquated about this chic contemporary hotel. Inside, the neutral-toned common areas are sleek yet inviting; outside, the communal patio gives tradition a twist by including a funky little fountain and statues that are ironic rather than ornate. As a result, the place appeals to aesthetes who want to visit Biarritz without overdosing on the Belle Epoque. Couples also come, drawn by specialty add-ons like chilled Champagne and rose petals on the bed. Villa Koegui caters to families, too, by offering kid-centric equipment (think cribs, cots, high chairs, and bottle warmers) in upper-category rooms; childcare from a certified nanny can be arranged as well.
Location
A calm enclave near the center of Biarritz, just minutes from the beach
Villa Koegui sits on a quiet residential street close to this seaside resort’s lively center. Because Biarritz as a whole is so compact, sightseeing guests can easily take in all of the top attractions on foot: even the outlying Phare de Biarritz lighthouse is less than a half-hour walk away. Those who prefer to bask on famous Basque beaches can stroll to the Grand Plage in two minutes or the Plage du Miramar in 15. Using the hotel as a base, drivers can also make day trips to popular French Basque destinations like Bayonne and St-Jean-de-Luz (a 16- and 26-minute drive respectively) or cross the border to San Sebastián, Spain (a 50-minute trip).- Two-minute walk to Gare du Midi
Rooms
Minimalist rooms for visitors wanting a break from the Belle Epoque
The sparsely furnished rooms at this intimate hotel are comfortable and cool in a streamlined way. From the walls to the quality bed linens, white dominates decor-wise with a few hits of color adding visual interest. Choices range from stylish little Classics (some with skylights) that are tucked under the eaves at the top of the building to a ground-floor suite with a separate bedroom, a pullout couch in the living room, and a large private patio. Only the suite contains tea/coffee-making equipment, but air-conditioning, safes, minibars, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi are standard issue in every category; ditto for the up-to-date tiled bathrooms, which have tubs or rainfall showers (the suite has both) plus welcome extras like magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, heated towel racks and individual toiletries.
Features
Expect a lovely lounge and patio -- but no pool, fitness center, or restaurant
Despite this hotel’s pearl status, the features here are few. For instance, there’s no pool or fitness center (luckily beaches, golf courses, and hiking trails are all easily accessible). Nor is there a restaurant, though a breakfast spread complete with house-made pastries is offered daily at extra charge. This can be enjoyed in either the comfy library-lounge or the leafy oasis-like courtyard, which are Villa Koegui’s greatest assets. The former has an inviting fireplace plus a collection of books (many from the owner’s own bookstore in Bayonne), while the latter is furnished with loungers and accented by a stylish fountain. Other on-site features include a welcoming multilingual staff, concierge service, dry cleaning/laundry service, room service, add-on childcare, free newspapers in the common area, and free Wi-Fi throughout.
