PV-Holidays: Self catering and the city: Biarritz

  France, France
Tuesday, January 6, 2009

As canny city break addicts are quickly discovering, the cheapest way to explore Europe's finest cities is to check into a self-catering apartment.

Whether you're escaping for a romantic weekend , or looking forward to a cultural tour , cooking up your own meals means you can easily cut down the cost of your trip.

Swapping an expensive hotel for a self-catering apartment doesn't mean foregoing comfort or central locations. You'll find a vast choice of clean, modern apartments in Paris to Rome, situated in the heart of the action.



And why not pack a glossy cookery book, forage in the markets for delicious local produce and whip up gourmet treats in the comfort and privacy of your own little home from home?



Each week, we're featuring a city break destination with money-saving tips and the best self-catering apartment deals to ensure you get the most out of your hard-earned cash.


Biarritz on a budget
Dreaming of a city break destination with a beach? In a peachy part of France? On a budget? Forget snooty St Tropez and make your way to the infinitely cooler Biarritz for a heady mix of nightlife, beachcombing and, of course, surf culture - French style.




Situated on the Atlantic coast on the Bay of Biscay , this vibrant seaside town combines belle epoque grandeur with boho chic. While the beaches, elegant bars and smart hotels continue to seduce the rich and famous, this youthful town is now the European centre of upmarket surf action where barefoot and tousle- haired boys and girls rub shoulders with models and watersports-mad millionaires.





This surftastic playground is accessible to those on the most modest of budgets. Here's how to get your place in the sun for less...

Getting there
Biarritz is easily accessible from Paris by France's high-speed train, the TGV, which departs from Gare de Montparnasse. And to get yourself in the party mood, there's also a new 'discotheque' night train runs this route.



You can get to Biarritz by rail in under nine hours from the UK if you take the Eurostar train from London via Lille or Paris.
Or fly in with a low cost airline. Both easyJet and Ryanair fly to Biarritz with daily departures in high season. The Aéroport de Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne is located just four kilometers from the city centre.

Beach life
Biarritz boasts some of the best beaches in Europe and has won multiple awards for cleanliness and top ocean front facilities.


Beachcombing is free! Explore the vast swathes of sandy beaches from Grande Plage to the Plage Miramar - the hubs for top people watching and sunbathing action. Picnic in the sheltered coves of little Plage du Port Vieux and watch the sun go down with a cold beer at the Rocher de la Vierge (Virgin's Rock), which is floodlit at night.



The depths of the Bay of Biscay outside Biarritz form a "wave funnel", enabling surfing here all year round. For a ringside view of surf action, head to the Cote de Basques beach, situated in town. It was this beach with its colossal breakers which spawned European surfing culture, and it now plays host to the annual Biarritz Surf Festival in July.



Grand Plage also has powerful waves breaking right in front of the town centre. This is where the Biarritz Surf Trophy is held in October every year.

The beaches of Ilbaritz - Marbella, Bora Bora and Edouard VII - are located south of the town centre, and Anglet, to the north of Biarrit, is where you'll find the beaches of Les Sables d'Or, L'Ocean, La Madrague, Marinella and Les Corsaires. Good peaks break at all points between the jetties that separate these beaches.

If you fancy learning to surf and can't persuade a salty local to show you the ropes, the École du Surf (102 rue Pierre de Chevigné, 05 59 23 15 31, Surftraining.com offers affordable one-hour lessons in addition to its celebrated week-long courses.

City tour
The town's architecture is a visual feast. As you stroll around you'll discover a blend of gabled Basque houses and art deco villas.


To get your bearings, take a walk from the Côte des Basques and follow the winding trail to Port-Vieux. Then cross the footbridge to the Virgin Rock, named after its statue of the Virgin Mary, and climb up to the Atalaye Plateau for panoramic views across the town and beaches and the old seamen's huts on the Fishermen's Harbour.



Museums
On rainy days, or if you simply crave a break from the sun, there are plenty of cultural havens to explore.
At the sweet smelling Musée du Chocolat (avenue Beau Rivage, 05 59 41 54 64) you'll not only learn about the history of Basque cocoa production but get to sample a generous selection of the fruits of the bean.



If you've got little ones in tow, come and meet the sealife at The Musée de la Mer (esplanade du Rocher de la Vierge, 05 59 22 33 34, www.museedelamer.com). Time your visit for either 10.30 am or 5pm and you can watch the keepers feed the hungry resident turtles and seals.



Discover the city's illustrious past at the Musée Historique de Biarritz (rue Broquedis). Housed in the former Anglican church, this little museum features a memorial to the fallen officers at the French Napoleonic wars.

Markets
Rub shoulders with the locals and fill you baskets with Basque delights at the bustling covered market, Les Halles. The market is open every morning and local ham, chorizo, breads and luscious fruits and vegetables are among the rich pickings.


Also buy a bottle or two of chilled wine or cider. Shop well in the market for fresh produce and the supermarkets for staples and you can create delicious breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners at a fraction of the cost of dining out.

Eating Out
When you don't feel like cooking and want a treat, tapas bars and cafes are the cheapest options but that doesn't mean you'll miss out. Sample Basque specialities such as piperade (ham and peppers), chipirons (baby squid), spicy meatballs and potatoes washed down with cider.

For a big treat, the fish restaurant Le Corsaire (00 33 5 59 24 63 72), situated at the Port des Pêcheurs ,is a local institution and guaranteed to impress.

Nightlife
Kick off the evening at the Café de la Grande Plage situated on the beach-level floor of the Casino, and you'll get one of the best sunset views included in the price of the cocktails. The Old Port offers a wealth of buzzing watering holes and affordable tapas bars. The surfing fraternity convenes in the bars on rue Mazagran.

Local treats
Saunter around like a local in a pair of espadrilles - one of the traditional crafts that will actually come in handy for just a few Euros.


You may or may not be excited to learn the Basque town is also famed for its high quality table linen but everyone loves the chocolate. The region produces some especially delicious chocolate and there are plenty of chocolate shops crammed into the town. Patxaran (a liqueur made from aniseed, wild prunes and vanilla) is also a local must-try.

Accommodation
Pierre & Vacances has a selection of affordable self-catering apartments close to the top beaches, including PV-Holidays Haguna Residence (17 avenue de la Reine Victoria), which offers a choice of self-catering studios and one-bedroom apartments.





All apartments offer a great base for visitors looking to soak up the city's charms on a budget. Each apartment has its own fully-equipped kitchen, and comfortable living accommodation within easy reach of the beaches, cultural attractions and nightlife.

Hot offer
Apartments costs from just 290 Euro per week and short breaks (minimum two nights) are also available. For latest deals, visit www.pv-holidays.com