July in Biarritz

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Before dinner, enjoy drinks at the bar and then proceed to a table on the terrace, where you can see and smell the ocean and hear it crashing close by. At this restaurant, I enjoyed the cote de boeuf, which perfectly serves two. One person in my party found their dish unsatisfactory and received not only a suitable replacement but also a free glass of champagne personally delivered by the restaurant's owner.

The excellent service was also demonstrated in the wait staff's response to a brief spurt of rain. Instead of being forced to move inside, the wait staff moved quickly to put up umbrellas at each table at the first sign of rain. Around 11, the music at neighboring Blue Cargo is turned up, indicating that it's time for dessert and the check. After dessert, head next door to Blue Cargo and their outstanding bar.

The beautiful, wide sandy beaches of Anglet stretch from the Chambre d'Amour with its many restaurants and cafes to the more sedate Chiberta area. The many beaches in Anglet are separated by rock breakers and range from crowded to relatively secluded. Come here to enjoy the beautiful and relatively warm azure waters with laid-back families and couples. While there are some very talented surfers on these beaches (mostly from the youth hostel near the beach), there are also surfing lessons available for beginners. The surf can be a bit rough at times, but is generally ideal for swimming.

Boating and boat rentals are also available in Anglet. For those less inclined to physical activity, the sun gets very hot and powerful in the summer months and the conditions are usually perfect for getting that French golden glow. Parking and beach entry are always free, but parking can be a nightmare in the summer months as there simply is not enough of it. Be prepared to not be able to park in the beach lots and to have to walk a bit if you don't get there early enough (and consider that early in France has a completely different meaning than in the States).

The time that I spent in Biarritz this past summer was truly amazing. It was my first time in this beautiful area and living in this city and the experiencing all of the surrounding attractions was an experience that I will never forget. When here I was able to see the Tour de France and the World Cup (which, of course, ended tragically). However, what sticks out most in my memory was the tremendous beauty of my surroundings and the warmth of the people living in and visiting them. Biarritz is such a unique town in that it is able to meld the Basque, surf, and jet-set cultures into one compact city. There was a very laid-back feel to the town and at the same time I never felt bored or like I had nothing to do.

Often travel guides will give you advice for the "perfect day" in a city, but for Biarritz there are many options for such a day. One could wake up late, eat lunch, and spend a day on a beach in Anglet brushing up on surfing skills, followed by a shower, a late dinner, and a night dancing in the clubs. Or one could rent a boat and go sailing in the afternoon and travel to the "paysage" in the evening for dinner and unlimited drinks at a cidrerie. Another option is to go for a hike in the foothills of the Pyrenees followed by a dinner of tapas in San Sebastian. The list could go on and on and the opportunities for adventure and new experiences in Biarritz and the surrounding Basque country is endless. The French Basques and the tourists in Biarritz coexist superbly. We could all learn something from their relaxed "savoir vivre." The Basques are extremely, and rightfully, proud of this beautiful city and their beautiful corner of the world. Forget what you've heard about Basque terrorists - the people in Biarritz and the surrounding region are warm, friendly, and eager to share with you their culture and their cuisine. I encourage you to come to Biarritz and experience all that it has to offer in terms of culture, warmth, cuisine, and adventure.