I am delighted to propose a two-centre holiday with Biarritz in south-west France and then across the border in San Sebastian in Spain.
Biarritz is an historic and ever-elegant beach resort with a great choice of eateries, hotels and golf courses. I am recommending a resort centre hotel and playing the 140 year old links of Biarritz Le Phare and the Robert von Hagge-designed Seignosse.
Hotel Jules Verne is a modern and practical four-star with outdoor pool, car park, bar and is an easy walk from the resort centre. The price is based on the 26m2 Junior Suite as the lesser rooms are too small.
Biarritz Le Phare is flat but deceptionally subtle and regular hosts one of the most prestigious French amateur tournaments. It’s old-fashioned links in a super spot. Seignosse is the perfect contrast and is modern, hilly and boasts hazards galore – it’s a great course and was listed among the World Top 100 for several years.
The coast of Northern Spain is called Galicia and it’s famous for its green and rolling countryside as well as its beaches. It’s an historical region and was a separate Kingdom until the early 19th-century, although it still has its own Parliament. It’s now renowned for its cuisine and huge national parks. The two areas are connected by an excellent motorway and there are various direct flight and ferry services to the UK.
San Sebastian is better value as the golf courses near Bilbao (Royal Neguri and Pedrena) are expensive now, plus San Sebastian has a greater variety of night life and accommodation. The best golf courses around San Sebastian are Real San Sebastian and Chantaco – the former was designed by a late but great French friend of mine (Pierre Hirogoyen) and is a pleasant and hilly parkland with lovely views and home to Jose Maria Olazabal; it is about 20 minutes west of San Sebastian. Chantaco Golf Club is a further 15 minutes drive west (just over the French border) and is owned by the Lacoste family. The last time I played Chantaco, it was looking a little tired but I know it’s been updated and is again rated among France’s Top 100 – it’s a forest course, originally laid out by Harry Colt and the old-style clubhouse is a memorable place for lunch.
For accommodation, the Barcelo Costa Vasca is in a great location for one of the livelier and most historical parts of the city. The four-star hotel has 2023 bedrooms and was renovated in 2020. It’s just a short stroll from the La Concha beach promenade which links various parts of the city via the bay. The hotel has a contemporary design and has a restaurant, terraces, outdoor pool and lobby bar. The bedrooms are quite small at 22m2 but are fine for a short stay.
Pictured below is the exterior of the Barcelo Costa Vasca, its Superior bedroom and lobby. The city of San Sebastian is pictured above and the golf courses of Real San Sebastian and Chantaco are pictured below.
