Madison Saint Jean de Luz ★★★★

The Madison Hotel has a rich history which dates back to 1911. Over the last century it has welcomed French royalty and aristocrats. It has recently undergone complete refurbishment to fully reflect the beauty that surrounds it. At the Madison, authenticity meets modernity, with all the luxuries you'd expect from a hotel of this calibre.

Your journey in the history-steeped Madison begins as you wake up each morning feeling refreshed after a peaceful night in your bright and cosy room. Each room is decorated in a different style and every small detail has been thought of, with warm colours, regional decoration and the finesse of Maison Jean Vier linen.

Take the time to sip a freshly brewed coffee at the Brasserie before heading down to the beach for an early morning stroll. Spend the rest of your day getting lost in the maze of colourful streets that make up Saint-Jean-de-Luz, scattered with whitewashed buildings and tiny boutique shops. For the more adventurous, the region is brimming with activities, from golf to surfing in the cobalt Atlantic.

Head back to the hotel for afternoon tea in the tearoom, where freshly baked pastries and Basque cakes are prepared, perfectly complemented by a refined selection of hot drinks and some smooth jazz.

The rest of the day can be spent enjoying some blissful hours of rejuvenation in the spa, which offers a range of treatments and rituals as well as a swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. If all this pampering hasn’t sent you to sleep, sample some mouth-watering cuisine at the Brasserie before another cosy night at your home away from home between the Atlantic and the Pyrenees.