Hôtel Les Bains de Cabourg ★★★★

Who said you have to go all the way to the south coast for the ultimate French seaside experience? Eager for a spot of bracing coastal revitalisation, we decided to forgo the famous Mediterranean beaches and set our sights slightly closer to home… A ferry crossing to Caen left us just 20 minutes from the highly esteemed, historical resort of Cabourg, and before we knew it we were setting down our bags at the Hotel Les Bains de Cabourg, the luxurious base for our refreshing seaside escape.

With its enormous expanses of soft sand, charming Belle Époque architecture and the soothing sounds of waves breaking against the shore, seagulls wheeling through the air and a brisk sea breeze, this traditional fishing village turned prestigious resort ticks all the right boxes for the perfect coastal retreat. It even boasts the longest promenade in Europe for those leisurely walks along the shore. Stretching along 4km of picturesque coastline, this lovely walkway is named after Marcel Proust, just one of many famous figures to have favoured Cabourg as a holiday destination over the years.

It is just as well that the promenade is so long because you could happily walk for hours, admiring the beautiful Normandy coastline as you bask in the sunshine which combines with a refreshing breeze to make for perfectly mild conditions. Best of all, after spending a couple of hours stretching our legs and allowing the sea air to work its magic on us, we found that the hotel’s spa would gently lull us into a state of utter relaxation in no time at all. Unsurprisingly it takes its inspiration from the sea with its fantastic thalassotherapy facilities which include two heated sea water pools, underwater hydro-massaging jets, geysers, Jacuzzis, waterbeds, hammams, rain showers, heat baths and more. Together with a superb, extensive range of treatments, outstanding fitness centre and loungers overlooking the scenic coastline, we found we could spend hours luxuriating in this soothing space and putting ourselves in a state of pure bliss.

It is not just the spa which uses the sea as its muse - the Poisson d’Argent restaurant offers a mouth-watering menu of exquisitely prepared seafood and local Normandy specialties. Against the backdrop of stunning coastal views, we gladly dived into plate after plate of Chef Arnaut Boinet’s incredible cooking almost every night we spent at Les Bains de Cabourg. From locally sourced scallops to a slow roasted rack of lamb, every single course was nothing short of heavenly! Fish and chips and sticks of rock are all well and good, but every mouthful only confirmed that we had made the right choice in hopping across the channel to experience the French version of the seaside break, and every night we retreated to our room with a satisfied and smug smile on our faces.

This feeling of satisfaction in no way diminished once we made it back to our ‘Exclusive’ room. Its sandy-golden colour scheme, abundance of natural light and the furniture’s driftwood-style finishing recalled the beach in a subtle and understated way, blurring the lines between the hotel and its beautiful surroundings. In fact, thanks to our balcony with a breath-taking sea view, we truly felt that the sea was just tantalisingly out of reach. Meanwhile, thanks to our sumptuously soft bed, luxurious facilities and bathroom including a delightful walk-in shower, every night had us waking up feeling gloriously comfortable and refreshed.

Full of energy after a fantastic sleep and delicious breakfast comprising of fresh pastries, fruits and much more, we spent our mornings getting out and about to discover the fascinating and stunning area in which we found ourselves. There were plenty more walks along the coast and through the countryside, medieval fortresses, churches and cathedrals, charming market towns and historic Second World War sites such as the D-Day landing beaches. We threw ourselves wholeheartedly into discovering as much of Normandy as we possibly could, safe in the knowledge that, no matter how weary we returned to the Hotel Les Bains de Cabourg, our relaxing little spot of coastal paradise would have us feeling back to our best in no time at all!