Pet-Friendly Hotels and Apartments in Biarritz

Beaumanoir is an old manor house in the Winter Park district of Biarritz, with a heated swimming pool that gives children a swim when the Atlantic is too rough. Some suites have a separate lounge, a real advantage when a family shares a room and parents want an evening apart. The Atlantic beaches are a short walk away. Pets are welcome. The Baroque decor and calm atmosphere suit families with older children better than those with toddlers.

Built for Empress Eugénie and set above the Grande Plage, the Hôtel du Palais is a landmark of Biarritz, and it also caters well to families. There are two pools, a children's playground on site, and air-conditioned rooms, some with a separate seating area that gives parents a little space. The spa and fitness centre are there for adults, and the restaurant serves contemporary French cuisine. Pets are welcome, and nearly 800 reviews average an outstanding 9.5.

A garden is rare this close to the Biarritz beaches, and the Hotel Saint Julien, a 19th-century family residence, has one. The beaches of the Côte Basque are a few minutes away, and breakfast is served on the terrace. Some en suite rooms look out to the ocean and the Pyrenees. Parking makes arriving with luggage and beach gear easier, pets are welcome, and free Wi-Fi is included. The setting is calm, which suits families after a day at the sea.

Carlina Lodge is a hotel residence right on the Biarritz seafront, and its rooms have terraces with sea views, a lovely spot for children to watch the waves. Breakfast can be served in the room, which keeps mornings relaxed, and restaurants and bars are a short walk away. Free public parking is provided, a real help in Biarritz. Golf is close by for parents who play. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 across 260 reviews.

I would pick Le Garage Biarritz Hôtel for families who want direct beach access. It stands on the beachfront, with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a sun terrace. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, and family rooms are available. A restaurant serves European cuisine, and there is a bar and a fitness room. Yoga classes and walking tours are offered, and the hotel is pet-friendly.

Château du Clair de Lune is a 19th-century manor house set in a large park about 5 km from the centre of Biarritz. Families can choose between rooms in the main house and in the former hunting lodge, where some rooms open onto private terraces overlooking the gardens. The park, planted with roses, magnolias and rhododendrons, leaves room for children to stroll, while the lounge and library suit quieter evenings. The on-site restaurant, Marius, avoids a drive back into town.

Ama Hôtel is a three-star in the centre of Biarritz, 200 metres from the beach and the casino, so a family can walk to the sand in a few minutes. A thalassotherapy centre is close by for parents who want a treatment. Rooms are air-conditioned, with free WiFi, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. There is no on-site parking, but public parking is available nearby. More than 700 reviews give it 8.8, a high score for its category.

Hotel Plaza sits directly opposite La Grande Plage, Biarritz's main beach, so families are on the sand by simply crossing the road. The building has Art Deco character with contemporary comfort inside, and the stay has a city-apartment feel that suits parents who like space and independence. Pets are welcome, which helps families travelling with a dog. Being in the centre, the shops and seafront promenade are on foot. I would book it for a beach-and-town summer break.

Set on a cliff above Biarritz Bay, the Regina Experimental gives families ocean or golf course views from its 72 rooms, and I would book it for a family stay that mixes the sea and some golf. The large restaurant has an ocean-facing terrace, which makes meals with children easy, and parents can take turns at the spa. Pets are welcome too. The mix of neo-Basque and Art Deco styles gives the building real character.

For families in Biarritz, this residence solves the two usual headaches: distance to the sand and the cost of eating out. La Grande Plage is about 400 metres away, close enough for several trips a day with buckets and towels, and the apartments come with kitchenettes for simple meals. Many units have balconies, which gives everyone a little air after the beach. Pets are welcome too. Its 8.6 score across 811 reviews reflects a practical stay.

Résidence Haguna gives families a full kitchen, with a dishwasher, fridge and microwave, plus a separate living area, so meals and quiet time with children are easy to organise. The beach is about 300 metres away and the apartments are in the centre of Biarritz. I would add the optional Comfort Formula, which brings beds made on arrival and mid-stay cleaning. A wellness centre with sauna and hammam is on site, and pets are accepted.

Surf Club Hôtel by Akena is 300 metres from the Grande Plage, Biarritz's main beach, and close to the town centre, so a family can walk to the sand and to the shops. Rooms are air-conditioned, with wooden floors and free WiFi, and private parking is available, which helps in a town where spaces are scarce. Pets are accepted. There is no spa on site, but a spa and thalassotherapy centre is nearby. More than 1,600 reviews give this three-star 8.5.