BASQUE COUNTRY - France 2014 - page 739

betta, tel. [phone], www.hotel-les-almadies.com , [e-mail] ,
Monsieur and Madame Hargous will charm you with their Franglish).
$$$ Hôtel Colbert***, a Best Western, has 34 modern, tastefully appointed rooms
across the street from the train station (Sb-€80-133, Db-€96-162, extra bed-€15, family
room-€241-339, breakfast-€14, air-con, elevator, free Wi-Fi, private parking-€20, 3
Boulevard du Commandant Passicot, tel. [phone],
www.hotelcolbertsaintjeandeluz.com , [e-mail] ).
$$ Hôtel Ohartzia** (“Souvenir”), one block off the beach, is comfortable, clean,
and peaceful, with the most charming facade I've seen. It comes with 17 simple but well-
cared-forrooms,generousandhomeypublicspaces,andadelightfulgarden.Recentlyren-
ovated, four rooms are 21st-century modern, and two have small, interior terraces. Higher
prices are for the four rooms with tubs (mid-July-Sept Db-€85-91, March-mid-July Db-
€75-79, Oct-Feb Db-€69-74, extra bed-€15, breakfast-€8, free Wi-Fi, 28 Rue Garat, tel.
05 59 26 00 06, www.hotel-ohartzia.com , [e-mail] ) . Their front desk is
technicallyopenonly8:00-21:00,butownersMadameandMonsieurAudibert(whospeak
little English) live in the building; their son Benoît speaks English well.
$$ Hôtel Le Petit Trianon**, on a major street a couple of blocks above the Old
Town's charm, is simple and traditional, with 25 tidy rooms and an accommodating staff
(July-Sept Db-€88, Tb-€115, Qb-€150; April-June and Oct-mid-Nov Db-€73, Tb-€95,
Qb-€120; even less off-season, air-con in most rooms, breakfast-€8, free Wi-Fi, limited
parking-€10, 56 Boulevard Victor Hugo, tel. [phone], www.hotel-lepetittrian-
on.com , [e-mail] ).Togetaroomoverthequietercourtyard,askfor côté
cour (koh-tay koor).
Eating in St-Jean-de-Luz
St-Jean-de-Luz restaurants are known for offering good-value, high-quality cuisine. You
canfindawidevarietyofeateriesintheoldcenter.Forforgettablefoodwithunforgettable
views,choosefromseveral places overlooking thebeach. Mostplaces servefrom12:15to
14:00, and from 19:15 on.
Thetraffic-freeRuedelaRépublique,whichrunsfromPlaceLouisXIVtotheocean
promenade,islinedwithhardworkingrestaurants(twoofwhicharerecommendedbelow).
Places are empty at 19:30, but packed at 20:30. Making a reservation, especially on week-
endsorinsummer,iswise.Considerafunnightofbar-hoppingfordinnerinSanSebastián
instead (an hour away in Spain, described on here ) .
La Ruelle serves good, traditionally Basque cuisine—mostly seafood—in a convivi-
al dining room packed with tables, happy eaters, and kitschy Basque decor. André and his
playful staff obviously enjoy their work, which gives this popular spot a relaxed and fun