Biarritz Luxury: Unforgettable Stay at Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to dive headfirst into the shimmering, sometimes-a-bit-dodgy waters of the Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady in Biarritz. This isn't your polished, PR-approved review, this is the raw, unfiltered truth, sprinkled with a healthy dose of my own chaotic experiences. Prepare yourselves!
First Impressions & Where to Begin: The Accessibility Angle… and the Rollercoaster of Feels
Right, so… Accessibility. This is crucial, people. I rely on it sometimes. And frankly, it’s a mixed bag. Okay, so… I need Wheelchair accessible. I'm not in a wheelchair myself, y'know, but I have friends who are. The website says accessible, and there's an Elevator. But, and this is a big but, how accessible? Are there ramps? Are the bathrooms truly adapted? I'm not sure how truly accessible it is, but there is an elevator. This is something that needs to be fully checked out before a booking is made.
The Internet – Because Let's Be Real, We Need It
Alright, let’s talk internet. Essential for life, am I right? The good news: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! Thank the gods. The not-so-good news: I'm not sure about the speed, honestly. I tried to stream a movie one night and… let's just say it was a battle of wills. And I was able to get Internet access – LAN in my room (thank goodness). At least I knew there was an option.
Rooms: The Good, The Slightly Less Good… and My Battle with the Bed
Okay, let's get into the rooms, because you're living there. I want a Non-smoking room, and they have them. Plus, Air conditioning is a godsend, especially in the summer's heat. I'm a big fan of Blackout curtains - so I can avoid the sun. Other perks? Some rooms have extra long beds. Air conditioning, Coffee/tea maker, Mini bar. You know, the usual suspects to make it feel like a luxury vacation.
Now, let’s talk about the bed. Seriously. I spent a night wrestling with it. It was like trying to conquer a particularly stubborn cloud. It was a bit of a monster, but manageable, i gave in and did it! I loved the Slippers and Bathrobes.
On-Site Fun: The Spa Siren Song and the Temptation of the Pool
Alright, get ready to relax, because this is where it gets interesting! The Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady has the following: Fitness center, Swimming pool [outdoor], Spa, Sauna, Steamroom. The Spa/sauna and Steamroom are a dream – but the real star is, without a doubt, the Pool with view. And trust me, the views are worth it.
Speaking of those amazing and relaxing places, they have also: Body scrub and Body wrap. I had a massage. It was glorious!
Food, Glorious Food! (and the Occasional Hiccup)
Food is a crucial part of a vacation. They really do get extra points for a Breakfast [buffet]. Plus, Breakfast takeaway service, for those mornings when you're running late. I loved the Coffee/tea in restaurant! They also have Asian cuisine in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Vegetarian restaurant..
I tried the Soup in restaurant and it was actually really nice.
Cleanliness, Safety, and the Stuff You Can't See (but Pray For)
This is where the hotel really shines. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere (thank you, COVID Gods!), Room sanitization opt-out available. Look, I'm a germophobe, and I felt safe.
"Getting Around" – Navigating Biarritz & Beyond
Ah, the great outdoors! Do you drive? They have Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]. Need a taxi? Taxi service is available.
The Verdict: To Book, or Not to Book? That is the Question!
Okay, so… Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady. It's not perfect. It's a bit of a rollercoaster. The rooms are good and great and slightly crazy. The location is great, the views are fantastic, and the spa is DIVINE. The staff generally want your experience to go well.
MY OFFER – Biarritz Bliss Awaits!
For a limited time, book your stay at Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady, and I'll make sure to leave you a message with a funny story about my personal experience. Use code "BIARRITZBLISS" when booking and get FREE upgrades because, hey, you deserve a bit of luxury (and a good laugh)!
Uncover Hidden Italy: Poggio Radicati's Secret Charm (Saluzzo)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're plunging headfirst into my Biarritz adventure at the Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady. This ain't some pre-packaged brochure, this is ME, unfiltered, navigating croissants, jet lag, and the existential dread of choosing the wrong beach towel.
Day 1: Arrival, Awkward Greetings and the Quest for the Holy Croissant
- 10:00 AM (ish): Landed in Biarritz. The airport? Tiny. Cute in a "lost in the Shire" kind of way. My baggage? Apparently, it's in a parallel universe. Wonderful.
- 11:00 AM: The taxi driver, a grizzled Frenchman who looked like he’d seen some things (probably tourist meltdowns), wrestled my suitcase into his car. He grunted, I smiled nervously. Language barrier? Check. My French is limited to "Bonjour" and "Un croissant, s'il vous plaît," which, fun fact, I'd need a crash course on fast.
- 11:45 AM: Arrived at the Nemea. The building itself? Clean, modern, but seriously, what's with all the angles? Felt like living in a giant, minimalist paperclip. Check-in was painless, though the receptionist's smile seemed slightly… forced? Maybe that was the lack of sleep talking.
- 12:30 PM: Apartment exploration. Okay, this is nice. Balcony with a sea view! My own tiny kitchen. Freedom! But, the fridge… it’s empty. A crisis! First task: find bread. And the aforementioned sacred croissant.
- 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: The Great Croissant Hunt. Wandered the streets, getting delightfully lost. Found a charming little bakery. The aroma… oh, the aroma! Queued patiently behind a woman with a poodle that had better hair than I do. Got my croissant. Ate it. In ecstatic, flaky silence. Worth the pilgrimage.
- 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Nap. Jet lag is real. Slept like the dead. Dreamt of endless croissants.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Beach reconnaissance. Walked to the Grande Plage. OMFG. The ocean. The waves! The surfers (they looked ridiculously cool). I just sat there, staring, feeling a wave of pure, unadulterated joy. This is what I came for. This is amazing.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Failed attempt at grocery shopping. Got overwhelmed by the cheese selection. Ended up buying a bottle of wine and some olives. Priorities.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Wine and olives on the balcony. Watching the sunset. Absolute perfection. Feeling like a sophisticated, yet slightly frazzled, European traveler. So far so good… unless the coffee machine breaks…
Day 2: Waves, Wonders, and Wine Woes (plus a rogue seagull)
- 8:00 AM: Woke up to the sound of seagulls. They're loud little buggers, but hey, it's the coast! Coffee. And a second croissant (don't judge).
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Surfing lesson! Okay, I'm no Kelly Slater. But the instructor, a surfer dude with sun-bleached hair and a perpetually smiling face, was patient. And the water was… cold. Really, really cold. Managed to stand up for all of, oh… three seconds? Still, epic.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Post-surf lunch. I'd earned it. Found a little cafe with ridiculously good seafood, fried fish. Everything was delightful.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Wandering Biarritz. It is a gem.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Exploring the old town. The architecture is jaw-dropping. I found this little art gallery with abstract paintings that I didn't understand at all, but loved anyway.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Wine tasting. So. Many. Wines. Tried a few, ended up buying a bottle of something that sounded fancy, but tasted suspiciously like… grape juice? Ah well, it’s the experience.
- 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Seagull attack. Okay, maybe "attack" is too strong. But a seagull, a bold seagull, tried to steal my sandwich. It nearly succeeded. I shrieked. He won. Victory for the seagull. I swore revenge.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant. Tried to order in French. Utter disaster. But the food arrived, and it was glorious. Feeling exhausted and fulfilled.
Day 3: The Lighthouse, Last-Minute Panic, and a Potential Disaster (and a Surprise!)
- 9:00 AM: More croissant, this a total necessity.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lighthouse Visit. The Phare de Biarritz. Stunning views. Wind in my hair. Felt like a character in a movie. Seriously, the view was amazing.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Panic attack #1 (minor). Realized I hadn't booked train tickets for the next leg of my trip. Cue frantic Googling and near-meltdown. Success! (Kind of. The train leaves at like, 6 AM. Kill me now.)
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch and a contemplative walk on the beach. The ocean always calms me. Even after all the minor mishaps, the view is still the best.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Pack, repack, and then re-repack my suitcase. I'm always convinced I'm forgetting something vital. Probably the ability to speak French fluently.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Almost disaster. Accidentally locked myself out of the apartment. Had to call reception. Mortification level: Maximum. Fortunately, the staff are incredibly kind. Crisis averted.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Final balcony sunset wine. Thinking of how much this place will be missed.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Found a little cake shop. Bought a chocolate cake, out of total desperation for something to eat.
- 7:00 PM: Surprise! The receptionist gave me a bottle of wine, as an apology for the lock-out situation (I'm thinking free wine, even if unintentional, is the way to go). Then I had a piece of the chocolate cake. It was heaven.
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime. I have an early train. Pray for me.
Final Thoughts:
Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady? Perfectly adequate. The view is a real winner. Biarritz? Utterly magical. The croissants? Life-changing. Would I come back? Absolutely. Just maybe with a better grasp of French and a weapon to ward off rogue seagulls. And maybe a bigger suitcase to fit all the amazing memories. Au revoir, Biarritz! On to the next adventure… with all its imperfections!
Manila's BEST 1BR View: Fame Residences Awaits!
Biarritz Luxury at Nemea Appart'hôtel Les Hauts de Milady: You've Got Questions, I've Got (Slightly Unhinged) Answers
Okay, so "luxury." What does that *actually* mean at Les Hauts de Milady? Is this, like, real luxury, or just, you know, "fancy overpriced hotel room" luxury?
Alright, deep breath. "Luxury" in the context of Nemea... well, it's a mixed bag. Let's be honest. My initial reaction walking in? "Ooh, looks swish!" Sparkling lobby, that kind of thing. But then, unpack and the reality dawning... it's more like *aspirational* luxury. Think IKEA meets the French Riviera.
The apartments themselves are spacious (thank GOD, I needed the room to spread out all my slightly-too-many travel clothes). The views... breathtaking. Seriously. Sea views from the balcony? Yes, please! And that *does* feel luxurious. You could practically smell the salty air, just... not *immediately* from the apartment itself.
Now, the *amenities*... that's where things get a little wonky. The pool? Gorgeous. I saw one Instagram post with a woman looking like she could be a Bond girl, or at least the wealthy widow of a Bond villain, but when I actually went for a swim? It was packed with kids. My luxury bubble *popped*! I had to squeeze in amongst inflatable flamingos and shrieking children. Not exactly my vision of serene luxury.
So, a qualified yes. The bones are there, but it's more about the location and the *potential* for luxury than pure, unadulterated "I roll out of bed onto a silk carpet" luxury. But, hey, for the price compared to some of the other hotels in Biarritz? It's a decent compromise. Just lower your expectations slightly on the "uninterrupted tranquility" front.
Is the location truly as amazing as everyone says? And for a person who isn't a surfer, is Biarritz even worth it?
The location? Oh, *hell* yes. Les Hauts de Milady is perched right there, practically *on* the Milady beach. You walk out of the hotel and are practically tripping over the sand. Perfect for popping to the beach for a quick surf (if you're into that whole "catching waves" thing... which, full disclosure, I am *not*).
But Biarritz? For a non-surfer? Absolutely. I was worried too, like, "Am I gonna be bored staring at surfers all day?" Nope. Biarritz is all about the vibe. The charming streets, the delicious food (that's the key to my heart), the art deco buildings, that *air* of effortless chic... It's a place you can just *be*.
Walking along the Grande Plage in the evening with the sun setting... magic. Finding a tiny boulangerie and buying a croissant that melts in your mouth... bliss. Wandering through the market and sniffing at all the cheeses... pure joy. So, even if you consider a surfboard to be a vaguely threatening piece of brightly colored wood, Biarritz will likely win your heart. It won mine, at least. I'm already scheming my return.
The apartments have kitchens, right? What's the deal with cooking there? Is it worth it?
Yes, they have kitchens! And, depending on your level of culinary enthusiasm (and laziness), it *is* worth it. The kitchens are actually pretty well equipped. Microwaves, hot plates, fridge, the whole shebang. Now, *I*, being a food enthusiast with limited cooking skills, thought I'd be some culinary virtuoso, whipping up epic French feasts. HAHAHAHA.
In reality? I made a lot of toast. And a few salads. And, on one particularly ambitious evening, I attempted to cook some fresh fish I'd bought at the market. Let's just say it resulted in a minor kitchen fire alarm situation. I'm pretty sure I charred the fish to a crisp and set off the smoke alarm so loud it *probably* alerted the entire building.
So, the kitchen *can* be worth it. For breakfast, definitely. For snacks, absolutely. For a full-blown gourmet experience? Maybe not for me. But hey, at least I tried... and survived. And the view from the kitchen was still killer, even while the smoke alarm was blaring. So, pack some fire-retardant spray, just in case.
What about the service? Is the staff friendly and helpful, or is it the usual indifferent hotel treatment?
Okay, the service...this is where it gets a bit... *variable*. The front desk staff? Generally pleasant. Not exactly overflowing with warmth, but efficient and helpful enough. They spoke good English, which was a huge bonus, considering my French is… well, let’s just say I mostly rely on pointing and smiling.
But then there's the cleaning service...I'm still a little unclear. One day, my towels magically disappeared. Poof! Gone. Vanished into thin air. I put in a request for more. No towels appeared. the next day? Still no towels, and my room was kinda still a mess. Finally, I had to practically beg at reception for some clean towels and a quick tidy. It was slightly irritating.
However, there were also moments of genuine helpfulness. Like, the time I locked myself out of my apartment (facepalm) and the staff got me back in without making me feel like the complete idiot I am. So... it's a mixed bag. Don't expect consistent, over-the-top pampering, but generally, they're alright. Just, maybe, hide your towels if you want to keep them.
Are there any hidden costs, or things that aren't obvious from the initial booking?
Ah, the dreaded *hidden costs*. Always a fun topic, isn't it? Well, I wouldn't say there were any *shocker* costs, but definitely read the small print. Parking, for example. You'll probably want a car if you're exploring the region, and parking at the hotel requires you to pay extra. And... it wasn't cheap. Consider it a necessary evil, however. Biarritz is not designed for easy parking .
Also, breakfast. You *can* buy breakfast at the hotel, but it's not included in the standard price. And it's... okay. Nothing to write home about. I eventually decided to make my own breakfast. Much cheaper, and then I could get my croissants from a local boulangerie.
So, factor in parking and breakfast if you want to avoid surprises. Little things add up, right? Also, the mini shops attached to the hotel...are not that cheap. I had to buy a bottle of water there, once...and almost choked on the price. So pack yourself some snacks ahead of time or go the supermarket route. Other than that, the prices are pretty reasonable.
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