Pays Basque : holiday destinations
From Biarritz to Saint-Jean-de-Luz via Hossegor or Seignosse, the Basque coast and Les Landes are drawing a growing number of holidaymakers fond of the life-style and idyllic scenery offered by this part of France. While apartments are very popular, houses with swimming pools are the most sought-after properties among the region’s French and foreign clientele. Focus on a market experiencing a real boom…
Between ocean and mountains, countryside and forests, the Basque country with its outstanding natural heritage is acting like a magnet on a growing number of tourists, won over by its many beaches, surfing spots and golf-courses. The success of “Europe’s California” is an on-going phenomenon, as described by Patricia Biondi of Sotheby’s : “The seasonal rental market is lively and doing very well. The Basque coast is drawing more and more tourists, mainly from Paris, but also from the UK, Belgium and Russia. The region is widely appreciated for its life-style giving precedence to authenticity, quietness and security. The period in the highest demand is from July 10th to the end of August, though there are a considerable number of bookings in September. Our clients opt either for an apartment with a terrace and view of the ocean, in a good location, which means near the town centre and the sea, or a lovely house with a pool in Biarritz, Saint Jean-de-Luz or the hinterland. The criteria for seasonal rentals are the same as for acquisitions of second residences : our clients are looking for comfort, light, a modern house with easy living. And even though lots of seasonal transactions are now done on the Internet, our agency has retained a loyal clientele wanting to be sure of reliable follow-up and tailormade service”.
A new factor seems to have appeared among holidaymakers, that of reserving at the last minute, as explained by Cynthia Réaud, in charge of seasonal rentals with the Barnes agency : “For summer rentals, enquiries and transactions usually begin from March onwards. This year, the market has taken slightly longer to get going, and we have had lots of last-minute requests, that’s to say, in June for July or August. For seasonal rentals, 80% of our clientele is French, mainly from Paris. The remaining 20% includes clients from the UK, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and the USA. There is a wide range of prices, from 4,000 to 19,000 € per week, the last figure for our most expensive property, a superb Basque house in Bidart, renovated throughout, with an infinity pool offering a fabulous view of the sea, and a private path leading to the beach. We recently rented a very beautiful property in Ascain for July, comprised of two houses offering very lovely views of the mountains, priced at 13,800 € per week”. At these price levels, a conciergerie service is proposed, ready to meet all requirements : “Our agency transforms itself into a conciergerie. We provide personalized service and meet all the needs of our clientele : home chefs, children’s nannies, private chauffeurs, extra house-cleaning hours...”.
Biarritz tops the list of the most sought-after towns in summer, though other towns defend their positions well and attract many holiday-makers. According to Julie Sollinger, in charge of seasonal rentals for the Garcin agency : “Anglet, Chiberta, Bidart, Guéthary and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are in high demand. The clientele is different depending on the town : Biarritz draws lots of trendy young 30 year-olds, while the quieter and more traditional Saint-Jean-de-Luz is more popular among families. Those looking for more privacy opt for the hinterland, while fans of surfing and golf head for the Landes, either Hossegor or Seignosse. Houses are still the most sought-after type of property for seasonal rentals, especially in the case of well-off clients who can afford to spend several weeks on holiday. We recently rented a very beautiful residence of 600 m2 close to the beaches in Biarritz, with 8 bedrooms, from the end of June to mid-August, at 12,500 € per week. Less expensive apartments, from 2,500 to 6,000 € per week - the latter for the most desirable properties with large terraces and clear views of the sea -, are becoming increasingly popular. For this summer, we have rented a very beautiful 3-bedroomed apartment of 110 m2 with a roof-terrace of 250 m2 to Spanish clients, at the very heart of Biarritz and near the beaches, for 4,500 € per week”.
