037 - Domaine des Oiseaux  Andernos-les-Bains 1km

In our opinion

What makes Domaine des Oiseaux a great holiday rental
The attention to detail and passion for the region is very evident at 'les Cabanes', and the local owners have designed 3 excellent 'cabanes'. These can be rented individually (see la Cabane Oiseaux) or together for larger groups.

We love the way they reflect the region's sea-faring charm & culture and blend this with the modern architecture and coveniences that clients want from their holiday accommodation.

Also, on this side of the Bay, holiday rentals are cheaper and the immeidate area is less busy (compared to Arcachon and Cap Ferret).

Best for:
With 3 chalets available, the venue works really well for larger groups and extended families during school holidays or groups of friends in the spring or autumn. Andernos is very much an 'all-year-round' town and you can enjoy vineyards, surfing, and great restaurants without the crowds.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - safe grounds, infant equipment & babysitting available
• Teenagers - a good area for teens with lots of activities including great surfing
• Reduced Mobility - no ground floor bedroom so not well-suited

Anything to watch out for?

• Please note that the owners live adjacent to the chalets - but we do see this is a selling point: they care about your holiday and are on hand to offer holiday services to maximise your relaxation.
• The chalet staircases are open-tread - just needs a little care with young ones/elderly.

Why Bassin d'Arcachon?
The Bay of Arcachon is known for its invigorating micro-climate - the blend of pine forest and ocean air - and lovely natural light. Examples of stunning architecure abound, from the elegant villas on the eastern side to fisherman's cabane-inspired chalets on the west. It is an area of unspoilt natural beauty too (the coastline is protected), especially at high tide when the clear still waters of the Bay stretch for miles. All year round it is a superb destination for sailing, surfing, fishing, cycling, horse-riding, bird-watching. Foodies will enjoy oyster- & wine-tasting too. Or just relax, unwind & enjoy. Andernos is less crowded than other part of the bay and offers excellent restaurants, good shops and a lovely shoreline.

Accommodation

Attractive new wooden chalets very nicely furnished & equipped

Les Cabanes aux Oiseaux is a new development of 3 high quality chalets. The emphasis is on providing quality accommodation in an authentic yet modern style, and providing servies to help make your stay as relaxing as possible.

The build standard and the fixtures and fittings are refreshingly modern and high quality. Each chalet has the same layout (80m2 floorspace in total) and the same equipment.

Pictures depicting the stunning local coastline can be found throughout each chalet - in fact, it is evident that the owners have carefully selected all of the furnishings. Items such as the nautical clock and driftwood lamps really give you a feel for where you are staying.

The accommodation at each cabane comprises:

Inside - Ground Floor
The main entrance is into the open-plan living area, naturally lit by the large wooden frame windows and patio doors which lead to the garden and terrace. The wooden walls are painted white to emphasise the 'bright' feeling. The flooring is an attractive, modern slate-style tile.

The living area is divided by the open-plan staircase (see photo) leading to the bedrooms and bathroom. On one side is the lounge with large corner sofa (brown leather), modern wooden coffee table and a teak low level cabinet housing the flatscreen TV, stereo and DVD player.

To the other side can be found the kitchen, attractive and modern with red units, dark grey worktops and silver appliances. The room is very well-equipped with brand new appliances. The dining table is a good size, seating 6 comfortably.

Lastly, on the ground floor there is a handy WC.

Inside - First Floor
From the staircase you walk into an L-shaped landing and the 3 bedrooms and bathroom can be found on this level. The flooring throughout the upstairs level is a rustic-style grey laminate. Walls are painted white or grey and each bedroom door is a vivid red.

The bedrooms all have brand new good quality mattresses and pillows.

• Master bedroom - 4-poster double bed 160cm; teak bedside cabinets; 'open' wardrobe for hanging space plus shelf space too.
• Double bedroom - standard 140cm double bed (teak); wardrobe and bedside cabinets
• Kids' bedroom - attractive dark wood bunk beds and colourful duvets; 'open' wardrobe

The bathroom is of a good size and also houses the washing machine. There is a shower built under the sloping roof (one of the chalets has a corner shower cubicle instead) plus a sink. The fixtures are red/silver and once again have an attractive, modern feel.

Outside
Each chalet has a private terrace with superb gas BBQ plus garden table and chairs (again, all very good quality) and sun-loungers.

The gardens are extremely peaceful and provide a good, safe play area for kids. The gardens are fairly 'rustic' - it's difficult to grow grass in sandy soil so don't expect a manicured English lawn! The owners continue to plant and add pots around the gardens.

Ample parking at each chalet.

The table tennis table is shared by the 3 chalets.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (44.75278692829675, -1.101620793342590)

We endeavour to be as accurate as possible using Google maps but some error is possible.

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Surfing · Kitesurfing · Windsurfing · Sailing · Water-skiing · Jet-skiing · Kayaking · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Wine-tasting · Degustation ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Kayaking down the River Leyre (Aquitaine's 'little Amazon') - high tide is best, drift with the current into the Bay as the tide recedes
• A 'Swallows & Amazons' day sailing around the Bay to the Ile des Oiseaux, natural sand banks, Dune de Pyla, Arcachon & Cap Ferret - magical
• A walking or cycling tour of the Bay's distinctive oyster farming villages
• Visit the Le Teich birdwatching nature reserve
• Boat trip to Arcachon for traditional seaside fun
• Boat trip to glamourous Cap Ferret for fine dining and chic shopping

Our Personal Highlights

• Paddling barefoot to catch clams & shrimps at low tide
• Join an oyster-farmer to visit his beds in the bassin, returning for dégustation at his cabane
• Sail down to the Arguin sand-bank for a unique picnic mid-ocean
• Lazy beach days at Grand Cohot - take the cycle path all the way
• Scaling the summit of the Dune du Pilat - and parascending back down!

The Local Area: Andernos-les-Bains 1km

Unlike the fashionable resorts of Cap Ferret and Arcachon, Andernos is very much an authentic all-year-round town and resort. Life here seems to focus around the sea-front pier/square (which has many restaurants/bars plus evening entertainment in the summer) and the covered market place (daily markets throughout the year).

Other Andernos highlights:

• a nice beach and you can bathe at high tide (low tide is the time to hunt for shrimps!)
• nearby Saint Brice lake offers a safe, sandy beach for the kids
• Swimmers can also head to the excellent municipal swimming pool
  sea-front oyster cabanes - it's all very charmingly French
• fascinating fish market
• equestrian centre open to visitors
• skate parc for the teens
• tennis courts open to visitors
• aerdorome for awesome scenic flights over the stunning Arcachon Bay
• and for the odd evening's entertainment you can burn a few Euros at the casino.

Below is just a taster of local activities. The owners of the cabanes are present nearby and will help you plan days out and excursions of all kinds.

The eastern shore of the Bay of Arcachon is an area of genuine natural beauty: grand villas peeping through the pine & tamaris trees which line the shore, oyster-farming villages, the occasional marina. The atmosphere is calm & refined.

The characterful local villages (e.g. Taussat & Lanton) are easily explored on foot or by bike. There is plenty to explore further afield as well - why not sail or take a water taxi to:

Arcachon, known for the Winter Town's distinctive architecture, & enjoyable town walk up to the Belvedere which offers superb views over the town and beyond Cap Ferret, a chic, laid-back seaside town, popular with French VIPs and celebrities, and great fun to explore on bikes (which can be hired by the jetty). Head for l'Horizon Atlantic beach for an energising plunge in the rolling surf. Piraillan & Le Canon, two charming oyster-farming villages on the western side of the bay, known for their narrow lanes of brightly-painted cabanes

Parc Ornithologique du Teich, an area of protected wetland for migrating birds on the south side of the Bay.

Dune de Pilat, at 120m it is Europe's highest sand dune, located 5 kms south of Arcachon

The Bay is also a natural playground offering an extraordinary choice of activities, mostly on the water of course. The owner of Les Cabanes can help you plan these activities.

• Sailing: several local clubs with boats availble for hire
• Fishing: try shrimping around the Bay's sandbars and muddy water at low tide, or in the fast, shallow waters of the Leyre river
• Wakeboarding, jet-skiing, surfing: adrenaline sports are well catered for, several schools operate locally
• Golf: there are several courses within an hour's drive, including the highly rated Golf du Médoc, and PGA Championship course at Gujan-Mestras
• Biking & hiking: ideal for exploring the 84 km Arcachon Bay Tour route which runs from Cap Ferret to the Dune du Pilat. The stretches through the pine forest are unforgettable. Hikers will enjoy exploring sections of the route on foot too, taking in each of the Bay's 20 or so oyster ports as well as the many natural sites

For city culture Bordeaux is unmissable - a thorough make-over has brought out the character of its striking 18th century buildings, added 21st century touches (including gleaming tram system), all combining to make Bordeaux a modern European gem (and UNESCO world heritage site). Strolling around the cafés, bistrots & boutiques of the Quartier St Pierre is a delight.

Customer Reviews

“Very pleasant and comfortable, would recommend it to anyone looking for a week at the seaside. It was like Cornwall, but with beautiful weather and no tourists! We found the village of Herbe on the last afternoon, which is very picturesque, with oyster shacks painted different colours, and jasmine and passion flowers and real people playing boules, etc. We had a wonderful couple of hours eating fresh oysters and drinking chilled Bordeaux wine, perfection....”

Mrs M Ledra, stayed in 2011