162 - Maison Tamarin  St Jean de Luz

In our opinion

What makes Maison Tamarin a great holiday rental

An exceptional villa in a stunning position with panoramic views of the ocean and the Pyrenees. Tamarin provides a warm and friendly atmosphere and its combination of attractions make it a unique villa, especially appealing to discerning travellers:

• spacious and well-appointed accommodation
• secluded and private grounds
• beaches in close proximity
• on the outskirts of an outstanding resort (St Jean de Luz)
• staff on hand for catering, housekeeping and concierge 

Best for:
Families who want some luxury and support on their holidays so that they can relax. The villa has also worked well for groups and couples wishing to sample the Pays Basque's golf, surf, or cultural attractions.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - safe, enclosed grounds away from traffic. Childcare possible
• Teenagers - great for surfing and activities
• Reduced mobility - ground floor accommodation available

Anything to watch out for?
No

Why St Jean de Luz?
One of our favourites. A colourful and proudly Basque fishing port and holiday resort. Great restaurants, shopping and a superb & safe town beach, excellent for the 'little ones'.

Accommodation

An outstanding villa designed for guests seeking a relaxing holiday in private surroundings.

Maison Tamarin is a large, comfortable & tastefully decorated house in spacious, private grounds. Oak ceiling beams and doors, and Spanish terracotta floors provide style & character. Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors allow natural light to pour into the villa.

Each of the 8 bedroom suites is individually decorated and has en-suite facilities plus TV, internet access and phone. Some also have balconies with superb views.

Ground level floor plan
First level floor plan

Inside:

Ground floor:

• Light and airy entrance hall.
• Bright and very spacious living room with French doors to the terraces and views of the ocean and the Pyrenees.This lounge includes wide-screen TV, CD player and DVD player plus a collection of films, CDs, books and games.
• Large dining area with sliding doors all round giving panoramic views of the Pyrenees.
• Kitchen with breakfast bar (within dining room) with fridge, freezer, oven, hob and dishwasher.
• A small 'cooks' kitchen with American fridge, range cooker, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine.
• Three bedrooms with double/twins and en-suite shower room plus direct access to terraces. Two of these bedrooms have views of the Pyrenees
• Separate WC

First floor:
The remaining 5 bedrooms are upstairs:

• 1 master double bedroom with large private balcony, en-suite shower room and mezzanine level which can sleep 2 extra people if required. NB Mezzanine is accessed via polished wood stairs - care needed
• 1 double/twin room with en-suite shower room and large sliding doors to private balcony with superb sea views
• Double/twin room with balcony and very light & airy bathroom
• Double room with en-suite bathroom and door to shared balcony
• Double room with en-suite bathroom behind a screen

All bedrooms have outstanding sea or mountain views (both in the case of the master bedroom!)

Outside:

Entrance to the house is via electronic gates and 100m driveway up to a parking area for 4-5 cars.

Vast lawns surround the property which stand in 7.5 acres of grounds.

The pool is 17 x 6m, salt-water, protected by a cover. There are stunning views of the ocean and or Pyrenees on all sides. Facing the pool - and the sunset - is a fabulous terrace, perfect for evening meals.

On the western side of the house is a covered terrace with hot-tub.

Services:
Prices include daily maid service. Staff are also available for as much (or as little) additional service as you need: canapes & aperitifs, evening meals, organising golf or spa trips, picnics on the beach, surf lessons, airport transfers, babysitting, or masseuse.

Tailored itineraries and packages can be developed for guests by the staff at Tamarin - here are some example themes:

• Golf
• Surfing
• Well-being (thalassotherapy is very popular in SW France)
• Cultural
• Guided excursions
• Culinary
• Mountains
• Corporate events
• Celebrations & special occasions
• Catered rental: the villa can be rented on a fully-catered basis.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (43.41166868, -1.629050374)

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 · Golf · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Spa & thalassotherapy · Pelote Basque · Wine-tasting · Hiking · Mountain biking ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Tour Basque Country villages: Ascain, Ainhoa, Sare, Espelette
• Visit Bayonne, the under-rated ‘capital’ of the Pays Basque
• Cross the border into Spain - San Sebastian, Pamplona & the Guggenheim
• Explore the Pyreneees National Park for its wildlife, walks & scenery
• Taste the glitz & glamour of 'Belle-Epoque' Biarritz

Our Personal Highlights

• An evening stroll of St Jean de Luz's bustling streets, before drinks & supper!
• Sampling the pintxos - Basque tapas - in St Jean de Luz or Ciboure old town
• Catching a game of Basque pelote at one of the village frontons
• A visit to Ainhoa or Sare - both 'picture perfect' Basque Country villages
• 18 holes at gorgeous Golf de Chantaco - then lunch in the clubhouse

The Local Area: St Jean de Luz

St Jean de Luz
Whether its beaches, boutiques, culture, restaurants or festivals you are looking for, this town is hard to beat. Stylish but without the pretence of the Riviera, St Jean is an authentic and colourful seaside town and working fishing port. It has plenty to offer discerning visitors of all ages. In particular, this is a great place to eat out - St Jean de Luz is recognised as the capital of Basque cuisine and is noted for its seafood (it is one of Rick Stein’s favourite places).

To the French, St Jean de Luz is one of the nation’s coastal jewels. Beyond France however, this delightful holiday resort and fishing port is known by surprisingly few people – but it is adored by those that do.

With the more famous resort of Biarritz just a few kms up the coast, St Jean de Luz has lived – contentedly – in the shadows of its more illustrious neighbour. To the Basques of St Jean de Luz, Biarritz is practically a foreign land!

In fact, arriving in St Jean de Luz you might well wonder if you are in France at all. This is where France meets Spain and the mix on this side of the Pyrénées creates a distinctly different ambience. This is French Basque Country.

The relative secrecy of this far south western corner of France has served St Jean de Luz well. Whilst it is an ever-popular French holiday destination, the town is also a working port and bustling shopping centre and consequently it is alive and vibrant all year round.

St Jean de Luz suits the discerning traveller: whilst the sandy beaches are excellent for families, this is not a “bucket and spade” resort - the Basques and the fishermen would never allow this! It’s for those who want to experience active and varied days and relax in the evening and enjoy a meal in one of the many brasseries and bistrots which line the town’s enchanting back streets.

The location is enviable, set in a horse-shoe bay with a beautiful sandy beach and a backdrop of the western Pyrénées, peaked by La Rhune, the mythical Basque mountain. This combination of ocean and mountain landscapes is a unique draw and also helps to keep St Jean de Luz surprisingly mild in winter.

More than that, the landscape and vibrant Basque architecture produce a combination of light and colour that gives St Jean de Luz a special, intangible, quality that is matched in only a few other places in France. Little wonder it’s one of our favourite resorts.

The local beaches - Erromardie, Lafitenia, Mayarkoenia and Senix are all better know as surfing beaches. Erromardie is the best of these for families, but for young ones, le Grande Plage in St Jean de Luz is the one to head for.

Several golf courses, fishing, sailing, tennis, several spas and horse-riding are also available nearby.

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