Boutique Hôtel Txoko

A small boutique hotel in the historic centre of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with the main beach just 20 metres away. Boutique Hôtel Txoko suits you if you want the coast, restaurants and evening strolls close at hand rather than a resort sealed off from the town.

The atmosphere is urban and seaside at once: you step outside into pedestrian streets, the lively lanes around Place Louis XIV and the working harbour nearby. The hotel team speaks English, French and Spanish, so you can sort out the practicalities without resorting to underwater hand signals.

Air conditioning, free WiFi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage keep the useful things simple. Pets are welcome too.

You are in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, at 20 Rue de la République, in the town centre and on the seafront. Grande Beach is about 50 metres away on foot, with sand, sun loungers and parasols. Plage du Port is roughly 0.7 miles away, while Plage Nord de la Digue aux Chevaux is around 0.5 miles away.

Place Louis XIV sits right beside the hotel, and the fishing harbour is about 150 metres away. That gives you a choice of beach, harbour and town streets without needing to plan a military operation around every outing.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz railway station is about 0.3 miles away, around a five-minute walk. Biarritz Airport is 9 miles away by road, and San Sebastián Airport is about 11 miles away by road. Sainte-Barbe hill is around 1 mile away on foot for a change of scenery above the waterfront.

The room choice is mainly about how much breathing space and outdoor access you want. The standard and comfort doubles keep things compact for two, while the terrace rooms give you somewhere outside to sit with a coffee before heading down to the beach. The Double or Twin Room with Terrace is the room to look at if an extra-large bed and the most generous layout matter to you.

Every room has air conditioning, heating, a fan, soundproofing, a minibar and a private bathroom with a shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. That combination covers the unglamorous but important part of a diving day: a cool room, a cold drink and somewhere to sit down without listening to the whole street come home.

A coffee machine and electric kettle are available, along with a desk, clothes rack and extra-long beds. A flat-screen television with cable and satellite channels is there for the evening, although the pedestrian streets outside may prove more persuasive. Breakfast can be brought to your room, and daily housekeeping keeps the return from the beach pleasantly uneventful.

Breakfast is continental and can be served in the comfort of your room. It is a sensible arrangement when an early start matters more than a leisurely queue, particularly if you would rather have coffee delivered than negotiate the morning before getting wet.

For lunch and dinner, the hotel places you in the middle of Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s restaurant district. Le Kaïku serves inventive local cooking and holds a Michelin star; Zoko Moko follows the seasons with Basque produce; and Le Petit Grill Basque sticks to local traditions.

Erroa brings together a gastronomic restaurant and a tapas bar, while Les Pigeons Blancs works local products in the regional style. The surrounding streets also offer bars for a drink after dinner. This is a hotel for eating out, not for spending the whole evening studying a room-service menu.

The beach is the obvious starting point: direct access to the sand, with sun loungers and parasols for the serious business of doing very little. When you have had enough sun, the pedestrian streets and Place Louis XIV are immediately around you, and the harbour is close enough for an unhurried walk.

The hotel’s wider activity programme includes yoga, fishing, boat trips, golf, cycling and hiking. Excursions can take you towards an island, a waterfall, a market or a snorkelling outing, giving you options for a day when the sea is on the agenda but scuba diving is not.

Sainte-Barbe hill is about 1 mile away on foot, and Bois de Fagosse is roughly 1.9 miles away by road. The setting works particularly well for a couple who want a town-based break: one person can wander, the other can sit with a coffee, and neither needs to organise transport for every small pleasure.

The reception is on the first floor and is reached by stairs only. An adjoining lift serves the upper floors, and the hotel also has accessible accommodation arrangements. This is worth factoring in if stairs are awkward with luggage or after a long travel day.

Check-in runs from 15:00, with arrivals accepted until midnight. The hotel needs your expected arrival time in advance, so send it before travelling rather than relying on a late-night explanation at the door. Check-out runs from 07:30 to 11:00.

A 24-hour front desk, private check-in and check-out, luggage storage and wake-up service cover the practical edges of a short stay. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, as is ironing. The hotel accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal and bank transfer. An airport shuttle service is available; arrange the details with the hotel before arrival.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots can be requested for younger children, while extra beds are not available. Guests under 18 must check in with a parent or official guardian, and pets are allowed.