Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz Reviews – By Travel Expert (2024)
Hunting for in-depth Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz Reviews? As someone who recently traveled to Biarritz and stayed at a couple of different places within the seaside town, I can confidently say that the Jules Verne Hotel is an excellent choice for those who value affordability and comfort. But, to give you more concrete details of what you can expect, here is my full review of this hotel based on my recent stay!
Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz Review Overview
Biarritz is a picturesque seaside gem tucked along the French coast in Southwestern France. Year-round, it beckons visitors with its promise of a serene escape filled with some of the best surf France has to offer, refined elegance, and a culinary scene worth indulging in.
As an upscale resort town, Biarritz offers visitors an abundance of opulent yet relaxing hotels to choose from. And in this review, I’ll be describing my first-hand experience staying at Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz. I’ll cover everything from checking in, the amenities, and whether it’s worth booking your housing at this 4-star hotel!
To start, the Jules Verne Hotel is located in a peaceful area of Biarritz where there’s not a lot of external noise. That said, the location isn’t so remote that it’s not within comfortable walking distance of all the main attractions. For example, it only takes 12 minutes to walk to La Grand Plage and 22 minutes to walk to Plage Côte des Basques, Biarritz’s main beaches.
And since most attractions are between the hotel and the coastline, this means you can fairly comfortably walk everywhere. But, even if you have limited mobility or need to travel further, the hotel has a free beach shuttle and a bus stop nearby. In fact, I rode the bus from the train station when I initially arrived in Biarritz and had no troubles.
The hotel has a total of 77 rooms, so the hotel isn’t quite a boutique hotel. But, it’s also not a massive hotel chain like Hilton or Hyatt, which made my stay feel more personable! Around the property, you’ll find a medium-sized gym, a nice coworking space, a secure underground park, and a lovely heated outdoor swimming pool. I won’t say the views from the pool are amazing since the surrounding area is residential, but the hotel does a great job of making the space feel tranquil.
Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz Pros
Now that you have a general idea of what the hotel offers, here are the specific aspects of the Jules Verne Hotel that I loved and all the reasons why I would happily recommend this hotel to any friends and family looking for a place to stay in Biarritz.
1. Stylish Hotel and Rooms
First and foremost, I loved the overall ambiance and cohesive look throughout the hotel. As the hotel’s name suggests, everything is centered around Jules Verne, the famous French novelist, and his stories. And while hotels named after dead writers could easily stray to the depressing side, this hotel does a sublime job of avoiding that. There are lots of bright colors, quaint designs, and books. That’s right — From the reception area to the breakfast room, there are books written by Jules Verne available for your reading pleasure.
Speaking of rooms, I found them to be a good size. Since I was solo traveling, I had a double bedroom, which comfortably accommodated 1-2 people. Unlike some hotels in Paris, I thought there was plenty of space to walk around the bed and move around.
The bed itself was also so comfy. That said, I’d just come from staying at the Central Hostel in Bordeaux, so I likely thought any non-twin bed was heaven. 😅
There were also lots of light switches, which I appreciated since I travel with all kinds of devices. And for any fellow remote workers, there’s a small desk that provides enough space for getting work done.
Other room amenities included a small lock safe, ample shelving, a mini flat-screen TV, and an electric coffee pot. Oh, and like the rest of the hotel, the rooms adorably convey the adventurous spirit captured within Jules Verne’s novels! This makes the hotel fun for families with little ones, couples looking for a playful yet relaxing escape, or any other travelers who embrace a whimsical atmosphere.
2. Thoughtful Small Touches
Another aspect of the hotel that I loved was all the little touches. For instance, when I entered my room, I was welcomed with a box of chocolates. Not a single piece of chocolate, but a little box with two chocolates! I honestly feel like welcome gifts aren’t that common anymore, unless you’re paying for the ultra fancy hotels and suites. But even when I stayed at the Fairmont in Monaco, there was no champagne or chocolates to greet me.
In addition to the chocolates, my nightstand had a copy of Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon. Again, it’s a small gesture but matches the theme of the hotel well and provides you the perfect opportunity to acquaint yourself with the hotel’s namesake!
Lastly, I value the hotel providing you with flexible options for housekeeping. I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I just want to be left completely alone in the morning. During those times, it sucks when housekeeping comes knocking on your door at 10 AM. The Jules Verne hotel has little door signs to hang that indicate if you want housekeeping to come by as scheduled or later in the evening. So, for me, it was nice to hang back without feeling like I was a hindrance to the hotel staff.
All these things may seem inconsequential. But, in the grand scheme of things, they’re what I believe make a stay truly memorable. Plus, there’s nothing I’d rather be greeted with other than chocolate after a long day of traveling! 😉
3. Abundance of Amenities
My review of the amenities at the Jules Verne Hotel in Biarritz is that they were fantastic and plentiful! As I mentioned earlier, there’s a seasonal outdoor pool. This is ideal for anyone who isn’t a fan of beach sand but still wants to unwind in the water. Around the pool, you’ll find some loungers, a well-manicured garden, and a nice outdoor shower to rinse off at.
There’s also a moderately sized gym. It doesn’t have a ton of equipment, but it’s well-stocked with the basics. I was pretty stoked to get a workout done before heading out to explore all that Biarritz has to offer.
For food, the hotel has a bar with complimentary coffee and tea available, a snack bar, and a daily breakfast buffet from 6 AM to 10:30 AM. The breakfast consists of local sweet and savory products, some regional Basque specialties, hot drinks, pastries, fresh fruits, and an assortment of breads with jams. So a decent spread in my books!
Adults have to pay €20 and children cost €10 per breakfast, which adds up quickly. But hey, if you eat enough, this can actually be quite a deal. Just know that you have to reserve your spot at breakfast the day before. I know, it sucks, and I hated seeing families who failed to reserve their spots turned away at breakfast. But, I understand that they need to know how much food to prepare to avoid wasting it.
Last, in the amenities department, the hotel provides lots of stuff for rent. For instance, you can rent a bike, beach towels, beach umbrellas, and toys. Heck, they even offer private gym coaching sessions! Needless to say, the hotel provides a solid range of amenities.
4. High Value for Money
Given the prime location, excellent service, and many amenities, I can honestly say I thought the Jules Verne Hotel provided superb value for what I paid. I’ll admit, I was able to capitalize on a deal when I booked this hotel — shout out to the massive sales on Hotels and Expedia. But seriously, even if I didn’t find a travel deal and paid full price, I still would’ve been satisfied.
And for anyone curious, I paid approximately $130 per night for this 4-star hotel. For anyone who does their fair share of traveling, y’all know that staying at a 4-star hotel for this price is not all that common, at least not in expensive countries like France!
So for me, my stay here was worth every penny. And if there’s one piece of advice I have, even for the more budget-conscious travelers… it’s to splurge when you can. Life is short and Biarritz is relatively affordable compared to its French counterparts. So, enjoy life a bit and treat yourself!
✅ 🌊 Check rates & availability for the Jules Verne Hotel in Biarritz Here!
Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz Cons
Although I have all but professed my love for the Biarritz’s Jules Verne Hotel, it does have its drawbacks. The main con for me is centered around its bathroom. During my stay, the shower never drained properly. I’m not saying it was broken, but it was certainly problematic. And unlike American showers that have a wall or glass door extending all the way across, European showers do not.
Thus, I often thought the water would start flowing over the edge and begin flooding the bathroom. Whenever I showered, I’d run the water for 3 minutes, and then turn it off to let the water drain. As you might guess, this made showering a tedious process and tarnished my opinion of the hotel.
But, I’m fairly positive this was just a my room problem rather than a universal hotel problem. And to give a fair assessment of the bathroom, I thought everything else was great. The space was bright. It wasn’t too small or cramped. Everything was tidy and looked chic. So yeah, for me, the only shortcoming of the hotel was the fact my shower didn’t drain properly.
Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz Review Recap
All in all, the Jules Verne Hotel Biarritz offers a delightful escape with its whimsical designs, laid-back atmosphere, and more affordable rooms. The service provided is top-notch, and every person was so kind and pleasant from check-in until check-out. And, while the hotel is not exactly in the heart of the city, it’s well-located in a quieter area of town. There isn’t too much traffic and it’s within walking distance of most attractions.
Plus, all the amenities, including the free beach shuttle and abundance of equipment available to rent ensure that you have everything you need. So, despite the shower issue, I still had a splendid experience. My overall rating for the hotel is 9/10, removing a point for the shower not being up to standard with the rest of the hotel.
And, while I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Jules Verne Hotel, if I had to choose between staying here again and trying out another hotel, such as Hôtel Windsor Biarritz or Regina Experimental Biarritz, I’d opt for the other hotels. Even though they cost a bit more, they offer a better overall experience with their waterfront views and more central location.
Plus, I’ve realized the picturesque views of the Basque coastline are something worth marveling at as much as possible. But, if you’re after an elevated yet budget-friendly stay, this is a fabulous choice.
✅ 🌊 Check rates & availability for the Jules Verne Hotel in Biarritz Here!
Other Housing Accommodations in Biarritz
If you’ve decided that the Jules Verne Hotel isn’t for you or simply want to explore other options, feel free to do so with the interactive map below. You can enter your specific travel dates and the number of guests traveling, and apply other filters to see what hotels match your preferences.
🌊 PRO TIP: For any budget travelers, check out my review of the Biarritz Surf Hostel
Exploring Biarritz: FAQ
After reading my review of the Jules Verne Hotel, I want to ensure you have all the essential information you need to plan your stay. So, here are my answers to some frequently asked questions about visiting Biarritz!
Between the scenic beaches, incredible surf culture, and delicious Basque specialties, it is definitely worth staying in Biarritz. The city has such an enticing allure and provides a calming escape that not even Nice, France can give you!
For a well-rounded experience, consider staying in Biarritz for 3 – 4 nights. It gives you enough time to enjoy the beach, explore the historic sites, indulge in the local cuisine, and even do a day trip to San Sebastian or Bilbao! But if a day or two days in this charming seaside town is all you have time for, some time is better than none!
The best area to stay in Biarritz is undoubtedly the Grande Plage area. The area has waterfront views and provides easy access to the beach, shops, restaurants, and most attractions.
Biarritz is a very walkable city. As such, you can mostly get around Biarritz on foot. But, there is also a convenient bus network and bikes available for rent. For further transport, such as doing some short excursions to other destinations from Biarritz, you might want to rent a car or use the local train system.
Wrap-Up: Is Jules Verne Hotel in Biarritz Worth It (2024)
If you’re looking for an affordable and relaxing place, the Jules Verne Hotel in Biarritz is a wonderful choice. The hotel is filled with playful designs that pay homage to the creative mind of French novelist Jules Verne, there’s a friendly atmosphere, and the service is excellent. Not to forget, the fantastic amenities, coupled with its tranquil location, make for a delightful stay. And despite a minor issue with the shower, I had a positive and memorable stay. So, if you’re after a charming getaway, the Jules Verne Hotel is a terrific choice.
However, for those with a higher budget and seeking an enhanced experience, I would recommend checking out Hôtel Windsor Biarritz or Regina Experimental Biarritz. Both provide breathtaking views of the Basque coastline and are more centrally located. Regardless of your choice of where to stay in Biarritz, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time discovering the beauty of this hidden gem coastal town!
✅ 🌊 Check rates & availability for the Jules Verne Hotel in Biarritz Here!
