Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)


What’s included in the price?

The weekly rental price at either of our properties includes
-    House linen: Sheets, 1 large and 1 small towel per person, 1 bath
mat per bathroom, 2 kitchen towels. The house linen will be changed every week and we ask guests not to take the towels to the pool or beach.
-    Final cleaning: At the end of your stay we ask you to leave the flat tidy and we will do the cleaning
-    Electricity
-    Heating
-    Fire wood in the winter

How far away is the beach?

The closest beach in terms of driving time is Ondres at 25min from Les Tilleuls and 35min from Samacoitsea. After that there are the beaches
in Anglet and Biarritz at 30min from Les Tilleuls and 40min from Samacoitsea, and the beaches at Hossegor, Saint Jean de Luz and Hendaye at 40 or 50min.

How far away are the mountains?

You'll be able to see the mountains from your terrace on a good day.
The smaller hills are reachable within 30 mins. The bigger mountains
can be reached within 1 1/2 hours.


Where is the nearest supermarket?

For Samacoitsea there is an ‘Ecomarche’ in Bidache (11km to the north) and a ‘Champion’ in Saint Palais (11km to the south). For Les Tilleuls there is the ‘Ecomarche’ in Bidache (10min) and the ‘Champion’ in Urt (10min).

Where is the nearest Boulangerie?

For Les Tilleuls there is a Boulangerie in Bardos. For Samacoitsea there
 is a Boulangerie in Arraute-Charritte, but it only sells ‘baguette’ and ‘pain’. There are also Boulangeries with a bigger choice in both Bidache and Saint Palais. During the high season of July and August there is a daily delivery of bread and croissants to Samacoitsea. You will find detailed instructions in your apartment upon arrival.

Are there tennis courts?

There are public, outdoor tennis courts in Bidache. If you want to
reserve a certain time you will have to go the Mairie in Bidache and
book. The key for the courts can be collected at the little petrol station off the roundabout and the hour costs €7.50. Please note: you will need to bring your own racket and balls.

Where can I play golf?

Please look at http://www.tourisme-pays-basque.fr/sports-loisirs/golf.htm

Where can I go horse riding?

We can arrange horse riding upon request. The prices for a hack tend
 to be between €16 and €20 per hour.

Where can I go surfing?

Please look at http://location-cote-basque.com/surfing.htm

Where can I learn to surf?

Please look at
http://www.tourisme-pays-basque.fr/sports-loisirs/
surf-bodyboard.htm or http://www.surfecoles-cotebasque.com/

Can I turn up a day earlier/leave a day later than arranged?

During the high season of July and August we have to stick to changeover on Saturdays. However, you can always check with us if
your apartment is available for an extra day either end. Outside the high season we will normally be able to accommodate you, but you should check with us the week before. If your apartment is not
 available for an extra day we can always try and book alternative accommodation for you.

Can I arrive midweek?

Again, during the high season we have to stick to our changeover day of Saturday and even if your actual stay was from let’s say Monday to Saturday we would still charge you for the whole week. Outside the high season we are happy to take bookings for any arrival or departure day.

Is there a minimum stay?

During the high season of July and August the minimum stay is one week. Outside the high season the minimum stay is 3 nights.

Is there a maximum occupancy?

The maximum occupancy at Les Tilleuls is 5 people per apartment. At Samacoitsea the maximum occupancy for Apartment 1-7 is 6 people per apartment and for Apartment 8 and 9 it’s 5 people per apartment.

We want to take more than one apartment. Which ones are close to each other?

At Samacoitsea the apartments closest to each other are Apartment 6 and 7, they are right next to each other. The terraces of Apartment 2 and 5 are almost opposite each other, and Apartment 3 and 4 are opposite each other on the 1st floor.

What’s the weather like?

This region does not have the arid aspect of the Mediterranean. It has much more of a tropical vegetation with palm and banana trees interspersed with bamboo, magnolia, hibiscus and hydrangea. People tend to love the area for its colour! Green, rolling hills and bright blue seas!
Winters are mild and can be fairly wet though the weather changes quickly here and one can have a downpour in the morning and bright sunshine by midday. The majority of rainfall falls during the months of January and February. Spring months can be very warm with temperatures rising to 27°C. The same can be said for the autumn months too. We have been known to swim in the Atlantic at the beginning of November with outside temperatures nearing 24/25°C.
Summers are hot but not excessive. July and August can witness temperatures nearing 37/38°C but there is usually a little breeze and it does tend to cool down in the evening.
The climate is mild year round and rarely goes below 6°C in the coastal areas and 0°C a bit further inland.

Is there any road noise?

Les Tilleuls and Samacoitsea are both situated on small, quiet country roads. There will obviously be passing cars but the apartments are well sheltered and we have never had anybody complain about noise. In
fact, most people comment on how quiet it is.

Do I need a car?

Definitely! Both properties are located in the countryside and to make the most of all there is to do in the surrounding area, we definitely recommend having the use of a car..

Can I connect to the Internet?

You will have free, unlimited access to broadband wifi during your stay. All you have to do is get the access code upon arrival. At Les Tilleuls,
the coverage extends to most of the apartment and at Samacoitsea the coverage extends to most of the apartments with the only one that has difficulty receiving a signal is No. 7. Any signal problem is easily
resolved by taking a chair, your laptop and a cold drink to the lawn in
the shade next to the building!

Is there access to a washing machine?

At Les Tilleuls you will be welcome to use our washing machine for the odd load. At Samacoitsea we have added a separate building housing 2 washing machines for the shared use of guests. Each apartment is furnished with a set of EcoBalls - ecologically sound and the only form
of detergent allowed in the machines.

Is there somewhere for children to run around/play football?

Samacoitsea has a 2 acre garden where your children can run around and play ball. The garden at Les Tilleuls is smaller and in order to play ball the children will have to use the car park.

Do I have to arrive/leave at a certain time?

We ask our guests not to arrive before 4 pm and to leave by 10am in order to give us enough time to clean the apartments. However, if you do arrive earlier or want to leave later we will try to accommodate you
if possible.

How do I get the keys?

If we are not there when you arrive we will leave the door to your apartment open with the key in the lock on the inside. Please note that
 if your entrance door is also your terrace door, the door can only be locked by first turning the handle up as far as it goes and then locking the door.

What’s the booking procedure?

Once you have decided to book one of our apartments we will send you
a booking form by e-mail and the account details for the currency you are paying in. You will have to complete and return this form, by e-mail or post, and transfer a deposit of 20% of your rental price to our account. Your final payment and the damage deposit of £100 or €150 are due 8 weeks before your arrival. If you book within this 8 week period we will ask you to transfer the total rental price and damage deposit.

What currency do I have to pay in?

We accept payments in Pound Sterling and Euro. We have accounts in the UK, Ireland and Germany in order to facilitate your payment.

Can I provisionally reserve an apartment whilst I confirm
travel arrangements?

Of course! We will normally hold a reservation for you for a minimum of 24hrs and up to 3 days.

How does the damage deposit work?

We ask for a damage deposit of £100 or €150 per apartment which is payable 8 weeks before arrival. We will refund your damage deposit after your departure if there are no major breakages. We are not worried about the odd broken glass or plate, but we will keep your deposit if there is any damage to the apartment, furniture or
equipment. Saying that, we have never yet had to keep anyone's
money!

How to get there?

See "Getting Here".

Can you recommend car hire?

We recommend Holiday Autos.

"One could not ask for more welcoming hosts.... From the moment we arrived they were on hand to offer advice about days out, providing tips that only a local would know. They gave us maps and guide books and even lent us a couple of sledges so that we could enjoy the last of the snow at a nearby ski resort. The children made Cameron (4 years old) feel at home, always inviting him to join in their games and showing him around the gardens, barns and most importantly the horses.
We were included in a family easter egg hunt, which went on for many hours after all the eggs were found, and gave us a chance to spend time with many locals (testing my French to the limit!) We have every intention of going back soon."

Alistair, Amy and Cameron, Bedfordshire

Read more comments