BRIT HOTEL DU LAC

"Landes, France Life is sweet on the shores of Lake Hossegor, a few hundred yards from the rollers that draw surfers from around the world to this southwest corner. Both rugged and cool, the Landes region is usurping the nearby Basque Country in the hearts of Parisians. They come here with their children for August holidays to sidestep the chi-chi hotspots of Ile de Ré and Juan-les-Pins, to roam the countryside and have space to plant their parasols on the beach. Most families hole up in the wooden-shuttered houses between the lake and the sea, but this summer they’ll be clambering for rooms here. This classic hotel, tucked into the pines, was taken over and transformed by the Domaines de Fontenille group: after a top-to-toe renovation it now looks like a kind of midcentury-modern Hamptons surf lodge. The restaurant with its bulb-string-lit terrace serves up a sunny menu of pan-fried squid, mussels, and hay-roasted chicken. Bedrooms are light and bright, and downstairs whisky decanters and loose-covered sofas have made way for jute rugs on polished-concrete floors, decorative surfboards stacked in a corner, cane benches, and velvet footstools. It feels smart, but also somewhere for wet footprints coming in from the pool or sandy toes from the beach. And the real focus is the sea. The surf clubs that run along La Côte d’Argent offer lessons to everyone from first-timers to near-pros, and there are all sorts of surf competitions and festivals to watch, as well as paddle-boarding on the lake and yoga back at the hotel. A fresh way to tap into the salty-haired vibe of the area, but without the villa hassle of having to cook supper or make the beds. Price: Rooms from around $299 Book now with Expedia Book now with Booking.com" - Lauren Burvill