Our Favorite French Coastal Escape: Endless Beaches and Simplicity
Tucked away in a small pine forest on the outskirts of Messanges, France, sits a beach hotel that has become our favorite French coastal escape. It feels worlds away from everything. Just about a mile from the Atlantic coast, La Maison de la Prade is a 14-room boutique hotel full of rustic charm and low-key luxury. Once a summer camp, it has since been lovingly transformed into a place that invites you to slow down and soak up the simple pleasures of French beach life.
The vibe here is relaxed and romantic. With no spa, no terrace bar, and no polished bells and whistles, it’s exactly the kind of quiet coastal retreat we crave. You can spend your days by the pool or head down to the beach, then return in the evening to a sky full of stars—so many stars, it’s hard to believe they’re real.
Why we love the Atlantic Coast of France
Whenever we can, we head to the beaches of southern France—not the glitzy French Riviera, but the wild Atlantic coast. It’s a place to unwind, surf a little, eat a lot, and reset. The beaches stretch endlessly and are strikingly pristine. Even after busy weekends, there’s not a scrap of litter left behind. The French seem to treat these beaches with quiet respect, and it shows.
How we discovered our favorite French coastal escape
We’ve been visiting the Biarritz area for years—ever since watching it featured in the surf documentaries, Endless Summer and Endless Summer 2. It’s long been one of our favorite vacation spots. But this time, we were traveling without our kids and feeling adventurous. We decided to head farther north and explore something new.
We started our search with Tablet Hotels, one of our go-to resources for discovering unique places to stay. We couldn’t find something that checked all the boxes in Biarritz. So we expanded the map and landed on La Maison de la Prade. Listed quietly among the boutique offerings, it looked promising. It turned out to be even better than we expected. Although we originally found the hotel through the Tablet Hotels website, it is no longer a Tablet hotel.
What makes La Maison de la Prade so special and our favorite French coastal escape?
This isn’t a high-end resort, and that’s exactly what we loved about it. The rooms are simple but comfortable, and the open-air hallways, cozy breakfast nook, and laid-back pool area give it all the charm of an old surf lodge. The staff were warm and friendly, and we felt at home from the moment we arrived.
You can still see traces of the building’s past life as a summer camp for kids—another detail that adds to its relaxed, nostalgic feel.
The beach: wild, unspoiled, and breathtaking
After settling into our room and adding our own little touches, we drove the short distance down to the beach. It’s a bit far to walk if you’re carrying gear, but only a few minutes by car. We parked in a small lot and walked up a sandy hill. At the top, we were greeted with what felt like an endless stretch of beach—dunes, ocean, and sky as far as we could see.
There’s a casual beach restaurant right there, where we ordered giant prawns fresh from the sea, a salad, and of course, Pommes Frites. Because when in France…
Morning coffee, village hopping, and easy afternoons
Each morning started with a search for good coffee and a flaky pastry—always in a different village we hadn’t yet explored. Days were split between the beach and the pool. Evenings were for wandering through local towns, finding great food, and finishing the night with gelato.
Hossegor: a surf town with soul
Just 20 minutes south is Hossegor, a town that lives and breathes surf culture. It’s vibrant, stylish, and full of life—especially in the evenings. Tables spill into the streets, shops stay open late, and there’s always a buzz in the air.
Like in Messanges, the beach here is accessed by a wooden boardwalk up a hill. At the top sits Cabane de la Gravière, an outdoor restaurant with excellent tapas and a laid-back vibe. Since you’re only a couple of hours from San Sebastian, it makes perfect sense that the Spanish influence finds its way onto the menu.
In the morning, the same spot serves crepes, strong coffee, and buttery pastries—a perfect start to the day.
Why choose a beach holiday in France?
People often ask why we go all the way to France when there are great beaches in the U.S. It’s a fair question—but for us, the answer is easy.
Flights are comparable from NYC to the West Coast, and rental cars are a necessity either way. But once you’re there, France wins out. Boutique hotels like this are often much more affordable than their U.S. counterparts. The food is better (and cheaper). The towns are charming. And you get that unmistakable feeling of being somewhere different.
It’s the romance, the rhythm, and the simplicity of life here that draws us in—and keeps us coming back. So if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, someplace calm and authentic with just the right amount of charm, we can’t recommend La Maison de la Prade enough. It might not be fancy, but it’s exactly the kind of place where you can unplug, breathe in the sea air, and maybe discover your new favorite corner of the world.
