Airbnb Hunting

In the summer of 2022, we stayed for a week in Saint-Jean-De-Luz in the heat of the French Basque country. A draw is that our son is a surfer and this territory has good surf. We tied this trip together with a stay over the Spanish border in San Sebastian.

Where we stayed

Our Airbnb in Saint-Jean-De-Luz in advance felt like we didn’t know what we were going to get. In the photos, the property seemed like it had a very low ceiling and there didn’t seem like there were many windows. However, once we arrived we could see that the photos didn’t do justice to the property. The ceilings were more than high and while there weren’t many windows the views onto the harbor were beautiful and always interesting to follow the boaters.

This is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment. We paid $328 per night in the high season.

The basque coast sees rain fairly often and it’s pleasant to watch the rain on the harbor. A final note is that the property manager didn’t speak a word of English and we don’t speak much French but she was lovely. The property manager is an under-estimated hero.

Would we stay here again?

• Nobody in the family is prioritizing returning, however, if by chance any of us found ourselves there again we’d be happy to return.
• We loved our Airbnb, Saint-Jean-De-Luz is the size of town that feels like you might get bored if you had an extended stay.
• Surfing was one of our goals for the destination and you really need to drive to get to the surf breaks. Twice we took the train to the much larger city of Biarritz. While the surf in Biarritz was good, we didn’t feel a strong attraction.

Would we invest in a property in Saint-Jean-De-Luz?

• Its unlikely. Properties here are expensive. One reason is that it’s possible to take the high speed train from Paris to have a long weekend so it is a second home destination for wealthy Parisians.
• Additionally, it looks like it’s a single season area where the beaches are packed during the summer time but it is sleepy in the other seasons. We compare other French cities to Antibes, which mostly has a year-round vibrancy and Saint-Jean-De-Luz seems like it would be lonely in the off seasons.
• To see property values for yourself, I’d recommend the Barnes Agency.

Investment Data

What’s to like About Saint-Jean-De-Luz

• If you are staying in the Basque country, Saint-Jean-De-Luz is a top candidate. San Sabastian and Biarritz see the majority of the tourists while Saint-Jean-De-Luz is lively in the high season but doesn’t feel like a tourist waste land.
• The beach is wide and clean and you can enjoy long walks or bike rides in either direction.
• The history in the area, probably because it is right there on the Spanish border, makes it fun to absorb.
• The train and bus system is convient so that you can get to other Basque towns and cities easily.
• It’s a cooler climate than the Meditaranian if you are concerned about summer swelter.

The Vibe

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