Penthouse Condo Close to Beach in Arcachon, France Arcachon Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 25312

Sunny Arcachon living room with antiques, oriental rugs, and balcony

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Location: Arcachon, Aquitaine, France, Europe (45 min from Bordeaux Arprt, Paris TGV train direct in 4 hrs) View Map

Accommodations:  Condominium, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2 Baths (Sleeps 4-6)

You will love this sunny condo apartment and Arcachon, France!

A destination resort with beautiful beaches and boardwalks, Arcachon is the largest town on the Bay of Arcachon, which empties into the Atlantic just 45 minutes west of Bordeaux. The bay is Europe's oyster capital, and is a commercial and sport fishing center as well. Beautiful beaches (both on the bay and the ocean!) and all kinds of water sports and shopping await you in town, or you can use it as a base to explore the Bordeaux wine country or the Basque region (Pyrenees Mountains) and Spain.

Your toddlers will love the calm waters at the beach on the bay, and your teenagers will safely find lots to do within walking or biking distance; it's a great spot for families of all ages!

The condo is the ENTIRE very private top floor of a 4-story modern building, with elevator. It's a two block walk to the beach, and three blocks to the shopping district. It has two bedrooms; one with a queen bed, and one with two twin beds. There are three balconies, a large double living/dining room with two sofabeds, lovely antiques and oriental rugs; a full bath with tub and in-tub shower, a tiled shower/sink room off the twin bed room, plus a "WC" powder room off the kitchen. With three sinks in the various bathrooms it never feels too crowded! Large by French standards, the condo is 863 square feet decorated in French blues and yellows, plus 295 square feet of balconies.
NEW for 2006: AIR CONDITIONING!! (la CLIME!)
and for 2007: Laptop in condo for your use with WIFI and free long distance calling!

The condo is on a very quiet residential street, but in five minutes you can walk into "centre ville", the wonderful large French daily market, the casino, the park, all the cute shops, and many restaurants. There are walking and tourist train tours of the area's unique "arcachonnais" architecture, which is sort of a cutesy Victorian. (Belle Epoque)(Click on link below to the tourist bureau's website to see photos of the bay and the town.) Many tourist boat excursions and ferries leave from the pier, a five-minute walk away from the condo. If the bay is too tame you can ride the ferry across to the ocean side at Cap Ferret and take surfing lessons, or learn to hang glide off the Dune de Pilat, the largest sand dune in Europe! Kite surfers have an ocean beach too.

The condo is equipped with all linens, and ample cookware for the gourmet chef. An oyster purveyor (a personal friend of the owner)has a stand just around the corner, and you will enjoy trying the croissants and the pain au chocolat each morning from the many bakeries within walking distance. The town market is open daily, too. The area restaurants have varied cuisines: Basque, Morrocan, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian and many, many seafood choices along with traditional French.

There is NO TV but there are plenty of books to borrow and read, plus games to play with the family, and toys for the beach. There are DVDs to watch on the laptop, and CDs to play on the stereo. Even a guitar for the musician in your party!

Great day trips: St. Emilion for wine tasting and visit of the beautiful medieval town; Bordeaux for it's bistros, churches, designer shopping, museums, and antique dealers; Biarritz for lunch at the gorgeous Hotel du Palais; St. Jean de Luz for 15th century church, quaint port, and great Basque shopping; San Sebastian, Spain for the Paris-like city and great 3-star dining; Paulliac for lunch and tours of Mouton Rothschild and Chateaux Margaux; the amazing Chateau La Roquetaillande belonging to Montaigne's descendants, and Chateau La Brede, Montesquieu's former residence; the very chic Caudalie spa for massages and lunch. Or just spend your time relaxing in Arcachon on the beautiful beach!

Arcachon is easy to get to: you can fly to Bordeaux from European hub airports and rent a car, or take the "TGV" fast train from either Charles de Gaulle airport or from the Gare Montparnasse in downtown Paris. (Good option if you want to spend a few days in Paris!) At least one train daily from Montparnasse station is direct all the way to Arcachon, and from Charles de Gaulle airport you can change trains easily at the Bordeaux train station. From the train station in Arcachon it's a seven minute walk to the condo, so a car is not necessary unless you want to explore!

The condo is owned by Ann Sanford, a veteran (31 years!) Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch in Toledo, Ohio, USA, and avid francophile. Ann can help you plan your trip to Arcachon and give you lots of tips if you want to spend time in Paris or other regions of France as part of your vacation.

Make sure and check the link below to the rental calendar, which is religiously updated for all available weeks, before you email or call. You can also view the Guestbook for comments from past visitors. Thanks for viewing this! Bon voyage!

Vacation Rental Features

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• Amenities
  • Air Conditioning
  • Washer: washer-dryer all-in-one unit
  • Linens Provided: lots of towels including beach towels!
  • Garage: garage available during high season when street parking is difficult.
  • Elevator
• Beds
  • Queen Bed
  • Twin/Single Bed
  • Convertible Bed
• Entertainment
  • CD Player
  • Stereo System
• Kitchen
  • Full Kitchen
  • Cooking Utensils Provided
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
• Outdoor Features
  • Balcony
• Communications
  • Telephone
  • Free Long Distance: free calling to the U.S.
  • Computer: laptop in condo for your use
  • Broadband Internet
  • WiFi (Wireless Internet)
• Suitability
  • No Pets Allowed
• Activities (on site and nearby)
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Zoo/Wildlife Park
  • Shopping
  • Sightseeing
  • Restaurants
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Boating
  • Waterskiing
  • Parasailing
  • Jet Skiing
  • Shelling
  • Swimming
  • Snorkeling/Diving
  • Surfing
  • Windsurfing
  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Fitness Center/Gym
  • Health/Beauty Spa
  • Antiquing
  • Cinemas/Movie Theaters
  • Live Theatre
  • Museums
  • Horseback Riding
• Other Activities
  • Wine Tasting, Aquarium, Hang-gliding, Canoeing, Petting Zoo, Water Park, Thallassotherapy Spa

Rate Details (In US Dollars)

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• All Photos (8)
• Guest Comments (21)
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Personal Currency Assistant™

High Season ...... (Jul-Aug) .... $1600/week.
Shoulder Season .. (Jun & Sep) .. $ 1200/week.
Low Season (all other months).... $ 900/week.
Rentals are Saturday to Saturday in high and shoulder seasons.
Discounts for multiple weeks: subtract 5% for each additional week
To reserve, a deposit of 10% will hold your week(s).
The remainder is due 30 days before your arrival.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Map & Owner's Profile

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• All Photos (8)
• Guest Comments (21)
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Property Photos

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• All Photos (8)
• Guest Comments (21)
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Guest Comments (21)

• Features
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• All Photos (8)
• Guest Comments (21)
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• 05/26/09
  Positive Rating
  Maggi , Detroit, MI
  • My husband, myself and our friend spent a week in mid-May in this lovely apartment in Arcachon. We were pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the area and wished we had more time to explore. The free internet and telephone were a huge help to us and greatly appreciated, as were the two bikes in the garage. We loved the location of the apartment and its proximity to the beach. The owner thought of everything: from maps and local information to a great little DVD collection. We can't wait to return!
• 01/21/09
  Positive Rating
  Michelle Sheppard , New Canaan, Connecticut
  • My mother and I found this lovely apartment on the internet while looking for a hotel in Arcachon. This was the perfect alternative for us, and a better value than staying in one of the hotels nearby. Annie's apartment is very conveniently located, 3 blocks from the beach and supermarket, a 5 minute walk to the train station, shops and restaurants. There are some lovely boutiques to explore! You don't really need a car in Arcachon unless you want to explore the region further, such as Bordeaux (great antique shops), St. Emilion, Biarritz, St. Jean-de-Luz, Spain, etc. This is the second time I rent a property in Arcachon and was very pleased with this choice. The penthouse apartment is very spacious, it could probably accommodate a family of 6 since it has a sleeper-couch in the living room, plus 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, in addition to an extra WC. he kitchen was well equipped, although we never quite figured out the clothes washer/dryer. We very much appreciated having the peace and quiet as we rented the flat in September 2008 and the tourists had all gone. This was a good time to visit as the weather cooperated for the most part and it rained only a few days with the rest being very bright and sunny, with temperatures in the mid to upper 70's(F). This was a very successful visit to Arcachon, and we appreciated having this pied-a-terre so close to everything. Also, thank you, Annie for letting us use your laptop, it was great to be able to keep in touch with our family back in Florida and Connecticut! Thanks also for the dvds you left for us to use. It's a good thing we speak French, because sitting there reading the subtitles cannot be comfortable! It would have been nice to have a tv in the apartment, but we managed without it. Also a minor nuisance was the fact that we couldn't use water or flush toilets between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., but we managed... When I return to Arcachon I hope to be able to stay here, unless I buy my own place! I recommend this highly to anyone contemplating a visit to this lovely town!
    
    Homeowner Response:
    The not using water at night is just a courtesy to the neighbors below, common in France, which I ask people to try and observe...not an ultimatum----Ann
• 01/13/09
  Positive Rating
  Konni Bostleman , Toledo, Ohio
  • In July 2008, I spent a week at Ann's condo in Arcachon with my son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren (ages 4-12). Arcachon was a delightful town to explore. The kids really enjoyed the nice beach. A visit to the immense sand dune, Dune du Pilat, was a fun experience. We took a few day trips to some other towns. Our favorite day trip was to St. Emilion, a charming medieval village. We had a great vacation!
• 01/07/09
  Positive Rating
  Mary , St. Louis Park, MN
  • We stayed in Ann's apartment for two weeks in June of 2008. There were six of us altogether, including my husband and I, our two children, and my parents, and we didn't feel cramped at all. The apartment was delightful and close to everything in town, including the gorgeous beach. We rented a car a couple of days and went to St. Emilion (well worth the 2 hour drive), Biarritz, and Bordeaux. Plus, we started our vacation with three days in Paris and then took the TGV direct to Arcachon. Our kids loved the TGV and it was so much fun to do both the big city of Paris and the small lovely town of Arcachon. The weather in June is beautiful and we would definitely take this vacation again. My four year old son keeps asking me when we're going back to France so he can get more Kinder eggs (3 for 1 euro at the grocery store in Arcachon).
• 01/04/09
  Positive Rating
  Gill , Liverpool, England
  • My mum and I stayed here for one week in June 08. The apartment was lovely and very well equipped, like home from home. We have visited France many times but this was an opportunity to explore a new area and we loved it. Arcachon is very relaxed,plenty of shops for us and good places to eat. The apartment is only a short walk from all amentities, yet in a very quiet street. I used one of the bikes most days while my mum rested on one of the balconies. Shame about the weather, we expected more sun in June. We are only a short plane ride from Bordeaux and definitely hope to visit again and take advantage of Anne's very useful information guides.
• 01/02/09
  Positive Rating
  Konni Bostleman , Toledo, Ohio
  • In July 2008, I stayed at Ann's condo in Arcachon with my son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. We enjoyed exploring the quaint town of Arcachon, and the kids loved spending afternoons on the beach. Arcachon is conveniently located for taking day trips - we especially loved visiting the charming medieval village of St. Emilion. A visit to the immense Dune du Pilat was a fun experience - be prepared to get very sandy! It was a great vacation!
• 01/02/09
  Positive Rating
  
  • My husband and I and our two children stayed in Ann's apartment most recently in August 2008 for two weeks, we had stayed in Ann's apartment before and loved it, it is spacious, well equipped, central and the balconies are lovely. Having internet access is great and also having a place to store bikes was great too as we cycled lots. This time we were in peak season unlike previous years, Arcachon was much busier than before but weather beautiful and kids spent loads of time on the beach, we love arcachon and Ann's apartment and will holiday there again.
• 01/01/09
  Positive Rating
  Jennifer Delamare , Los Altos, CA USA
  • We spent a week at Ann's place in August, 2008 and would highly recommend it, either for a family or 2 couples. (We were a couple with 3 children and had plenty of room.) We fell in love with Arcachon--a very authentic, family oriented vacation town. We hardly used a car all week (we used the 2 bikes in the garage and rented 3 others.) The apartment itself had every convenience (our teenage kids especially appreciated the laptop, Ipod charger and guitar!) It is a beautifully decorated and very cheerful yet quiet place--we never heard a noise from the street, despite being only 2 blocks from the beach. The traditional town market was a highlight for us, as were various free outdoor events along the beach promenade--including the excellent Arcachon symphony, French rock bands, mime artists, jugglers, etc. Never a dull moment, even after dark. You can also shop to your heart's content in dozens of boutiques, and eat in a huge variety of cafes and restaurants. We tended to picnic a lot for lunch and eat dinner at home, but you could certainly eat all your meals out in Arcachon and never eat in the same place twice! I also think the rent is worth every penny compared to other rentals in the area. My French in-laws rented cramped, utterly charmless hotel apartments nearby and paid nearly what Ann charges for a truly beautiful and well-equipped apartment with all the conveniences of home. We will most definitely go back, hopefully for more than a week next time. We felt like we could easily spend a month here and not get bored, as there are so many things to do in the area, from climbing the Pyla dunes, to boating, wine tasting, visiting Bordeaux, biking, not to mention relaxing on the beautiful beaches. This was one of our best vacations ever--loved the town, loved the cozy apartment with great views from every balcony!
• 08/23/08
  Positive Rating
  Diane , Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • This apartment in Arcachon is great for a number of reasons. It is walking distance from the train station, markets, main dowtown and only 3 blocks to the beach. The aparement is nicely laid out with terraces on both sides. The apartment slept 4 adults and 2 children very comfortably. Anne made the place feel very much like home and had bags, beach towels and beach toys to be used by the guests. Anne also addressed all our questions and gave us great suggestions. Highly recommend the apartment.
• 01/19/08
  Positive Rating
  Kristi Crosby , Camp Verde, TX
  • We spent the month of November '07 in Ann's condo. We loved all the conveniences of the condo, especially the high speed internet and the condo's terrific location. Tom created his home office via the internet connection, and he worked with his clients in the states without a glitch. Except for the time difference, he almost could have been at home. This made our trip very afforadable! We fell in love with the Arcachon area and we hope to return. Ann was always available for questions and this made our trip worry free. There was a massive train strike during our trip, and most everything was closed in November. Yet, we made great use of Ann's bikes. The "Casino" supermarket behind the train station was wonderful, better than the LeClerc (which is just a little closer), and we could stock up nicely on food without a car. We did rent a car during the strike just to get around, but otherwise the public transport got us everywhere we needed to go. The issue of water use, mentioned in the previous comment, was not an issue after I spoke to the woman who seemed to be causing the problem. In any case, the notes refer to water use in the front of the condo, and not in the back. All in all, it was a great stay.

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