I know it's crazy, but we plan a trip from Collioure to San Sebastian in August 2003. We'd appreciate any advice about the following:
1. Where to stay in Collioure mid-august (Hotel Les Caranques & Casa Pairal booked up)
2. Small town or village in Pyrenees to stay for a few days en route while walking in the mtns. Any advice about any of these three vs. anywhere else in particular: Arreau; Bagneres de Luchon; Cauterets. (and particularly lodging therein)
3. Staying south vs. north of Biarritz?
Thanks so much for any and all advice.
--DianaHunt (very new to European travel)

We stayed in the lovely village of Ainhoa(about 23k from Saint-Jean-De-Luz. Our hoeel, The Ithurria is charming as are the village folk and the food was excellent. This is one of the most picturesque villages in Basque country and a few doors down from the hotel on the street I met the nicest dog whose picture I snapped for the cover of my box where I keep photos of all the cat and dogs(and some other cratures) I meet on our travels.

Diana,
We stayed at the Relais des Trois Mas in Collioure last summer (because the Casa Pairal was fully booked very early on), but in Aug. the tariff is dreadfully exp. because they require demi-pension.
Have you tried Le Madeloc? It has a garden and pool, 23 rooms and is reasonably priced. www.madeloc.com

Finally, there's the quite inexp. Les Templiers restaurant (chock filled with priceless Impressionst paintings) with rooms right on the quai.

I enthusiastically second cigalechanta's rec of the Ithurria in Ainhoa, a Plus Beaux village. It's really lovely with exquisite food in a beautiful dining room-also very refined service.
But Aug. will be difficult. If it's full, for an equally beautiful village and equally lovely hotel, I'd check the Hotel Arraya in neighboring Sare. The Fagoaga family also runs 2 lovely B&B properties in the village, the Olhabidea and the Maison Dominxenea, all 3 featured in the Karen Brown guides.

If these are booked or don't appeal, just east of Biarritz there are 2 nice properties in Bidart:
the La Table et Hostellerie les Freres Ibarboure
www.freresibarboure.com/
and the Villa L'Arche
www.villalarche.com

and the Ferme Ostalapia in Ahetze
www.ostalapia.com

Plus the Hotel Laminak in Arbonne, a Relais du Silence
www.touradour.com/laminak.htm

Good luck!

Diana,
One more for your list, a member of Chateaux & Hotels de France, just outside Bidart, the Domain de Bassilour (but only 4 rms, 3 apts)
www.domainedebassilour.com/

I won't recommend the Chateau du Clair de Lune anymore because they stuck cigalechanta in the hunting lodge instead of the chateau. Crossed it off my list :'(

I promise this is my last post! Just in case you strike out in Collioure...In looking through my Chateaux & Hotels de France guide, I just noticed a beautiful 18th c. catalan mas, 10 km. outside of Collioure that I'd never noticed before-
Le Relais des Chartreuses with pool in Le Boulou. 9 rooms, 93 euros, also 1 apt.. Looks lovely! It's recommended in Gault Millau and gets a red rocking horse for quiet in the Michelin Guide Rouge.

www.cheauxhotels.com/chartreuses

lol, maribel, MWAH! That was only my experience, I would never ask someone not to book somewhere. They may be luckier. I was disappounted because I had that picture of Clair de lune for so many years(loving the building) and hoped one day to able to afford a stop there, I was so disappointed not to be able to bed down in that building.

Maribel,thank you so much for your reponses. You are the source of so much helpful info. Already I have looked at many websites you recommend, and they are all GREAT. Thank you! --Diana