Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What’s
included in the price?
The weekly rental price at either of our properties includes
- House linen: Sheets, 1 large and 1
small towel per person, 1 bath
mat per bathroom, 2 kitchen towels. The
house linen will be changed every week and we ask guests not to take
the towels to the pool or beach.
- Final cleaning: At the end of your stay
we ask you to leave the flat tidy and we will do the cleaning
- Electricity
- Heating
- Fire wood in the winter
How
far away is the beach?
The closest beach in terms of driving time is Ondres at 25min from Les
Tilleuls and 35min from Samacoitsea. After that there are the beaches
in Anglet and Biarritz at 30min from Les Tilleuls and 40min from
Samacoitsea, and the beaches at Hossegor, Saint Jean de Luz and Hendaye
at 40 or 50min.
How
far away are the mountains?
You'll be able to see the mountains from your terrace on a good day.
The smaller hills are reachable within 30 mins. The bigger mountains
can be reached within 1 1/2 hours.
Where
is the nearest supermarket?
For Samacoitsea there is an ‘Ecomarche’ in Bidache
(11km to the north) and a ‘Champion’ in Saint
Palais (11km to the south). For Les Tilleuls there is the
‘Ecomarche’ in Bidache (10min) and the
‘Champion’ in Urt (10min).
Where
is the nearest Boulangerie?
For Les Tilleuls there is a Boulangerie in Bardos. For Samacoitsea
there
is a Boulangerie in Arraute-Charritte, but it only sells
‘baguette’ and ‘pain’. There
are also Boulangeries with a bigger choice in both Bidache and Saint
Palais. During the high season of July and August there is a daily
delivery of bread and croissants to Samacoitsea. You will find detailed
instructions in your apartment upon arrival.
Are
there tennis courts?
There are public, outdoor tennis courts in Bidache. If you want to
reserve a certain time you will have to go the Mairie in Bidache and
book. The key for the courts can be collected at the little petrol
station off the roundabout and the hour costs €7.50. Please
note: you will need to bring your own racket and balls.
Where
can I play golf?
Please look at
http://www.tourisme-pays-basque.fr/sports-loisirs/golf.htm
Where
can I go horse riding?
We can arrange horse riding upon request. The prices for a hack tend
to
be between €16 and €20 per hour.
Where
can I go surfing?
Please look at
http://location-cote-basque.com/surfing.htm
Where
can I learn to surf?
Please look at
http://www.tourisme-pays-basque.fr/sports-loisirs/
surf-bodyboard.htm
or
http://www.surfecoles-cotebasque.com/
Can
I turn up a day earlier/leave a day later than arranged?
During the high season of July and August we have to stick to
changeover
on Saturdays. However, you can always check with us if your
apartment is available for an extra day either end. Outside the high
season we will normally be able to accommodate you, but you should
check with us the
week before. If your apartment is not available for
an extra day we can always try and book alternative accommodation for
you.
Can
I arrive midweek?
Again, during the high season we have to stick to our changeover day of
Saturday and even if your actual stay was from let’s say
Monday to Saturday we would still charge you for the whole week.
Outside the high season we are happy to take bookings for any arrival
or departure day.
Is
there a minimum stay?
During the high season of July and August the minimum stay is one week.
Outside the high season the minimum stay is 3 nights.
Is
there a maximum occupancy?
The maximum occupancy at Les Tilleuls is 5 people per apartment. At
Samacoitsea the maximum occupancy for Apartment 1-7 is 6 people per
apartment and for Apartment 8 and 9 it’s 5 people per
apartment.
We
want to take more than one apartment. Which ones are close to each
other?
At Samacoitsea the apartments closest to each other are Apartment 6 and
7, they are right next to each other. The terraces of Apartment 2 and 5
are almost opposite each other, and Apartment 3 and 4 are opposite each
other on the 1st floor.
What’s
the weather like?
This region does not have the arid aspect of the Mediterranean. It has
much more of a tropical vegetation with palm and banana trees
interspersed with bamboo, magnolia, hibiscus and hydrangea. People tend
to love the area for its colour! Green, rolling hills and bright blue
seas!
Winters are mild and can be fairly wet though the weather changes
quickly here and one can have a downpour in the morning and bright
sunshine by midday. The majority of rainfall falls during the months of
January and February. Spring months can be very warm with temperatures
rising to 27°C. The same can be said for the autumn months too.
We have been known to swim in the Atlantic at the beginning of November
with outside temperatures nearing 24/25°C.
Summers are hot but not excessive. July and August can witness
temperatures nearing 37/38°C but there is usually a little
breeze and it does tend to cool down in the evening.
The climate is mild year round and rarely goes below 6°C in the
coastal areas and 0°C a bit further inland.
Is
there any road noise?
Les Tilleuls and Samacoitsea are both situated on small, quiet country
roads. There will obviously be passing cars but the apartments are well
sheltered and we have never had anybody complain about noise. In
fact,
most people comment on how quiet it is.
Do
I need a car?
Definitely! Both properties are located in the countryside with very
bad public transport connections to the bigger towns.
Can
I connect to the Internet?
You will have free, unlimited access to broadband wifi during your
stay. All you have to do is get the access code upon arrival. At Les
Tilleuls,
the coverage extends to most of the apartment and at
Samacoitsea the coverage extends to most of the apartments with the
only one that has difficulty receiving a signal is No. 7. Any signal
problem is easily
resolved by taking a chair, your laptop and a cold
drink to the lawn in
the shade next to the building!
Is
there access to a washing machine?
At Les Tilleuls you will be welcome to use our washing machine for the
odd load. At Samacoitsea we have added a separate building housing 2
washing machines for the shared use of guests. Each apartment is
furnished with a set of EcoBalls - ecologically sound and the only form
of detergent allowed in the machines.
Is
there somewhere for children to run around/play football?
Samacoitsea has a 2 acre garden where your children can run around and
play ball. The garden at Les Tilleuls is smaller and in order to play
ball the children will have to use the car park.
Do
I have to arrive/leave at a certain time?
We ask our guests not to arrive before 4 pm and to leave by 10am in
order to give us enough time to clean the apartments. However, if you
do arrive earlier or want to leave later we will try to accommodate you
if possible.
How
do I get the keys?
If we are not there when you arrive we will leave the door to your
apartment open with the key in the lock on the inside. Please note that
if your entrance door is also your terrace door, the door can
only be
locked by first turning the handle up as far as it goes and then
locking the door.
What’s
the booking procedure?
Once you have decided to book one of our apartments we will send you
a
booking form by e-mail and the account details for the currency you are
paying in. You will have to complete and return this form, by e-mail or
post, and transfer a deposit of 20% of your rental price to our
account. Your final payment and the damage deposit of £100 or
€150 are due 8 weeks before your arrival. If you book within
this 8 week period we will ask you to transfer the total rental price
and damage deposit.
What
currency do I have to pay in?
We accept payments in Pound Sterling and Euro. We have accounts in the
UK, Ireland and Germany in order to facilitate your payment.
Can
I provisionally reserve an apartment whilst I confirm
travel
arrangements?
Of course! We will normally hold a reservation for you for a minimum of
24hrs and up to 3 days.
How
does the damage deposit work?
We ask for a damage deposit of £100 or €150 per
apartment which is payable 8 weeks before arrival. We will refund your
damage deposit after your departure if there are no major breakages. We
are not worried about the odd broken glass or plate, but we will keep
your deposit if there is any damage to the apartment, furniture or
equipment. Saying that, we have never yet had to keep anyone's
money!
How
to get there?
See
"Getting
Here".
Can
you recommend car hire?
We recommend
Holiday
Autos.
Irish site
Local area
Activities
Children
Photos
FAQs
About
us
