Sofitel Biarritz le Miramar Thalassa Sea & Spa

Terrible. NOT 5 star. The hotel is dirty and in need of complete refurbishment. Hallways are dark and gloomy with eco friendly lighting which may save the plant/euros for Sofitel, but which is extremely depressing and unsafe. Spoke to receptionist who offered an equally disappointing room for an extra €100 a night! Wow. I was already paying more than €400 for just a room! Duty manager was useless. General manager, who I emailed after my stay, was equally useless. No acknowledgement for his hotel’s dreadful state of repair. I am still awaiting a more considered response. Do NOT stay here. I have photos and videos which illustrate that this is a hotel barely worth a 2 star rating. Truly awful. Other reviewers say staff are friendly. So what? This is a 5 star establishment who should be offering 5 star accommodation and service.

I rate the Sofitel a 3 but it’s really only a 2 if I was to only judge the hotel. The location and the pool were the absolute highlight’s and for this we give a 5! Biarritz has a stunning coastline but please spend your money elsewhere! This hotel pretends to be a 5 star hotel with wellness spa. Thank goodness I had not planned my trip around the spa itself. I think if this was in Australia, it would be shut down. When you take the lift to the spa , you arrive into a waste land! Depending on which way you arrive, it is a rabbit warren of empty corridors, closed doors with French signage! I couldn’t even find the toilet. After paying $700 AUD for 3 treatments, you would expect a warm welcome, and someone assisting you to your next treatment. No not here, you are on your own (naked in a robe) trying to ask for directions to the next room however nobody speaks English. My treatment was booked with a Physiotherapist however I think she was barely qualified for a massage! Highlights from my family were the soft robes and spacious rooms, big beds with cozy mattresses toppers and soft linen. Great valet and reception but that’s it for service. Pool is saltwater and perfectly cool! We could not find the indoor pool

Used the spa for a half day with a wonderful treatment called « Bulles d’oxygène « which consists of 25 minutes of exfoliation and a 25 minute massage. Elodie, a young masseuse, did a terrific job and I highly recommend her. You will leave totally refreshed!

So when it comes to picking up a hotel for a new destination you always go for the safest choice and by picking a 5 stars Sofitel hotel, you believe it will be great luxury but let me tell you that this isn’t the case in this one at all. The 2 stars rating is only for the great staff at reception and door and the service including the great house keeping. The hotel it self is a rip off for the price, we were given a smokers room upon check in and couldn’t have it changed due to hotel full capacity, it had a strong smell of old tobacco and the only solution they could come up with is spray an even harsher chemicals in our room and asking us to leave the room. The building is so old and requires urgent renovation, balcony is outdated with uncomfortable metal chairs. We also stopped going to breakfast because we couldn’t find much choice or selection for us. Cocktails are charged for 20€+ and food expensive for what it is. I really think Sofitel should be ashamed charging 1000€ per night using their name and branding and not offering any luxury in return ( a part from the fancy jewellery display at the lobby) We were lucky to find a room in the hotel du palais next door, the hotel puts the bar very high and is really the ultimate luxury experience.

Usually I like Sofitel so I was expecting the same quality. As soon as we pulled up to the hotel, we were disappointed the marquee was hanging the paint was chipping on the entrance building. Our room balcony was molded. Caulking was hanging ,the hallways baseboards were disgustingly, dirty, and ripping from the wall, I have never seen such a dirty, Hotel. I believe it’s because they are joining with condos, and the owners don’t want to renovate or something. Oh, and I forgot to mention the gym the paint on the wall was all molded. They had water infiltration through the skylights. I was a little bit scared to be there.

Great location but needs major upgrades. Rooms were fine, partial ocean view beautiful, but the hotel is super dated considering what they are charging for a room. Certainly not a 5-star hotel. The outside needs a total refurbishing. I was shocked driving up how grimy and yellow the outside "white" walls looked.

The ugliest building on the Miramar beach. Revamping should have been done years ago. It’s an embarrassment for all people living here. Rust, dirty walls and windows. You have lost a customer for other hotels Accor as not respecting people here ! Should be inform the city ?

What a fabulous location for a hotel. Check in at Reception, turn to the left and you’ll find yourself looking straight out of a wall of glass … at the sea. The hotel is literally right next to the beach. The only thing between it and the crashing waves is an outdoor pool and a narrow path, which winds all the way to the town. It goes through a delightful tunnel for part of the route, used by locals and visitors alike. The concrete floor is thick with damp sand that the sea tosses in at high tide every night. Very atmospheric. The Sofitel is a spacious, modern hotel, with large, comfortable bedrooms, each with its own private balcony and a very pleasant bar area where the Wales - England rugby match was on when we arrived. An unexpected bonus. Nice touch Sofitel. Our family group includes a disabled member, who found it a bit of a challenge to navigate a fairly large public space (it seems large if you can barely walk) in order to reach a lift that goes down to the breakfast room. (In the photograph, you can just about make out a figure with a walking stick in the distance.) I'm not sure what the hotel could do about this other than have the odd wheelchair available. Breakfast itself was great, the quality of the food was excellent and the staff very attentive. I'd definitely go back again next time I'm in Biarritz.