Minx

Biarritz: Bikini Beach Party Bingo

While the French Riviera is known for its beach scene, the Atlantic coast of France is mostly famous for rugged cliffs and windswept shores. But tucked into the very southwest corner of France, right on the border with Spain, is the surfing town of Biarritz.

Biarritz is more Gigdet than Bridget Bardot, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less of a scene - rest assured, everyone is watching in this impossibly chic beach town.

The Scene: Day

Your hottest MINX bikini will fit right in on the Plage Miramar, by far Biarritz’s most fashionable stretch of sand. The private cabanas are a classic throwback to old-time French style, but the real scene is out on the sand, where we don’t know who’s hotter - the supermodels or the surfers!

The Grande Plage is by far the white-hot epicenter of people watching, as its border with the Promenade means that it’s in plain sight of the bustling city center. It also means you can slip something over your MINX bikini and grab a quick bite to eat before returning to your regularly scheduled tanning.

If you’re looking for something a bit more exclusive, the Grand Luxury Hotel Palais has an elegant beachfront pool with an Old World feel, and the Radisson Blu has a super-sleek rooftop pool that most definitely rises above the riff-raff.

The Scene: Night

Thursday nights at the Radisson Blu’s rooftop Transat Lounge are a must, when a DJ accompanies the sweeping views of the cove. The Play Boy is where everyone eventually winds up, so you’re sure to see that cutie from the beach earlier. And Ibiza has what may be the most attractive bartenders in all of France. Le Caveau is the place to get your groove on, while Newquay sells tapas-like snacks to keep you fuelled all night long.

Just outside of town is the Plage d'llbarritz, a beach bar and club that really gets jumping after midnight. Shirts are required, but everyone’s wearing their beachwear as well… you’ll have to visit yourself to see what time the shirts come off!

Other Top Spots:

If you’re up for some fun while wearing your MINX bikini, there is plenty of opportunity with surfing lessons! There are several surf schools in Biarritz proper, which offer anything from an afternoon jaunt into the sea to an entire week’s package vacation that includes daily lessons. Boards are supplied, and it gives you a chance to mix with the locals waiting for the next set of waves to come rolling in.

There’s also world-class sightseeing, and you’re only a hop, skip and jump from the famed tapas and Basque cuisine of San Sebastian, Spain and the Bilbao Guggenheim.