Bump for the Data Sheet.
So I just returned from an 11 day trip to Biarritz and overall I really liked and definitely would consider going back in the future and maybe trying to post up there for a month or two during the summer. Warning, a bit of a long read. I definitely preferred places that had outdoors patios (because you can't smoke inside).
Overview: Biarritz itself is a pretty condensed city that is bordered by Anglet and Bayonne. Anglet is another surf/resort town and Bayonne was somewhat of the transportation hub to the area (train station/airport). I mostly stayed in Biarritz and got the impression that, at least for nightlife, that's where most of the action was.
The city was extremely walkable as long as you are staying near/on La Grande Plage (best logistics for nightlife and beach), I only needed a taxi to go to Blue Cargo.
My trip encompassed mid-July, which was sort of the warm-up to the main summer season of August (plus and minus a couple days in July and September) and that tourist populations would start to grow. I saw this during my stay and could tell a distinct increase in beach population from when I got there to when I left. Festivals are also more numerous during this time.
Transportation: I arrived via plane to the airport which is sandwiched in between Biarritz, Anglet and Bayonne and was a short cab ride to the city center (~15 Euros). The area has a good bus system and I believe there is a stop at the airport, but I didn't bother with it. As mentioned before Bayonne also has the train station if you arriving from Paris via train. This also gives you access if you want to venture out to Spain or the surrounding area.
Taxis are pretty reliable, except when you are trying to find one at primetime nighttime hours, roughly 10-3, I found this out the hard way by waiting nearly an hour to get a taxi to go to Blue Cargo on a Friday night. I will touch on this later to learn from my mistakes.
You might want to consider locking down a driver (or make friends with locals) if you are going to be operating out of the Blue Cargo often.
Girls: I was quite impressed with the local talent. Most of the people here were French of some sort with a mixture of other European/Americans. I found the French girls (at least the late teens early twenties) to be petite, slim, with decent breasts, though they were mostly assless which is not a huge deal for me (but I know it is for some). I found that if they were into you they would let you know it by smiling or giving heavy eye contact.
English was more pervasive than I thought it was going to be (which was good), but you will still have girls that wont speak it or pretend not to speak it. They definitely appreciated attempts to speak some form of French.
Competition: At least at night it is above average. French guys are not afraid to approach (at night) run very aggressive game, though often this leads to punching themselves out. Also, they seem somewhat confrontational with girls, by that I observed about a dozen occurrences where they got into some sort of argument with a girl or were so aggressive that the girl straight up stormed out and left. Maybe I'm missing something by not knowing what actually happened (or hearing the conversation), but had really seen this before so it was noteworthy to me. It took me about a week to realize the direct straightforward game that they were running, which probably put me behind on swooping girls. I didn't meet any girls out by themselves.
During the day I didn't really see any day gaming, so that is probably your best bet (along with smoking outside at night) to meet fly girls without worrying if some dude is going to try to pull your girl away.
Saftey: Never once felt unsafe. I heard rumors that fights frequently occurring, but in the 11 days I was there I "heard" of one and never saw anything myself. Actually, I saw more arguments/confrontations between girls and guys than between guys.
Beaches: There are scores of beaches along the coast, but I'm only going to mention the ones I went to.
Cote des Basques: No sand at high-tide. Can really only go there at low tide. Not as busy as La Grand Plage or L'Anglet Plage. The Roxy Pro exhibition was at this (or just above) the beach.
Vieux Port: A small beach behind Arena Café, pretty crowded during the day with a couple girls by themselves for daygaming. Also has a cement ledge that you can jump off of at high-tide.
La Grand Plage: The main beach in Biarritz, the South End (by the Municipal Casino) is the most packed as most of the tourists go there. I preferred the north end (light house side), where it wasn't quite as packed and there seemed to be a higher density of topless girls.
L'Anglet Beach: Much longer than the others, not a noticeable difference between it an La Grand Plage as far as quality, though at least there is a promenade directly above the beach that has bars and restaurants.
Shopping: I found a couple of supermarkets that sold what I needed basic food items plus wine, champagne, alcohol. There also is a Farmers/Fish market that is open from 730am-100pm, but I never went to it.
There is a department store
Galleries Lafayette and along Avenue Edouard VII there are several upscale boutiques, but I never partook. If you need something for your wardrobe (shirt, blazer, shoes, jacket) check out
Victor Man.
Restaurants: Many around the city, most are open lunch, close then open again at 5 or 6 and go until 11-midnight, so no worries about getting a late start on dinner. I am not a big foodie (what I think is good is probably different than what others do), but here are a couple places that I found the food to be more than agreeable. In general I would eat cheap(er) during lunch and then splurge a little for dinner. Fish was the main type of restaurant that I found and I ate that more often than not with good reason with its proximity to the sea. Basque Food and Tapas Spots were also prevalent. One other thing that I had not seen before was they have a spicy olive oil that they put on their pizzas that was very delicious.
La Table Basque - traditional Basque cuisine, separate or 3 course meal.
Restaurant LMB - Decent 3 course meals
Bistro 2 Genies - Lables itself as a "bistronomie" not exactly sure what the hell that is but I enjoyed the food, 2/3 course meals.
La Casa de Juan Pedro - Basic, decent sea food place.
Bars: Primary spot to drink meet girls before clubs start going off at 1-2 am (depending on the day, clubs start earlier on weekends). No cover at bars.
204 - This spot confuses me. It has a great location overlooking La Grande Plage and is directly above Carre Coast, which was my favorite club, despite this its usefulness is probably limited as an evening (sunset) date spot. Usually only about a dozen people there at anyone one time and never really saw sets of girls to approach and yet they managed to throw a dope Bastille Day party (and was open until five instead of two, not sure what gives). Also serves dinner.
Arena Café - Overlooks the Port Vieux (Old Port), good date spot, but also decent for posting up at the outside bar and spitting game at groups of girls. Outside bar closes and the inside turns into a club at around midnight. Can also be a good sunset date spot, easy walking distance to Esplanade de la Vierge for a better view and something a little more private.
Café Café - Good pre-club that almost always had a good crowd, open during the day for Tapas.
Bar Basque - Tapas/Cocktail spot. Date location. Finding a spot outside can be tricky.
Blue Cargo - Dope spot. I wish they stayed open later than two, better have your logistics straight before coming here (especially on the weekend). Get there early and have dinner.
Palacito - Bar attached to the hotel of the same name. Outside patio was packed most time I went by, the inside can be a bit hot.
Ventrillo Café - Allowed to drink on the street and spit game. Usually had a good crowd.
Newquay - Seemed to be a surfer or expat hangout, a lot of English spoken, but still a decent crowd a few groups of cute girls.
Clubs: Depending on the club and the day of the week, usually doesn't get going until 130-2 (weekdays, but back up 30-60 minutes on weekends), still they are open until five so no rush to get there. All the clubs have cover, but the difference is that the better ones didn't give you a drink ticket. I read signs saying (for example Carre Coast) was 20 to get into the club, but I met several 18-20s so I don't think this is strictly enforced.
Carre Coast - Directly below 204, club that opens at midnight, but doesn't really get started until 1am or later. Good talent. 10 Euro entry, no drink ticket. I ended up here most nights (due to quality and it was steps from my apartment).
Le Caveau - Heavily hyped to me, the night I was there (a Tuesday or Wednesday) it was pretty mellow, but I saw it packed on weekends, so I probably should have given it a second chance, plus they serve vodka sodas in a large shot glass which pissed me off. 12 Euro cover.
Duplex - I had no expectations for this place, but was surprising decent (on a Thursday), 10 Euro cover, 1 drink ticket.
Playboy - Seemed to be the official post-Newquay club, didn't start until 2, lower end (based on dress). 10 Euro cover, 1 drink ticket.
Deja vu - Decent crowd when I went, but I've also seen it more crowded than Carre Coast, lower end (based on dress). Not sure about cover, because I just walked in both times no one said anything, but there was a cashier at the door (with people paying for something), so I think they just didn't notice me.
Budget Game: Clubs and bars were usually 8-11 euros for well mixed drinks, a little less for beer. I wouldn't necessarily recommend coming here if you are on a strict budget, but it can be done if you focus on day game and also, if you want to go out at night, head down to La grande Plage (South end, in front of the casino) with a bottle of liquor/mixer from the grocery store and infiltrate one of the dozens of groups that drink on the beach at night (younger crowd).
Blue Cargo Taxi Cab Game: The night I went to Blue Cargo, I didn't get much going (partly from getting there so late), I met up with a cute Swiss chick and her equally cute Turkish friend down from Paris. They invited me to an after party with their friends, only to have their friends tell me I couldn't come. Ouch. I figured I would have to hike all the way back to Biarritz because, most everyone drove and there were exactly 0 taxis around. Anyone who didn't have a ride was desperately trying to find one either by hitchhiking or vainly trying to dial a cab. You can probably skip the club and post up with a car and swoop groups of girls who are trying to get rides, even if they already "with" guys, and bounce them back to
your after party or a club. If you do screw up, fret not, as you won't have to walk the entire 4k back to the city, there is a bus stop (Cite de l'Ocean) 3/4ths of a mile away from Blue Cargo, but most don't know this.
Stories: Nothing too terrible exciting:
- Swooping a girl on Bastille Day on the promenade overlooking La Grande Plage.
- Getting a lime thrown at me (think Grenade toss, not Randy Johnson fastball) by a group of bottle service dudes after pulling a fly girl away from one of the "bros" when he was tried to infiltrate my conversation.
- Elderly chatting a cute French girl that was smiling at me, at a pizzeria (her bf was my waiter), gives me a wink as she leaves. Two days later on Bastille Day at 204 her bf recognizes me and comes and talks to me (thought that wasn't going to end well), but apparently ignorant tourist/elderly game works well to keep the bfs none the wiser.
- The aforementioned getting denied access to the after party by French dudes (can't hate too much, game recognized).
EDIT: Here is the link to a map I made of all the places mentioned in the Data Sheet:
https://maps.google.de/maps/ms?msid=2124...93390e4843
