In the Royal Club Aquitaine estate of Moliets-Plage, a residential area, attractive Villa Aliénor is a leisurely 15-minute walk from Chênes-Lièges beach, a lovely plage verte within a nature reserve.

Warmly welcoming and cosily styled, the contemporary single-storey layout makes it easy if you’ve got little ones, and outside, a small lawn and an enclosed pool with optional heating keep it toddler friendly and a great spot to enjoy in the cooler months of summer. There’s also an electric barbecue for evenings eating al fresco on the decked terrace.

The local area

A short drive from the village of Moliets-et-Maa and surrounded by pine forests interwoven with peaceful cycle trails, this is the perfect base to relax into the natural beauty of your surroundings – and make the most of them. Chênes Lièges beach is quiet and undeveloped, perfect for those looking for a more natural seaside environment.

Much of the area’s beach life is centred on Moliets’ impressive and highly organised main beach (a 30min walk or short drive). The promenade leading down to the sand, lined with boutiques, surf shops and places to eat, is relatively touristy, but extremely family friendly. You could let teens flex their independence here for a few hours: there’s plenty to keep them occupied, in addition to the tennis courts nearby. And after the fun of the Atlantic Ocean’s tumbling surf, there’s a gentler side of beach life to be found around the charming Lac de Léon, including paddle-boarding, kayaking, pedalos and La Haut Aventure Park all about a ten-minute drive away.

Meanwhile, pretty Léon village is Moliets’ quieter, more traditional cousin with morning markets and at least three good local restaurants. It’s also a five-minute drive from the tranquil Courant d’Huchet nature reserve, where the main attraction is a guided gondola trip down to the coast through lush scenery described as the Amazon of Les Landes.

Days out

Hossegor, a 25-minute drive away, is where the laid-back surfer vibe of California meets the sophistication of France – and image-conscious teens will love it! Its excellent food hall, designer surf wear and chic markets and boutiques also make it a destination for shopping as well as soaking up beach life at its best. Nearby Capbreton offers a more authentic taste of coastal life and its renowned marina restaurants are where the locals go to sample the catch of the day from the local fish market.

The Pays Basque offers a different side of Aquitaine, with historic villages and rolling hills. The capital, Bayonne, is rarely on the tourist radar, but it’s a historic gem with a stunning cathedral as well as being the chocolate capital of France! A little further along the coast, you’ll find Biarritz, where Belle Époque glamour sits alongside a vibrant shopping, eating and cultural scene – all the more impressive for its dramatic coastal location.

Explore our pre-bookable experiences in Aquitaine

Our choice of French properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.