With a cheap Stansted flight to Perpignan, a hire car, and a little hotel in the foothills of the Pyrenees near Argeles on the Med coast booked via the internet, hubby, myself and our 8 year old son were not sure what to really expect...we weren't disappointed...ok so we got a little lost en route from the airport - albeit via the scenic coastal route - but this pretty 17th century Catalan mansion now converted into a peaceful 17 roomed hotel took our breath away! The garden, with its warm clean inviting swimming pool and suitably trendy parasols and sunbeds, was an instant magnet for my son, who was out of his sweaty travelling clothes and into his swim shorts before we could say 'une biere froid s'il vous plait'..(well they speak good english there - probably just as well...). Our room was cool and comfortable with a huge marble tiled bathroom...perfect! The terrace around the pool is transformed into a contemporary diners paradise in the evening - with exquisite food and views of the Pyrenees nearby to match..breakfast is also taken by the pool. My only slight gripe was the lack of choice for my son at dinner - but Magalie the owner always found something he would eat...whether fresh melon and local ham to start, and some tender steak avec frites - topped with rich chocolate ice cream, he was soon tucking in.
The port at Argeles sur Mer and also the beautiful Catalan town of Collioure a few miles along the coast have a variation of other cheaper and more expensive options with delicious mussels and the local speciality of anchovies or even tapas available.
The hotel is only 15 mins drive from the fabulous huge clean beaches, but my son's best day was the one spent at the Aquapark in St Cyprien - great fun!! A lovely holiday..
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.