Cap Ferret
in Arcachon Basin

Remember childhood holidays to the beach, where sunny days were filled with toes in the water, sunbathing, and ice cream eating? Hôtel De La Plage brings back those playful memories in France's Cap Ferret Peninsula, a hot spot for escaping Parisians who are after a paparazzi-free vacation. With 12 colourful rooms right by the ocean, interiors are carefree and beachy (we love the stripes and squiggle wall lights). These aren't rooms you feel bad about getting sandy. Say hi to locals who also love the hotel's cherry red-and-white fronted restaurant (order the oysters, they're known for them) before grabbing some fun merch to take home. It’s a subtle place to see and be seen, but with no frills attached.

The scent of maritime pine reaches you before the cabin does. Le Cœur du Ferret sits deep in the Cap Ferret forest, a short walk from the oyster shacks and Atlantic swells that give this peninsula its particular hold on people. Iconic House have stripped the interior back to raw wood, linen and low lighting (the kind of place where phones feel out of place). Though Cap Ferret draws a knowing Parisian crowd each summer, the cabin sits removed enough to feel like a secret. Arrive without a plan. That is the point.