Sofitel Biarritz le Miramar Thalassa Sea & Spa

Terrible. NOT 5 star. The hotel is dirty and in need of complete refurbishment. Hallways are dark and gloomy with eco friendly lighting which may save the plant/euros for Sofitel, but which is extremely depressing and unsafe. Spoke to receptionist who offered an equally disappointing room for an extra €100 a night! Wow. I was already paying more than €400 for just a room! Duty manager was useless. General manager, who I emailed after my stay, was equally useless. No acknowledgement for his hotel’s dreadful state of repair. I am still awaiting a more considered response. Do NOT stay here. I have photos and videos which illustrate that this is a hotel barely worth a 2 star rating. Truly awful. Other reviewers say staff are friendly. So what? This is a 5 star establishment who should be offering 5 star accommodation and service.

I rate the Sofitel a 3 but it’s really only a 2 if I was to only judge the hotel. The location and the pool were the absolute highlight’s and for this we give a 5! Biarritz has a stunning coastline but please spend your money elsewhere! This hotel pretends to be a 5 star hotel with wellness spa. Thank goodness I had not planned my trip around the spa itself. I think if this was in Australia, it would be shut down. When you take the lift to the spa , you arrive into a waste land! Depending on which way you arrive, it is a rabbit warren of empty corridors, closed doors with French signage! I couldn’t even find the toilet. After paying $700 AUD for 3 treatments, you would expect a warm welcome, and someone assisting you to your next treatment. No not here, you are on your own (naked in a robe) trying to ask for directions to the next room however nobody speaks English. My treatment was booked with a Physiotherapist however I think she was barely qualified for a massage! Highlights from my family were the soft robes and spacious rooms, big beds with cozy mattresses toppers and soft linen. Great valet and reception but that’s it for service. Pool is saltwater and perfectly cool! We could not find the indoor pool

disappointing stay, room bathrooms and toilets are very dated, toilets are like something from a 1970s 2 star hotel, unfortunately there were mosquitoes in our room from when we arrived, we got bitten numerous times before I could finally find and kill them on our third night, the staff will find the dead mosquitoes on ceiling of room 601, departure experience was very poor, I emailed our boarding passes to hotel reception asking could they print them for us, after 90 minutes I had still received no reply so went to reception, staff member said I hadn't sent the emails or at least they hadn't received them (I had sent them to 2 email addresses by now), I had to go back to my room to get my laptop to prove that I had actually sent the email(s), when I returned to reception the 2 staff members were still there but refused to speak to me, another guest arrived to check out so 1 staff member dealt with her, still ignoring me, I then asked to speak to a/the manager, second reception staff member now held a derogatory phone conversation about me with her manager thinking that I could not understand French and could not understand what she was saying, manager arrived, I explained the situation and she said they had actually received my emails and would print them, when I informed that the reception person had said otherwise the reception simply gave a Gallic shrug/"who cares" attitude, at the rates that this hotel charges I have no deep desire to have my time wasted, be lied to, deceived, misinformed or criticised in derogatory phone conversations between staff while standing at public hotel reception area

So when it comes to picking up a hotel for a new destination you always go for the safest choice and by picking a 5 stars Sofitel hotel, you believe it will be great luxury but let me tell you that this isn’t the case in this one at all. The 2 stars rating is only for the great staff at reception and door and the service including the great house keeping. The hotel it self is a rip off for the price, we were given a smokers room upon check in and couldn’t have it changed due to hotel full capacity, it had a strong smell of old tobacco and the only solution they could come up with is spray an even harsher chemicals in our room and asking us to leave the room. The building is so old and requires urgent renovation, balcony is outdated with uncomfortable metal chairs. We also stopped going to breakfast because we couldn’t find much choice or selection for us. Cocktails are charged for 20€+ and food expensive for what it is. I really think Sofitel should be ashamed charging 1000€ per night using their name and branding and not offering any luxury in return ( a part from the fancy jewellery display at the lobby) We were lucky to find a room in the hotel du palais next door, the hotel puts the bar very high and is really the ultimate luxury experience.

Great location but needs major upgrades. Rooms were fine, partial ocean view beautiful, but the hotel is super dated considering what they are charging for a room. Certainly not a 5-star hotel. The outside needs a total refurbishing. I was shocked driving up how grimy and yellow the outside "white" walls looked.

The ugliest building on the Miramar beach. Revamping should have been done years ago. It’s an embarrassment for all people living here. Rust, dirty walls and windows. You have lost a customer for other hotels Accor as not respecting people here ! Should be inform the city ?