> > by Craig Tansley
Lounging on a chaise lounge at a seaside bar, cocktail in hand, while the summer sun slowly sets into the Atlantic Ocean and all the beautiful people around you are alternating between staring at the horizon, and into their partner's eyes ... you could only be in one place. And really, could anywhere be more romantic than the south of France? Biarritz, just half an hour's drive north of the Spanish border, with a coastline that begs you to linger; all fishing boats and pleasure yachts, shallow emerald water washing over tall, jagged rocks, cute - as - a - button cafes serving fresh seafood served by forgetful waiters in pressed tuxedos, may be the world's most fetching seaside resort town. There's not much to do here but choose a beach to waste a day at, buy a baguette, play a game of petanque under some shady trees, order tapas (there's a heavy Basque influence here), wander through this striking historical town with its Victorian townhouses and stucco palaces and sip coffee in the sunshine.
At night the town comes alive- weaving your way through the alfresco diners and those taking their wines to the street is an art in itself. Nothing starts till late, so take your time over a candelit dinner and finish the evening in a romantic bar, sipping an aged Tannat from the nearby Madiran wine region. Do: Take a bus up the road to Bayonne for a journey into another world- Basque Country! It'll give your wallet time to breathe for a day- and the tapas and Basque pear cider are to die for. Where else can you feel like you're changing countries on a two euro bus ticket?! Don't: Eat at a middle-of-the-road Italian - style pizzeria, they're everywhere on this coastline and most have the atmosphere of McDonald's. If you feel like having a break from the high life, try the pinxtos (tapas) at a beach-side hut like Les Cents Marches where dishes start at one euro. Accommodation & Travel options Europe.