{"id":98872,"date":"2024-03-29T15:08:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T19:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.tablethotels.com\/en\/?p=98872"},"modified":"2026-03-26T18:00:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T22:00:25","slug":"hotel-des-dunes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.tablethotels.com\/en\/2024\/03\/hotel-des-dunes\/","title":{"rendered":"Hotel des Dunes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There\u2019s a case to be made that one of the most quintessentially American surf-shack motels isn\u2019t in Malibu or Montauk. It\u2019s in Cap Ferret, France. Presenting: Hotel des Dunes.<\/h4>\n

Book Hotel des Dunes<\/a> on Tablet Hotels.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We knew Hotel des Dunes way back when. Karine Tiphagne-Hecquet and husband Jean-Philippe had spent years living in New York and sampling all of America\u2019s best surf destinations. In 2021, they returned to France to start their own boutique hotel, and they reached out to a member of our team for advice. \u201cWe said to ourselves that if we do things right,\u201d Katrine tells us today, \u201cHotel des Dunes should have its place on Tablet.\u201d Well, they did it right. In 2023, we chose Hotel des Dunes as one of the best designs<\/a> of all the new hotels added to our site.<\/p>\n

We wish we could take more credit. But the roots of Hotel des Dunes far predate that one conversation. The owners are bona fide hotel aficionados, with a speciality in seaside surf boutiques. Inspired by places like the Hotel June<\/a> and Surfrider<\/a> in Malibu, the Surf Lodge in Montauk, and the Surfjack<\/a> in Hawaii, they set out to build their own version of a distinctly American model: a casual, chic boutique restored from a historic motel.<\/p>\n

Whatever the inspirations, the execution is entirely local. Karine and Jean-Philippe took the bones of the accommodations, first opened in 1969, and reworked them with art and handcrafted furniture from French artisans, antique accessories, and painstakingly sourced black-and-white postcards that give a sense of the place\u2019s storied past. Interiors are chic and elegant, with light colors and raw materials that emphasize a setting by the sea.<\/p>\n

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On a razor-thin peninsula an hour\u2019s drive from Bordeaux, the 13-room Hotel des Dunes is one of a very few public accommodations in this most laidback of French beach towns. It\u2019s that dearth of options on this protected spit of land, perhaps, that keeps away the swarms of tourists. The place swells in the summer, but with regulars \u2014 who often stay at their own family villas.<\/p>\n

That might remind Americans of Cape Cod or Martha\u2019s Vineyard, and it goes without saying that Cap Ferret is an upscale setting. But the town keeps its pomp to a minimum. It\u2019s literally impossible to traverse around the terrain here in high heels, and the same can be said of flashy sports cars. Admittedly, the many vintage Land Rovers might betray some sense of the town\u2019s clientele.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless. For decades, what the town\u2019s most known for has been its oyster industry, surfing, views, and access to Dune du Pilat \u2014 the tallest sand dune in Europe. \u201cOysters and sand sums up quite a bit of the Cap Ferret experience,\u201d attests Tiphagne-Hecquet.<\/p>\n

At Hotel des Dunes, take a bicycle to the daily market, enjoy a picnic on the beach, hike, surf, grab a hotel-prepared aperitif basket for sunset, try yoga on the terrace, and take a trip to the best oyster shacks in the country.<\/p>\n

California cool, maybe \u2014 but French to the bone.<\/p>\n

Book Hotel des Dunes<\/a> on Tablet Hotels.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Nuts & Bolts<\/h4>\n

A bite-sized breakdown of your most frequently asked questions about Hotel des Dunes<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Who comes here?<\/strong>
\nGuests tend towards the international, but whoever you are, come for a highly relaxed atmosphere and an escape completely steeped in the local attractions. Visitors should like the following: oysters, yoga, hiking, swimming, surfing, lounging, design, eating, small towns, biking…<\/p>\n

When\u2019s the best time to visit?<\/strong>
\nThe hotel closes for winter, around mid-November, and reopens in March. Summer\u2019s beach time, but don\u2019t be afraid to consider Cap Ferret for fall or spring, when you\u2019ll have the town more to yourself.<\/p>\n

What else is there to do in the area?<\/strong>
\nFresh oysters and a splash of white wine. The hotel team will gladly recommend their favorite restaurants and oyster shacks, but explore too hiking among the dunes, wild beaches and peaceful beaches, surfing, bicycling, the iconic Cap Ferret lighthouse, and a summer market full of traditional products.<\/p>\n

Best room for a solo traveler? A couple? A family?<\/strong>
\nHotel des Dunes has 11 rooms and two suites. The Sunrise Standard and the Sunny Balcony will work perfectly for solo travelers or couples, and the suites add a second room with convertible sofa bed for a larger party. Most rooms come with balcony or other private outdoor space.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a design feature I would miss if you didn\u2019t tell me about it?<\/strong>
\nThe idea was to give the hotel a \u201choliday spirit,\u201d a feeling of simplicity and relaxation that\u2019s nonetheless chic and elegant. In practice: light colors of blue, white, sand and sun yellow, natural materials, custom furniture in raw pine, vintage elements, antique accessories, and stripes to evoke the seaside spirit.<\/p>\n

Anything to say about sustainability?<\/strong>
\nAt the moment of opening, the hotel became a partner of the Surfrider Foundation Europe, which works towards improvements in marine litter, water quality, coastal management, and climate change. The hotel participates too in beach cleaning initiatives.<\/p>\n

What’s there to eat?<\/strong>
\nBreakfast is the big event \u2014 from 8 to 10:30 in the dining room, terrace, or in your room. Local products, homemade pastries, and cakes rule the day \u2014 or order your favorite avocado toast or eggs. The hotel has no restaurant, but serves a living room snack at 4:30, and provides refreshments any time you need. Don\u2019t miss too your chance to grab a picnic basket for the beach, and an ap\u00e9ro basket (half a bottle of wine, tapas) for sunset.<\/p>\n

What’s the final word?<\/strong>
\nA deeply local, deeply French version of the classic American motel-turned-boutique. When you’ve gotten your fill of the city, you come here for an escape.<\/p>\n

Book Hotel des Dunes<\/a> on Tablet Hotels.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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(All photos courtesy of Ga\u00eblle Rapp Tronquit<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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