We loved this hotel.... Immaculate and tasteful. The staff were lovely...friendly, polite and helpful. The locate is superb...just next to the busy cafe area and the beach, but quiet. Lovely breakfast too. Couldn't have been better.

Hotel staff location all were wonderful

The only issue we had was 4 days of rain and in fairness the hotel could not do anything about that. From the moment we arrived check in took 2mins to the time we left everything was 5 stars in our eyes. We have travelled a great deal but this hotel deserves 6 stars if possible

Quick summary: the room and hotel were charming and comfortable, very clean, and a short walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants. The staff are friendly, helpful, and professional. However, internet access is a mess, and some might have an issue with the key lock system.

Room 102 has a king-sized bed and felt roomy enough. Storage space is very good -- 2 closets with drawers, desk with many drawers. The bed is comfortable and has sheets and blankets, which I prefer to duvets (which always seem too warm. I can better adjust sheets and blankets to suit the temperature rather than rank up the AC.) Excellent housekeeping. The room has a window that opens with shutters, allowing lovely air as the day cools off. The room overlooks the street, but the street seems pretty quiet and we were not bothered by street noise, even on a Friday night.

The bathroom has a shower-only, no tub, with bath gel dispenser on the wall (A hotel trend in much of Europe.) Okay counterspace and towels.

There is a comfortable lounge and a very nice outdoor flower-filled patio area in back. A very good breakfast (pastries, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffe/tea) is served there in nice weather.

Parking has a 15 euro surcharge in a guarded underground public parking garage. It's an easy walk away.

There is an elevator and stairs.

The location is only a few blocks from the beach, and an easy walk to shops, cafes, the harbor, etc. We strongly recommend the Italian restaurant La Florentina on the same street, and check out the lovely hatshop nearby.

The staff is very friendly, helpful, and professional.

There is no one at the desk after 10 p.m. Entry into the hotel after that hour is by a coded keypad on the door.

The issues we had may or may not be important to you on your trip:

1. This has the worst setup for internet access I've seen in my 25 years of using the internet. Yes, there is no charge, but the system requires a lengthy registration process each time, i.e. name, address, country, telephone number, etc. and etc.. This could be tolerable if the system was stable, i.e. there were many dropped connections, which required a re-registration. A re-registration was also required when you changed online functions, e.g. doing a Google search after you checked your email. Considering we were toward the end of a 5-week European trip and used many hotel internet services en route, we've handled a range of internet options, and theirs is absolutely unacceptable.

2. There is a key lock system that uses an actual key. This normally would be okay except that there is no separate deadbolt lock inside the room, i.e. you use the same key to lock yourself in at night. Even worse, the key is attached to the power card that is commonly found in many hotels these days. While I don't mind those, picture it: if you had to open the door at night (in an emergency? to put out the "do-not-disturb sign" you forgot to put out?), you would have to cut the power, fumble in the dark for the lock, and open the door. Of course, this could be easily rectified with a separate power card and a deadbolt, but the management hasn't thought that far...

Speaking of locks: there is a small in-room safe with a key lock. I assume that you need to ask the desk for the key since none was in the safe. We don't trust such safes.

3. There is a TV, but we could not find any stations in English. While I speak some French, it's nice to have an English language channel for general news.

To sum: the room itself is fine, but there are some issues that may impact your comfort level.

As I understand it since earlier reviews this hotel changed hands and is now owned and run by the delightful Sylvie and staff. Sylvie has brought her own exquisite style to the hotel. I just could not fault it. The decor and attention to detail throughout was superb. The bedroom and bathroom were well equipped and the breakfast - taken in a beautiful courtyard on fine days - was excellent consisting of fresh fruit and local cheese and bayonne ham - fantastic selection of breads and pastries and delighful service. Just up the road is the beach and round the corner the main town yet this remains a tranquil oasis. No parking but we were given a pass for the casino covered car park and that was charged at 11E a day. St Jean de Luz is a fantatic place with wondeful Basque cookery and recommends from the hotel staff. Loved it all!! Don't stay anywhere else in St Jean. I understand that the Marisa was in the Tripadvisor top 10 B&B hotels in Europe - I can understand why.