7 hotels in 7 days

So far, Bayonne has not played nice. My first night was not super-fun – the hotel room had no light bulbs and no toilet seat. The second night I checked into a chain hotel just outside of town. The third night, after trucking my stuff back into town, it turned out that the hotel where I had a reservation has some water damage. Since it’s a holiday weekend, there were no other hotel rooms to be had. I ended up taking a spare bedroom in her sister’s house in the suburbs.

This is all part of the 7/7 blitz – a different hotel each night for 7 days straight. The tough part is the 11ish-2ish time period, after you check out but before you can check in. I’ve taken a few long lunches to work and park my suitcase, or asked hotels to watch it for me, but it’s tough to work around.

Tonight, however, is the crowning glory of the trip. A free night in Hotel du Palais in Biarritz. It’s an old palace built by Napoleon III, and it’s stunningly perched right on the ocean. I think they were a little surprised to see me today – I wore my Audrey Hepburn sunglasses and black dress to make up for my age, but this hotel is about as stuffy as you can get. Very old money, very old world Europe. Super wealthy crowds. The most awkward part is not knowing who to tip – so many people helped me into the hotel and up to my room that I couldn’t figure out what to do – I don’t have a six piece Louis Vutton luggage set – but I guess I still need that much help.

The suite they gave me for the night is perhaps the most luxurious I’ve ever seen – why I would need 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms and a full terrace with a complete ocean view, I’m not sure. But I’m sure glad they did – I plan on taking 3 showers in the next 20 hours I have this room. Here’s the view from the terrace.

And you’re darn right I went straight for the pool when I got here…