Tonic Hotel Biarritz - Biarritz, France     

I stayed in Tonic Hotel for 3 nights during July 2008 and I have to say that 4 stars is too much for this hotel. I have stayed in 3-star hotels in France that would put Tonic to shame. Breakfast was good, rooms were a bit small on the second floor (where I was staying), and "lost items" unfortunately were an issue, as another member has mentioned before... Personally, I returned to my room and didn't find my beach towel one day. Finally, it was returned to me after I asked about it, and the -very kind- receptionist told me the cleaning ladies had taken it by mistake along with the laundry (strange though, since it's a 2-meter multistriped Paul Smith towel and the laundry was all-white hotel towels...). The air conditioning was not working properly. The cleaningness if the ro?m was ok. Finally, the position is very central, but most rooms does not have ocean views because of other buildings blocking the view. No swimming pool. Bottom line is this hotel offers nothing special for a high price.

In any other place and according to general hotel standards the Tonic should not be valued higher than a 2-star. Although I had been booked by a high ranking French company - as their guest -I got a room that seemed not to have been renovated since the hotel was built. It was muggy, worn, lamps did not work, had three tiny single beds. My opposite neighbours parked most of their stuff - dirty towels, jackets, shoes, a huge pram in front of my door without any interference from the hotel staff. And the staff - including management - were not very helpful when I asked to change rooms or anything else for that matter. It took considerable time and effort to get a better room. I have stayed in many hotels in the south of France ranking from 2 to 5 stars and hardly ever been disappointed before.