Where the Atlantic Ocean crashes onto the coast of south-west France lies the Côte d'Argent, a ribbon of silver sand, 230km in length, which is popular with surfers, anglers, families, and celebrities in search of a little privacy.

Renting a villa is a good bet in Soulac-sur-Mer, Cap Ferret or Hossegor. Always ask for somewhere shady, and check it's not on a main road. Asking for an old villa helps. Local tourist boards have numerous rental agency numbers. Alternatively, try Agence Alizés, 29 rue des Goélands, 33970 Cap Ferret (00 33 5 56 60 48 57; www.agence-alizes.com), Agence No 1, 15 boulevard Junqua, 40130 Capbreton (00 33 5 58 72 21 21; www.touradour.com/immo/agenceno1/gb), or Agence Petit, avenue de Paris, 40150 Hossegor (00 33 5 58 43 54 42; www.touradour.com/immo/petit).
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, these are among the best:

OCEAN HOTEL LOISIRS
Boulevard de l'Amélie, Soulac-sur-Mer (00 33 5 56 09 78 05; fax: 56 09 75 41). Small, 21-bedroom, three-star hotel with stunning views, pool and decent restaurant. Open 1 April-5 November. £

HOTEL DES PINS
Boulevard de l'Amélie, Soulac-sur-Mer (00 33 5 56 73 27 27; fax: 56 73 60 39). A more modest alternative, with 31 rooms and a longer season (April-December). £

VILLA TERESA
Hôtel Sémiramis, Allée Rebsomen, Arcachon (00 33 5 56 83 25 87; fax: 57 52 22 41). A beautifully restored belle-époque villa with 20 rooms and eccentric service. £

COTE SUD
Avenue du Figuier, Pyla-sur-Mer (00 33 5 56 22 59 16; fax: 56 83 24 13). A small (eight-bedroom) modern hotel, just out of town and almost in the shade of the Dune du Pilat, with sea views and a large restaurant. £

LA MAISON DU BASSIN
Rue des Pionniers, Cap Ferret (00 33 5 56 60 60 63; fax: 56 03 71 47). A recently renovated seven-room inn with restaurant and bar set in an old oyster warehouse. £

HOTEL LES PINS
Rue des Fauvettes, Cap Ferret (00 33 5 56 60 60 11; fax: 56 60 67 41). A traditional hotel with 14 rooms and a great veranda. Open April-November. £

GOLF HOTEL DE SEIGNOSSE
Avenue de Belvedere, Seignosse (00 33 5 58 41 68 40; fax: 58 41 68 41). A comfortable modern hotel with 45 bedrooms, overlooking the famed Seignosse golf course. £

HOTEL LE MERCEDES
Avenue du Tour du Lac, Hossegor (00 33 5 58 41 98 00; fax: 58 41 98 10). Thinks its the best hotel in town; centrally located overlooking the lake. £

HOTEL BEAUSEJOUR
Avenue du Tour du Lac, Hossegor (00 33 5 58 43 51 07; fax: 58 43 70 13). Also popular and situated in a much quieter location than the Mercedes. £

The Michelin Red Guide France (www.ViaMichelin.co.uk) offers the most exhaustive selection of hotels and restaurants in France.

Fish and shellfish are everywhere, as is locally reared poultry - the duck and chicken are superb. Chanterelles are a speciality in season. Look out for pibales (baby eels from the Adour), too. The close proximity to Bordeaux means that wine lists tend to be huge. Landes wine, particularly from the Chalosse or Tursan, shouldn't be overlooked.

LE PATIO
Boulevard de la Plage, Arcachon (00 33 5 56 83 02 72). Slightly over-the-top decor made up for by elaborate cuisine such as the suprême de turbot au vin des Graves. ££

RESTAURANT LES VIVIERS
Gujan-Mestras, Bassin d'Arachon (00 33 5 56 66 01 04). A traditional restaurant in an old oyster-packing warehouse outside Arcachon. Great value for shellfish. ££

RESTAURANT LE ROUF
Route de Cap Ferret, Le Canon (00 33 5 56 60 56 52). Roadside eatery of excellent quality. ££

RESTAURANT AU BON COIN DU LAC
Avenue du Lac, Mimizan (00 33 5 58 09 01 55). A classically good restaurant in a peaceful setting by the lake. Try the salade de léchassier landais. Also has four rooms. £££

LE RELAIS DE LA POSTE
Avenue de Maresmne, Magescq (00 33 5 58 47 70 25). Slightly inland but worth the journey. The Coussau brothers have created a formidable kitchen here, specialising in rich pickings such as the foie gras de canard chaud aux raisins. Also has 13 inexpensive rooms. £££

LES HUITRIERES DU LAC
Avenue du Touring-Club, Hossegor (00 33 5 58 43 51 48). The oysters here are served in the traditional Landais fashion - with a fat sausage. ££

AIRPORT
The nearest airport is Bordeaux. From Bordeaux, the drive to Soulac-sur-Mer takes about 90 minutes, and to Cap Ferret about 50 minutes.

AIRLINES FROM THE UK
British Airways (0845 773 3377; www.britishairways.com) flies from London Gatwick to Bordeaux. Air France (0845 084 5111; www.airfrance.com) flies from London Heathrow to Bordeaux via Paris or Lyon.

CAR HIRE
Both Hertz (08708 484 848; www.hertz.co.uk) and Avis (0870 606 0100; www.avis.co.uk) are represented in the Côte d'Argent. In both cases, the car can be collected from Bordeaux airport.

This is the ideal summer holiday destination, as long as you don't mind sharing the beach with other sunseekers. Book rooms well in advance, especially for August, when the Lacanau Pro surf competition is held just north of Arcachon.

A choice of three: Soulac-sur-Mer tourist office (00 33 5 56 09 86 61); Cap Ferret tourist office (00 33 5 56 03 94 49); Hossegor tourist office (00 33 5 58 41 79 00).