Thermes de l'Avenue

Thermes de l'Avenue sits in the historic center of Dax and combines a 73-room, 25-studio hotel with a thermal spa, the Aqua Terra spa, and a restaurant called Lou Caçairot. The Darracq family bought the original hotel in 1931, and it's now run under the Originals Hotels Human & Resorts group by Frédéric Puythorac, a descendant of the founding family.

The spa side centers on thermal water: a supervised pool, sauna, hammam, fitness room, aquabike and aquagym classes round out the facilities. For those after a structured program, the mini-cure packs 20 thermal and esthetic treatments into five days, aimed at people who want a short, focused reset rather than a multi-week cure. A day pass is available for anyone who wants to use the spa without booking a treatment course or staying at the hotel.

Lou Caçairot, the in-house restaurant, serves regional French dishes with a seasonal menu, using local and fresh ingredients, and has both an indoor dining room and a terrace. Opening hours run 6am to 1pm, Monday through Saturday, with the spa closed on Sundays. Parking is free and secured, with 60 spaces available on a first-come basis. Staff speak English in addition to French.

The spa currently supports the association Les Fées No Men, which helps people affected by cancer, through a donation tied to restaurant menu and spa treatment purchases during a set October promotional period — worth checking directly with the venue for current terms.