The four-pearl Hotel Barrière Le Westminster offers Old World charm and 115 rooms on the fringes of downtown Le Touquet. Classically outfitted rooms are comfortable, with desks, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and bathrobes, but some are showing their age, and none are air-conditioned. A Michelin-starred restaurant is high-end, and other amenities consist of a brasserie, cozy bar, chic spa, and summer dining terraces, plus 10 meeting rooms. This is an elegant, romantic pick, but those looking for something a bit cheaper may prefer Hotel Castel Victoria, which is also closer to the beach.

Holiday Inn isn’t synonymous with upscale amenities, but the ones at this modern four-pearl hotel on the quiet wooded edge of Le Touquet surpass brand standards. Its elegant rotunda restaurant (one of three on-site eateries) exceeds expectations. Ditto for its glass-capped common areas and fine recreational facilities, which include a rooftop tennis court, a games room, and a lovely large pool surrounded by banks of windows. The downside is that the property’s 88 guest rooms -- though bright, functional and family-friendly -- don’t hit the same high mark. Travelers looking for a more atmospheric alternative in the heart of this vintage Côte d'Opale town should consider booking into the Hotel Barrière Le Westminster instead: it’s an Art Deco icon built in the 1930’s.