On the edge of a pine forest, near the southern tip of the Médoc peninsula, “Soulac is a proper little seaside town”, and l”Amélie is a “sort of suburb”. Here, this Logis de France, white-fronted, red-roofed, is “very well run” by its owners, M. and Mme Moulin, say visitors this year. “They have a fine sense of humour and an excellent staff. At breakfast each day we received the demi-pension dinner menu with a request to tell Monsieur by 10 am if any dish did not meet our wishes. Twice we asked for an alternative and this was readily agreed. The menu was never repeated. The restaurant [with a huge fish tank] was always full, but residents were not given short shrift. Large wine list (lots of Bordeaux, of course). We were the only British.” The garden has a wide lawn, pine trees, deckchairs and parasols. Close by is a vast sandy beach (“cleaned daily by the municipality; no deckchairs; bring your own”).