Malibu Village

Malibu Village Overview

You know what caught me off guard about Malibu Village? The name makes it sound like some flashy California knockoff, but honestly, this little place on Avenue les hauts de canet has way more character than I expected. It’s tucked up in the residential part of Canet-en-Roussillon – not right on the beach strip where all the tourist chaos happens, which actually turned out to be perfect.

The whole vibe is refreshingly unpretentious. They don’t bother with star ratings or fancy lobby displays, and I mean that in the best way possible. When I walked in, it felt more like staying at a friend’s stylish apartment than checking into a hotel. The owner (I think?) was behind the desk and actually knew the area – like, really knew it. She pointed me toward this little market about three blocks down where locals shop, and steered me away from the touristy restaurants near the port. The rooms themselves are what I’d call thoughtfully simple. Mine had these whitewashed walls and windows that actually opened wide – you could hear the neighborhood coming alive in the mornings, kids heading to school, that sort of thing. The bed was comfortable enough, though the pillows were a bit soft for my taste. What I really appreciated was the little kitchenette setup; nothing fancy, but you can make coffee without trekking downstairs or brew some tea if you’re winding down after a long day exploring Perpignan or hitting the beaches.

Parking was surprisingly easy – there’s street parking right outside, and during my stay in late September, I never had trouble finding a spot. I imagine July and August might be different stories though. The location really grew on me because you’re maybe a fifteen-minute walk to the beach, but far enough from the summer crowds that you can actually sleep with the windows open. Plus, you’re right there when you want to explore inland – the train station’s close if you want to pop over to Collioure for the day, and honestly, having a car gives you easy access to all those gorgeous Catalan villages tucked into the hills. It’s not going to wow you with amenities or blow you away with luxury, but Malibu Village does something better – it gives you a genuine slice of what living in this corner of southern France actually feels like, without the tourist markup or pretentious atmosphere you get closer to the waterfront.