Places to stay in the Loire Valley

Last summer we stayed at a charming RS recommended B&B in Amboise called La Grange: http://www.la-grange-amboise.com. Large, clean nicely decorated rooms in a quiet neighborhood which is just a short walk to the town center. Owner, Yveline, is very sweet and helpful. I noticed that her prices are more reasonable than other hotels/B&Bs in Amboise. We had a wonderful 3 night stay.

We just spent two nights in Azay-Le-Rideau at the Hotel Biencourt which was very nice. Easy parking just a few minutes away and two excellent restaurants just down the street - though the RS recommended Cote Cour is now open for dinner only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We had lunch there after visiting the chateau. The town was very convenient for our visits to Fontevraud, Chinon, and Langeais. We are now spending 5 days in a rental gite in La Croix en Touraine for visiting the central Loire, and on Saturday we move to La Flanerie to see Chambord and Cheverny. I'll be posting a trip report with reviews after we get back in late October.

How long will you be in the Loire and what are you planning to see? That's what drive our decisions on where to stay.

I stayed at La Grange in Amboise this year and also loved it. Yveline is a gem.

Thank you. I'll look into both places mentioned. Do you have a favorite chateau?

A few years ago we stayed at the Auberge de Launay and loved it. We spent four or five days in the area and never tired of the chateaux or scenery or towns along the way. For this location, a car is a must, however. We took the breakfast /dinner plan...something we had never done before...and were very happy. Beautiful meals, friendly service, enclosed restaurant or garden setting. It is located just along the road, not in a village, but was perfectly quiet...pretty much my number one criterion for lodging. It was so easy to just drive in and out without having to negotiate town traffic. It's location also made it easy to visit many sights, traveling east one day, west the next, etc. I think it has changed hands since our stay, but reviews on tripadvisor (where I found it) still appear to be positive. Safe travels.

Chenonceau, hands down.

In season, the Loire Valley can be very crowded, so it may be wise, since there are so many chateaux to visit, and driving is essential anyway, to choose a B&B/hotel/guesthouse or "Chambres d'hôtes au Château" (guestrooms in an authentic chateau! When visiting a chateau, what could be more exciting than staying in one!) a bit off the beaten track, in the little Loir valley which runs parallel to the main touristy Loire river. (the little Loire is written without an e, and is quaint, picturesque, "France as it used to be'. There are many to choose from, just go on Tripadvisor, and type in Pays de Loire, and select the one that suits you.

Thank you, I will definitely do that as we have some reservations but need a place for one or two more nights.

Tours! Tours! Tours!

Why?
1. The city is EASY access from Paris (via the TGV at Montparnasse)
2. Plenty of sights to see and a fabulous Beaux Arts museum
3. It's ON the Loire. In the summertime la ginguette is a lovely spot.
4. It's so accessible to the chateaux. There are many tour companies that leave from the train station or the office de tourisme.
5. Nightlife is great at Place Plumereau and there are so many fabulous restaurants, especially on rue Colbert
6. A stellar cathedral
7. After a day of chateau hopping, you're not going to want to stay cooped up in a bed and breakfast in a small, small town.