We are headed to France in the Spring and I’d love the input from likeminded travelers (any friend of Rick Steves is a friend of mine)
I’ve decided the loire valley will be the last leg of our trip and staying in Amboise or Blois sounds like a dream. Who has stayed in either town and has a hotel recommendation? I like pretty places with a countryside vibe so anything that makes me feel like Belle will be perfect.
How many nights?
3 nights and I think we’ll take the train but then rent a car once we’re there. Does everyone think the direct train TGV will still run on May 1st?
In 2018 I stayed at a BnB in Blois that was a converted mill pond. Good size pond in the rear grounds. Walkable to the Blois city center and easily drivable to the chateaus and Amboise. Great landlords. I can find the information, if you are interested.
Chateau des Tertres in Onzain, halfway between the two
Le Manoir Les Minimes in Amboise. Probably in the top 5 of anywhere we’ve stayed in our 14 trips. Popular with many Rickstevians on this site.
Deluxe Manor Room €220/night in 2021 booked through their website but very much worth it.
Make sure to steal as many of the little bodywash miniatures as you can.
Blois is a city, the main (and largest) city of Loir et Cher. I find it a PITA to drive around. Amboise is a smallish town.
You'll first need to decide whether you want to stay in a city that has few tourist facilities, or a town that is increasingly only tourist facilities. I've got no idea who Belle is, so I don't know if either will fulfill the brief, but Amboise will be the more convenient for visiting other chateau.
The TGV goes to neither town. If you're staying in Amboise you can catch the TGV to Saint Pierre des Corps and hire a car there. You won't find car hire in Amboise.
If you want to feel like Belle from Beauty and the Beast then go to Colmar in the Alsace area in eastern France. The animated movie was based on the town of Colmar.
We stayed in Amboise when we visited the Loire Valley. We enjoyed Clos de Luce the home of Leonardo da Vinci and the Amboise Castle there. The food in Amboise was amazing. Many good restaurants.
I've only stayed in rentals in Amboise, but Peter's suggestion sounds goods.
Blois is a city, but it is a nice little city, not at all unmanageable. Not sure how one defines "tourist" amenities, but there are plenty of hotels and good restaurants in Blois, good looking pedestrianized shopping area, lively college quarter, etc.
Wow thank you all for the response! @Peter Le Manor looks perfect, I'm on their site now. @stephen I'll look into Onzain I hadn't considered it before although now I'm leaning towards Amboise. @Simon Bonjour! thanks for logistical info, we'll plan on taking the TGV to St P. @organizer8 Well now I know where I'm going on my next trip to Europe, Colmar looks like a dream. I wonder if I could combine it with a trip to Switzerland? @Hank for your rentals in Amboise, do you use Airbnb or Vrbo?
Merci Beaucoup!
