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Saint Malo - inside or outside walls

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We will be spending two nights in Bretagne before one night in Mont St Michel. I’m currently booked in a hotel inside the walls that seems to meet my needs (elevator, air conditioning, parking, though if someone can help with luggage, we can live without the elevator). It doesn’t have a pool though, and I keep feeling like it would be nice to have a pool. I have found another hotel outside the walls on the water that does meet our needs. It seems to be about a 20 minute walk to the city, which I presume we would be doing each day. We will have a car, but I expect to not be using it much except between hotels. I would not expect I’d be driving in and around Saint Malo itself. Happy for any input on which location may end up being better (or another hotel rec altogether).

In case anyone is familiar, the two hotels are Le Nouveau Monde and Le Grand B.

Posted by
6916 posts

The old town can be very busy, and the beachfront where Hotel du Nouveau Monde is located is beautiful. I personally prefer that location. St Malo itself is only worth a few hours of walking around IMO, so you are likely to end up driving to other places e.g. Dinard during your stay.
Edited to add that there are many restaurants in the beach part of town, too, so no need to go back to the old town for dinner which would be annoying.

Posted by
156 posts

@balso yes, for sure this is our time to see Brittany (well, part of it at least) and I do intend to go to other areas. Thanks for the advice!

Posted by
8071 posts

I have always been disappointed when I booked something 'just as good' as being in the center of things. St. Malo in the walls, Mont St. Michel on the Mont etc is IMHO usually a better bet. St. Malo is full of wonderful small restaurants -- I like a one minute stroll to dinner not a 20 miinutes one. YMMV

Posted by
13987 posts

On a Road Scholar tour I stayed in Hotel Oceania Saint-Malo which was outside the walls but closer than your hotel. It was not a bad walk and I loved that the breakfast room faced the beach.

I found more to do than just a few hours worth but I particularly wanted to see the tides change and be able to go out to the 3 islets which are cut off at high tide. The walk around the walls is terrific and I love seeing the diving board at the public pool sticking up out of the sea at high tide. I did not get to the WWII German Bunker right outside the walls.

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