Suggestion for base for western chateau in Loire: Saumur, Chinon, Azay or?

Brad, last October we stayed in Azay-le-Rideau for 2 nights, for the western part of our chateaux tour, and it worked pretty well. We loved our hotel, Hotel de Biencourt, which was close to several nice restaurants and just down the street from Azay the chateau. We visited Fontevraud, Chinon, and Langeais from there [then moved to a cottage rental not far from Amboise].

The Biencourt is an RS recommendation; I booked from the website and paid a bit more than was listed in the France 2014 book. In hindsight I wish I had emailed them and asked about the rate. But it was still quite reasonable - 86 euro per night, I think, plus 10.50 each for a good breakfast with croissants, breads, cereal, cheese and maybe cold meat, juices, coffee and tea, etc. Our host Patrick was very helpful, and the hotel is on a nice quiet street that is primarily pedestrian; you can drive down to drop off your bags [and in my case my 87yo mother] but parking is a few hundred feet away.

Feel free to PM if you'd like more details; we spent 11 days in the Loire valley [out of our 2 weeks in France] and loved it! Where else are you going?

Hi Brad, four years ago when we were exploring that part of the Loire, we stayed at Hotel Saint-Pierre in Saumur. I have checked online and it still looks terrific. It was very convenient, the owner was charming and helpful and we would go back in a heartbeat. He also told us about, arranged for us to see and gave us tickets for Cadre Noir, about 15 minutes away, the corps of Ecuyers, or instructors, at the École Nationale d'Équitation, the French military riding academy at Saumur. It also performs as an equestrian display team. They were a totally unlooked for enormous highlight. Also Chinon and Fontevraud Abbey made my heart sing. If you enjoy that part of the Loire as much as we did, you are really in for one of the best stays of your life!

In 2012 I stayed in Azay at the Grand Hotel Monarque. Enjoyed my stay there very much, the hotel was a couple of blocks from the chateau and the room was very comfortable and rate was affordable. I didn't eat there but they have a full restaurant that gets good reviews and a nice little back patio and garden area to sit and have a coffee or whatever in the morning or evening. I used it as a base for visiting Villandry and Fontrevaud Abbey, among other places.

Of the three, Saumur is absolutely my choice.

Thanks for your ideas.

The range of 80-90 euro per night for a double is about what I'm thinking. I can easily go up to maybe 125 for a double, but 200 starts going beyond what I want to budget per night.

I'm noticing most places charge extra for breakfast here (and in Normandy and Brittainy). If it's around ten euro each, I think I'd lean toward a quick stop at a bakery instead - unless it's a full English style breakfast.

Hi Brad: Quick stop in a bakery for breakfast is what I have done. I don't think you're going to get an English style breakfast in France, they don't believe in it.

Kent, that's funny. Brings to mind the French in Monty Python's Holy Grail.

Brad: Yep, the French philosophy on food and wine is, uhm, different than the British one. The French seem to have the same attitude I do about breakfast: best ignored, or at the most, tolerated.

My normal breakfast at home is really light. When I'm traveling, however, I'll go for a major breakfast so I'll have all the energy I need for a lot of walking. Lunch is usually a picnic with items bought from a grocery store or market. Dinner varies - sometimes a quick pizza, bratwurst or kibab, other times a nice sit down dinner.

On a RS tour last year we stayed in a great place in Chinon called Hotel Diderot. Modestly priced and a very worthy breakfast. Likely an extra charge as it is included in the tour. However, it may not be suitable for biking distances to places like Villandry, Aza de Rideau or Chennonceux.