Hello! We are looking for a relaxing upscale "non-touristy" beach hotel somewhere in Normandy or about an hour or hour and a half North of Normandy. Ideally, it would be a hotel that has direct beach access, but also has a place with great local French restaurants and shopping areas. We want something clean and nice and in a quaint lovely town. Thank you!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7137 posts
Could you be a little more specific as to your preferred location? Normandy has about 600 km of coastline. An hour and a half north of Normandy? Assuming le Treport as the northernmost tip of Normandy, you'd be looking at Boulogne-sur-Mer as your furthest point north. What time of year will you be there? Will you have a car? Budget?
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Hi! Yes, I suppose we could stay anywhere up to an hour or hour and a half from Utah Beach in Normandy. We are there to visit the historical sites but only for a day. We will be there June 22-25 of this year. And we will have a car. I am hoping we can find a beachfront hotel that will help us coordinate a day trip to Utah beach, then we plan to just relax at the hotel for the rest of the time. We would love a hotel where we can walk to shops and restaurants as well. Our budget is up to $1,000 per night. Thank you!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7137 posts
That certainly helps. I can't suggest anything close to Utah Beach, which is the furthest west of the D Day beaches. Several years ago we spent a few nights in Courseulles-sur-Mer, which is on Juno Beach. We stayed at La Cremaillere Hotel-Restaurant which is across the promenade from the beach proper, and can recommend it. We spent our days visiting the battle sites, museums and cemeteries as well as various towns as far away as Cherbourg and Dieppe. Hopefully others can recommend beach front hotels in other Normandy towns.
Posted by
Washington DC
30464 posts
I'm not sure to what degree, if any, you are expecting to enjoy time actually on the beach. The weather in Normandy, even in the summer, tends to be overcast, cool and wet. A rare heat wave is possible, and there are naturally some days that fall in the very pleasant, middle range, but you just cannot count on beach weather on any particular day.
Weather can vary a lot from year to year, so I recommend using the pull-down box at the right, just above the graph, to take a look at the weather statistics in June of earlier years. You can find similar data for other locations via the Search box at the upper right.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3057 posts
Have you not considered Deauville, a classic beach town/resort about an hour north of Bayeux, the main entry point for visiting the DDay beaches? It was a beach playground for the rich and upper classes beginning in the 19th century. It is touristy, yes, but as far as I am aware, any Normandy beach town with hotels and a decent amount of eateries will be a tourist location, especially in July and August when the French go on vacation. The upscale vibe you seek would be apt in Deauville. There are golf courses and a casino there, plus lots of restaurants and shops. For your budget you should find something very, very nice. Best of luck!
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
36603 posts
-second hand up for Deauville - it comes with all the history and 19th and 20th century magnificent (yes, upscale) buildings
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3680 posts
I agree about Deauville.
The Hotel Le Normandy (it was said to be the most beautiful hotel in the world when it opened in 1912)
https://www.hotelsbarriere.com/deauville/le-normandy
and right next door, the Hotel Le Royal
https://www.hotelsbarriere.com/deauville/le-royal-deauville
And also not far from there, in Cabourg, the Grand Hôtel Cabourg
https://mgallery.accor.com/en/hotels/1282.html
3 historic hotels for (wealthy) lovers of French excellence