When we found out that our downstairs neighbors were having their annual house party, we knew that…read moreif we wanted to sleep through the night, it would have to be somewhere other than our apartment. What a great excuse for skipping town and heading to the countryside, we thought! And thus ensued a furious bought of B&B research to find the perfect home away from home. I searched and searched and was coming up empty, and then bam, this place with is minimal design, gorgeous location and right price, caught my attention. I called and a very kind man said there was only one room left, and that we could have it, and no we wouldn't have to leave a cc, there was no cancellation fee, and yes, we could have an extra kids bed installed in the room for no extra cost. Perfection! This private manor is is perched on a hill behind Trouville with a sweeping view of the ocean. It's owned by a very sweet guy who has renovated it in super tasteful tones and minimal furniture so that you can appreciate the volumes without any clutter. We had a fantastic time here, even when a hurricane stormed through! Actually it was one of the most dramatic storms I've lived through. You could see the clouds coming in from the ocean and the winds traveling up the hill, creating turmoil in the trees as the storm rushed passed us. It was pretty remarkable. The weather changed the next day and we enjoyed a glorious blue-sky with clear views of the ocean while having our delicious breakfast in the main dining room before heading to the beach. Can't wait for the next excuse to make this our home away from home again. NB: They only take cash and you'll need a car to get up the hill as the road is a bit steep and dangerous to walk up.

We had a wonderful stay here in July 2014. We loved the space and enjoyed the best breakfast of our…read moreentire trip. The owner was friendly and accommodating, and gave us good tips for restaurants. Make sure to check out the farmer's market; it was another highlight of the our stay. Hope to make it back for another trip soon!

If you're in Normandy, you have to stop (or stay a couple of nights) in Honfleur, a beautiful…read morelittle town on the coast near Le Havre (about an hour drive from the Normandy beaches of D-Day). It's as quaint as it gets. A little marina and tight streets with wonderful shopping. (Just look it up on Google images.) And if you're staying the night, I highly recommend La Petite Folie, a b&b near the center of town that's a wonderful place to stay. Run by an American woman and her French husband, it's as charming as they come. Our room was large (by what we were used to) and it overlooked a quaint back yard where we had fresh (and amazing) croissants each morning (backed on site). The woman who ran it was incredibly helpful. She suggested two off-the-beaten-path restaurants (including one just a few doors down) where we had amazing food and great wine (including one where the lone proprietor did everything - took our order, ran upstairs and did the cooking, brought the food, cleaned up and took our bill). It was a wonderful experience at a very reasonable price. It was my wife's and my favorite hotel during our two-week tour of France.

The very definition of charming. Delicious teas and home-baked desserts.read more