Great place to stay if you're on a budget and want to make some of your own meals. I stayed here…read morefor 3 nights on a solo trip around the Loire Valley. I booked through hotels.com and it was pretty cheap, but there were several charges that came later. For example, it's 1.05€ per day for internet (which was reliable and had a strong signal). And I was renting a bike, so I requested a ground-level room--that was another 8€ for preferred placement. I also thought I"d arrive outside of reception hours (reception is closed between 12pm and 3pm) so I requested that my key be left in the safe in the lobby. That option was another 5€. So it added up to more than I thought it would be, but each option was worth it. The staff were friendly and professional and answered all of my questions before my arrival via e-mail. The location is really excellent. It's just three blocks from the train/bus station. Exiting the station, you'll see the red facade of a restaurant and hotel St. Jacques. Head up that street and it's three blocks down. You'll go one block, cross a street, cross an empty dirt courtyard (this is where I went awry and got lost my first time), cross the next street, and you'll see the Appart'hotel entrance to your right. It's a 6-minute walk to the chateau and shops, restaurants, cafes, post office, and bike rental. I felt safe walking around at night, and the surrounding area has some quiet apartment buildings and a peaceful park. The room was clean and sized just right for one person. The bed was a fold-out and squeaked when I moved around. No electrical outlets near the bed, so I charged my phone either next to the table or in the kitchenette. TV worked well and watching the French news and dubbed movies was fun. I don't know if it was just a feature of my ground floor room, but there was an odd sort of loft above my bathroom and kitchenette area. I crawled up the ladder to peek and there was a water heater and not much else. Plenty of closet space, both shelves and hangers. The bathroom was fine. No shelf or spot for your shampoo and soap in the shower, so you'll be forced to keep them on the shower floor unless you bring a shower caddy or even a plastic bag to hang on the corner of the door. The kitchenette came with a small pot, pan, and strainer, plus utensils, small plates/cups/bowls, a wine opener, and a kind of sharp steak knife which I used to cut most of my meat and veggies. It was just enough equipment to make pasta and hardboiled eggs, and assemble sandwiches. The mini-fridge held everything I had and was clean. They provided a sponge, but I didn't realize until later that the cleaning liquid was concentrated. It really dried out my fingers after I did the dishes. I would purchase a small thing of dish soap at the market, or make sure to dilute it if you get the same stuff that I did. I'll definitely stay here again if/when I return to Blois!

Very charming hotel in a very charming town. It's not the Ritz, and it's a little old, but there's…read moreso much character here that I really ended up liking this place. First off, the hotel is owned by the sweetest French couple who are always downstairs to greet guests and make them feel welcome. The location is terrific - right across from the chateau and also a large park and a five minute walk from the train station. Our room faced this side and the French doors opened up to a lovely, lively view of the town. The rooms are bright and clean. The one real downside is how thin the walls and ceilings are. Whoever was in the room above us sure like to do laps around their room for about 2 hours each morning.

The best parts about our room were the location--facing the Chateau, Jardin Augustin Thierry, and…read morethe church--and the price. It was clean but old and slightly worn-looking, not one of the ones you see in the pictures in the main building with those beautiful balconies, but a more budget-friendly one in the building next door on the corner. Because it was located right where the doors lead back into the main building and the elevator, and directly above a main thoroughfare, it tended to be noisy, but it was all right for a couple of nights. My advice--bring earplugs and temper your expectations. We didn't take advantage of the 8 Euros breakfast, but staff was accommodating and friendly, the WiFi was free and the signal strong. Would I stay there again? Perhaps in one of the nicer rooms, but not in the one in which we stayed.

We checked in a couple hours ago. The hardest part was finding the hotel and then trying to get to…read morethe parking area, parked near the train station and had to take a 2 km loop just to get back to the parking hotel room is neat and clean and has a beehive motif . How cute. There is no carpeting on the floor. There is no closet, but a rod on the wall with hangers. Think minimalist. The room looks out onto the train station so far so good.

Where art thou my lord?! Henceforth, I seek my lord, oui…read more The Royal Château de Blois is located in the Loir-et-Cher département in the Loire Valley, city of Blois, France. The most famous piece of architecture is the magnificent spiral staircase in the Francois I wing, which is visible from the outside. The Château is owned by the town of Blois, France. As per Robin Longstride (aka Robin Hood): "every man's home *IS* his castle!"

I'll get the worst out of the way first - it was advertised as having air conditioning. Air…read moreconditioning was not working. It was hot, I sweat all night. Too loud in the streets to have the windows open. We probably wouldn't have booked it in the busy part of town if it hadn't advertised A/C. Other than that, it's in a great location, that's probably the best part, walking distance to everything. The overall experience is a bit more basic than a traveler from the U.S. might expect, but maybe fairly standard for a mid range European hotel. The toilet paper was like grade school art class paper towel. No Kleenex to be found in the room. Towels were thin, soap bottles are locked down to make sure you don't steal them, shower head holder was loose and wouldn't stay up. Breakfast had a surprisingly good spread of food given the other places they seemed to be cutting costs. It'll get the job done if you need a hotel, especially if you enjoy being in the center of town, but be prepared to not get all you're paying for re: features, and you'd probably be better off trying something else, even a little further out, it's all very walkable around here.

Oh my, I love this place. I felt like fairy princess in my all pink room, complete with old…read moretimbers peeking out of the ceiling. The bed was pure heaven. The grounds were spectacular. I loved the grounds, the main building with check-in and the to-die for restaurant. Restaurant is pricey as you'd expect at a Relais et Chateaux. I went to the unheated swimming pool and realized how cool the changing rooms were in a stone building, covered in roses. Staff very nice and kind and efficient. Need some plugs in the bathroom besides shaver plugs. Blow drying my hair was very tricky.

I've stayed at many Relais & Chateau (R&C), three in the past two weeks. This is my first ever…read morecomplaint. It concerns Les Hauts de Loire in Onzain, France. The site is advertised as having air conditioning and a Michelin two star restaurant. Still today their web site claims both. One area on your R&C site does say one star. We booked 5 nights in a suite, about 800€ a night. We get there and, as I have asthma, I need an air conditioner. We could not get it to work. We went to the lobby and were informed that air conditioning is not needed or available and is turned off. Turned off and unavailable, yes, not needed, no. It makes no sense. It costs nothing to leave it available; if no one needs it, they won't turn it on. But if it is needed, it is not available. But it was advertised as available. We were met with a shrug. Obviously it was a cost saving move. Not available--it won't be used. Room value to me was less than half of what was charged. Ridiculous price. And false advertising. I later expressed my concern to Eric, the manager, who stopped by our table and asked how our stay was. Another shrug. It's not available. A heel turn and he was gone. The room air was stifling and there was no air exchange. Windows had no screens against insects and were not opened. We sweated all night. Each night. Management did not care, did not sympathize, did not resolve the issue, and did not compensate or even acknowledge it to be an issue. As for the room, furniture is dated, blue rug throughout tacky. It was not up to R&C standards. As for the two star Michelin restaurant, it's been downgraded to one star and the website stills advertises two. Appointments are incredibly dated. Affinage on the cheese cart was not great, served a couple not yet ripe fromages. Continuing, the wine list shames Michelin. The first three wines I ordered were "out of stock." Two days later, they were still listed as available, yet still out of stock. In an era of computers and photocopiers, it is completely inexcusable that a wine list is not maintained accurately, especially when such a list is a draw to a restaurant. It's a fake wine list. Michelin should check the cellar, not trust the restaurant. The "wide selection of [actually available] excellent wines" is shameful for a Michelin restaurant. My opinion, after eating at multiple two and three star restaurants in just the past two weeks, is that this Les Hauts de Loire restaurant deserves none. The one bright spot of our stay was the bistro. Service was warm and gracious, food good quality. We really enjoyed the cuisine and the staff, felt like family, incredibly gracious. We did not receive any hotel request for a rating, and I'm not surprised. Other R&C hotels often ask after departure for a rating. This one does not. No surprise there. Why ask for a beating?

It's a beautiful place with great staff. They're accommodating and friendly. Breakfast is great. It…read morewas a bit hard to find b/c google map doesn't send you to the proper entrance. I would highly recommend a stay here.

Chambres d'Hotes is a perfect alternative to hotels. During our trip to France we often use them…read more This is a kind of private accommodation but is closer to the B & B's. For the castles of the Loire we spent a total of three days sleeping in Domaine de Montizeau. Lovely place next to the village - Monçay, which even our car navigation could not find. For guests there are four guest rooms in a separate building, which adjoins another building, which houses the hall to eat breakfast. On the property there are plenty of well-kept lawn and a few parking spaces. The rooms themselves are beautifully decorated with great attention to detail. From what we found out , the owner and hostess in one person in each of these rooms personally took care of the design. It is rural, and yet noble and bourgeois. The great thing about this place is the breakfast that , despite the fact that French-style (sweet but at my request came even cheese) , is an impressive taste and quantity. It is worth mentioning that everything served on the table is prepared by the hostess. Including homemade yogurt. Guests can also order dinner. We had the opportunity to eat it in the company of a charming French couple. We could therefore try homemade French cuisine in an atmosphere of very french meeting. Summing: wonderful location, beautiful rooms, delicious breakfast and a very welcoming atmosphere. The only drawback is the lack of air conditioning in the rooms and the fact that you may have a problem finding this place;) For two people for three nights we paid a total of € 255 (breakfast included).

This is an old wine barrel making location turned hotel. The owners purchased the hotel in 2014,…read morethen started discovering the rich history of the buildings. The owners are also the chefs--and are 100% committed to local produce, organic local meats, and delightful regional wines. Love the country home vibe, proximity to Chenonceau and others in the Loire! Can't recommend enough for some quiet country respite!!! J'aime beaucoup!