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!