Hotels, Châteaux, B&B, Gîtes, Camping, Boats in Poitou-Charentes
Whatever kind of French holiday you’re after, the Poitou-Charentes has just the accommodation for you. From stylish hotels to lovely B&Bs, state-of-the art gites, plus campsites, comfortable boats and even chateaux, you can find it all in this wonderful region.
Whatever type of accommodation you choose, though, do remember that for the popular summer months you do need book at least a couple of months in advance to be sure – often more with gîtes - especially if you’re heading for the coast.
Hotels – what to look and ask for
Hotels in France are graded according to a star system run by the government, and the maximum number of stars given is four. The number of stars, though, relates to the amenities offered (such as an ensuite bathroom etc) not the quality, so don’t assume that three stars means the equivalent of a three-star hotel.
You should always check what is offered - if a proper shower is a must, make sure your chosen hotel doesn’t have just a bath with a hand-held attachment (popular in smaller hotels).
If your hotel has a restaurant, ask if it is open all week – in some smaller towns the restaurant may well be closed on a Monday.
Another thing to confirm is whether breakfast is included in the price – if it is, it is likely to be a ‘continental breakfast’ of fruit juice, croissants, half a baguette, assorted jams plus tea or coffee. Higher starred hotels will usually offer a selection of cheese and cold meats and sometimes eggs and other hot food.
At coastal resorts there are many simple hotels that offer relatively basic but clean accommodation at reasonable prices.
If you’re driving, ask about parking in advance – many hotels have their own parking spaces either within the hotel complex or near by and it’s easier to know that before you arrive and not when you’re driving around a maze of one-way streets! Search hotels in the Poitou-Charentes
Bed and Breakfast
B&Bs are called chambre d’hotes, and are found in a range of properties from cottages and houses to farms and even châteaux. In some smaller towns, a B&B may well offer a better quality option of accommodation than a hotel, and if you’re travelling on a budget, they could offer better value for money too.B&Bs make for a more personal stay in France and in some you can choose to eat dinner with the owners.
The maximum number of rooms allowed for a chambre d’hote is five (and a maximum of 15 people) so if you are travelling with a large party, you need to bear this in mind. Search for Bed and Breakfast in the Poitou-Charentes
Self-catering
If you’re after the self-catering option in the Poitou-Charentes, then chances are you’ll be hunting for a gîte. The good news is that in the Poitou-Charentes there are thousands of good quality gîtes, from small cottages to smart complexes and even châteaux.
Over the past few years the quality of gîtes has markedly improved so you can expect your gîte to have a pool as well as amenities such as a television and washing machine. There are also increasing numbers of speciality gîtes, such as those that cater for fisherman, with fishing lakes within the property. Some gîtes offer a welcome basket of basic groceries such as bread and milk – if you’re arriving late, especially on a Saturday night, this is a useful option. In the UK or USA you are guaranteed to find a shop open almost any hour of the day or night, almost wherever you are but while more and more French grocery shops do open on a Sunday morning now, in rural France you cannot assume that you will find something open on a Sunday. Seach for gîtes in the Poitou-Charentes
Camping
In summer if the French are not by the coast, chances are they’re travelling around the countryside in their camper or caravan. This means that you’re never very far from a campsite, although many will only be open from April-October. Campsites are graded into four categories. Those that have one and two stars are generally very basic with toilets and showers although the latter won’t always have hot water.
At the other end of the scale are the four star sites which are almost as good as hotels with not just hot water but also electricity plus a swimming pool, shops and lots of activities. Many of these will have permanent caravans on site which people rent for a week or two at a time.
For assured quality, look out for a site that has been designated Camping Qualité – there are 68 such sites in the Poitou-Charentes. Search for camping sites in the Poitou-Charentes
Boating
With the Charente judged to be one the most beautiful rivers in France – think floating passed small villages and historic towns, fields full of grapevines or grazing Limousin cows – finding a floating hotel, albeit it one you have to drive yourself, is easy to do. You can hire a modern boat or old-style barge for two or as many as 12-16. All come with up-to-date bathrooms and kitchens, as well as sundecks to take in the sun and the views.
You can moor your boat anywhere along the river, whether for an afternoon or overnight, although most people tend to head to sites by restaurants or shops. You don’t need any previous experience to steer a boat if you plan to stick to the quieter parts of the river (you won’t be allowed near busy port towns such as Rochefort). In fact, it is said that the best drivers are teenagers who have yet to learn to drive!
Châteaux
The Poitou-Charentes is dotted with châteaux and a number of them offer accommodation - perfect for a stay with a touch of luxury. Some have been completely transformed into hotels, others offer just a few rooms for bed and breakfast while others allow you to hire the entire château so you can pretend to be duc and duchesse for a couple of weeks! Search for chateaux in the Poitou-Charentes
Words: Rachel Loos
Photograph: David Hughes @ Fotolia.com