Residence le Victoria - St-Jean-de-Monts/Vendée/France

I visited this residence during a famtrip and did not experience myself. 

This domain is full of houses that are connected per 3 in a calm parc full of trees. You really have the impression you're in a forest, which is great! Cars have to be parked on the parking lot. Caddies are provided to bring your luggage to the house. 

The domaine is only 2km from the city centre and the large beach.

All accommodations have a private terrace and an electric BBQ.

All kitchen are new since 2014.

There is free WiFi at the reception/bar and WiFi to be paid for use in the villa's.

Dogs are allowed (31EUR)

Animation:

There is a large space for all kind of activities: tennis, beach volley, football, basket,...

There is 1 animator in Juli/August to organize activities for children.

There is also animation in the evening (except for sundays) in the bar of te hotel (quiz, bingo, live music,...)

They also have a pool with seperate baby pool:

Rooms:

The houses are from 4 to 8 persons. The unit for 4 persons is a studio with a seperate room with a bunk bed + sofa bed in the living room.

This is rather small for 4 persons into my opinion.

The houses for 6 persons do have 2 bed rooms (1 double / 1 twin) and a sofa bed in the living.   

There is also rooms in 2 stocks

Advantages:

- very nice situation in the middle of a forest.

- backery service

- the domain is safe for children, because there are no cars and they can not run away.

- dogs allowed

- wheelchair acces in some adapted rooms.

Disadvantages:

- tv is only for rent (supplement)

- very basic units (even though all facilities are provided) due to the older looking furniture (but still clean)

- only 1 animator for all units can be very poor during high season.

As this domain is a 3* residence, I'd give it 7/10 as the price is definitely correct for this kind of units. It's definitely a family product.

Visit auberge de la Fontaine - Pornic

II have visited this property. This 3 star auberge is very unique. With it's own vineyard, farm and garden. It is also situated close to the ocean (200m away). The situation is really stuning and one of the best seen on the Atlantic coast.

Originally this property was owned by monks and is changed into this auberge since 1994. 

Free WiFi all over the place. 

Bikes are for rent 

Dogs are allowed (8eur per day)

Room service provided in the rooms.

Possibility to land by helicopter in the garden.

Breakfast (14,5eur per person) is served from 7.30 till 10.30h (or can be served in the room). This is not included in the prices of the rooms (legal reasons).

Swimming pool outside is heated 20 degrees as of easter till end of season (depends on the weather conditions)

Every saturday they organize a local market with home cultivated products (biological products). 

The vineyard is 1ha and they create there own white wine (chenin blanc).

They have their own bees (50kg honey per hear - which is served during breakfast).

In the garden there is always an exposition and seats are provided for clients to enjoy the big garden which is surrounded by a wall.

Rooms:

2/3- persons rooms (even with connecting doors on both sides possible- to connect 3 rooms). All rooms have a small balcony overlooking the garden and the vineyard with ocean view.

The bathroom is rather small with bath/shower and the rooms are cosy and very typical decorated, which gives a nice atmosphere.

There are also appartments from 3 up to 6 persons with 1 or 2 bedrooms. There is a small kitchen, living room with small tv and a seperate bedroom. 

Restaurant:

The restaurant works independent from the hotel and is opened all day to the public. They serve great food and make a big difference vs the typical food. 

We had lunch in this restaurant and it really was a unique experience. Also the local wine (from their vineyard) is from high quality (but not very cheap: 30eur/bottle).

There is a very nice terrace where you're surrounded by trees. 

HINT: go for a walk through the vineyard and turn right on the sea and walk along the beach (path provided) towards the city centre of Pornic (45 min walk)

Advantages:

- a great property with a fabulous situation and a Unique experience

- the fresh products they grow themselfs.

- the quality of the food is great in the restaurant.

Disadvantages:

- no wheel chair acces

- very small bathroom

- swimming pool is rather cool (20 degrees)

Conclusion:

This is a real couple hotel. As the rooms are rather small with children (even with the xtra bed in the hallway).

I give this property 9/10 as it is a very exclusive and rarely found property. You have to come here for the total package of food, experience and location. Here you have to live outside and that makes you forget the rather small rooms.

Hotel le Beryl 3* - St-Brevin-l'Ocean/Loire-Atlantique/France

Hotel Beryl is located on a beautiful spot along the coast of the Atlantic. This 3* hotel has a great view over the dunes and the ocean. It's also very close to the famous city of Pornic. 

I only slept one night i this hotel in a double room with ocean view, but also enjoyed the half board service of this hotel. A big + were the double windows (twice double glass to avoid the noise of the ocean and the wind)

Rooms:

There are 3 different room types.

There is only a selection of them that have a real balcony (corner rooms).

1. Double room with land view.

These rooms do have the same facilities as all other roomtypes (but do not have a sofa bed), but are less spacious. The bathroom is equale in space.

2. Double room with ocean view. These rooms are more spacious and can be reserved for families with children, as there is a sofa bed in the room.

3. The corner rooms do have a balcony and a seperate room for families with children.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is equal in all roomtypes. It is spacious with a bath (no possibility to take a real shower (even though there is a curtain provided) as there is no hook provided for the showerhead.

There is only a bottle of soap provided and no other amenities. Of course there is a small and a big towel provided per person (good quality). 

There is a hair dryer provided, but with a low quality (you better take your own).

Breakfast:

The breakfast buffet is relative broad with different kinds of broad, brioche, fruit, Fresh jams, yoghurt, ham, cheese, scrambled eggs,...

Unfortunately there is only orange and apple juice from a machine. 

But I couldn't stop thinking of a Mc Donald breakfast due to the trays and the not dressed up tables during breakfast. A  very negative point for me were the dirty plates and glasses on the buffet.

Wellness:

I did not experience the wellness myself, but have visited it during my trip.

The entrance for the wellness is 20eur pp per day. Then you have acces to the pool, sauna, hammam and shower experience.next to that the hotel also provides wellness treatments a la carte.

Casino:

The casino in the hotel is a nice experience. It is rather small, but very busy (even on a weekday).

Advantages:

- silent rooms without carports in the room.

- the view is stuning from the restaurant and the rooms with ocean view.

- there is a shop in the neighbourhood

- spacious rooms (with possibility of connecting rooms)

- casino connected to the hotel

- free parking at the back side of the hotel.

Disadvantages:

- No real shower possibility

- acces to the swimming pool has to be paid (20eur pp per day)

- the food is not of very high quality (but correct for a 3* hotel)

- the fact the tables are not set for breakfast and you have to being it all by a trays from the buffet to your table (Mc Donald impression with trays).

This is mainly a couple hotel for those who're willing to enjoy the city of Pornic and the great dunes/beach in front of the hotel.

As the rooms were clean and due to the great location (esp. when you have a room with ocean view), I'd give this 3* hotel 6,5/10. The negative breakfast and rather poor diner experience make me give this rather poor score.

Les jardins du chateau d'Olonne 5* - Chateau d'Olonne/Vendée/France

I just visited this domain and did not experience it myself. But happy to share what I saw during my visit.

This domain is a large village with modern villa's. All villa's do have a swimming pool (ecxept 8 of them).

They can all enjoy the big public pool (opened 15/6 - 15/9), tennis court, mini-golf, table tennis, play garden, restaurant and snack bar.

There are 3 types of villa's:

1. Acacia - 3 rooms with 1 bathroom (bath/shower) - 2 beds (90cm) next to each other. This is the only villa with everything on the groundfloor.

2. Sophora- 4 rooms with twin beds - 2 bathrooms (1 with shower and bath separate and 1 with shower). There are 2 rooms on the first floor with the 2nd bathroom. There is a huge terrace and garden with large swimming pool.

3. Sequoia: 4 bedrooms + sofa bed in the living room. 3 bathrooms (2 with shower only) + large living room and garden with swimming pool.

Of course the largest villa's are the most spacious and best equiped villa's. But all of them are having modern furniture and are good looking.

Hint: you can ask for a specific villa to rent. So I'd personally prefer one of the villa's where the swimming pool is not situated near the road (even though they're not public). So you can have a look on the map to select your favoriete location:

Advantages:

- very modern and large villa's (well equiped)

- several facilities for children

- most of them do have a private swimming pool + garden (this last one is always the case)

Disadvantages:

- this domain is rather isolated (3km from Sable d'Olonne) and 2km away from the beach.

- high extra cost for cleaning (150eur)+ bed linen

- heated pool must be reserves in advance (xtra charge)

- a lot of gardens are situated along the road (less privacy)

This domain is more for families with children (also ideal for families with grandparents, parents & children)

I'd give these accommodations 8/10 as they are modern, clean and do have a nice garden with swimming pool (when the pool is not situated along one of the private roads of this domaine (as I don't like passer-by's when I'm at the pool :-))

Hotel Thalasso Atalante 4* - Ile de Ré/France

I've stayed one night in this hotel on one of the islands of France in the Atlantic. 

This hotel is really worth visiting for several reasons. There is a great Thalasso which is pretty new, great food and spacious/ well equiped rooms!

This is mainly a couple hotel that are willing to enjoy the thalasso, calmed, nature & the island of Ile de Ré.

This hotel is located direct at the beach, but you need a bike/car to get to one of the city center. It is really in the middle of nature. 

You can not swim directly in front of the hotel, as this is to dangerous (you need to go 1 km further).

There is a large parking in front of the hotel which is free of use.

Rooms:

I was lucky to stay in the suite (roomnr 304) of this hotel with separate living room incl. leather sofa (which could be transformed in to a bed). 

You have a view on the dunes from your room (strange to say, but after them there is the ocean - the dunes are created to protect the island), which is also nice. Espacially as there is a large terrace with comfortable seats and sun beds.

The bedroom was spacious with a king size bed. Next to the bed there is a bottle of lavendel mist to spray on your pillow (great idea!)

2 bottles of free Evian water is provided in the room.

HINT: there is also a connecting door should you want your children to have a real separate room with bathroom.

There are also 8 standard rooms with connecting doors.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is rather small compared to the surface of the suite in general, but still spacious enough.

It is equiped with bath/shower and all amenities needed (soap,shampoo,lotion,cottons,shower cap), but also a good hair dryer (strong).

The toilet was seperated (which is the case in all roomtypes).

Breakfast:

Very good buffet with several local products. The bread is baked regularly so it remains a bit fresh.

the fresh orange juice is a big plus!

There is 'gluten' free food provided.

Thalasso:

The thalasso is connected via the underground with the hotel. It is modern and well equiped. It is not the usual spa, but they're not the typic clinical thalasso as most of them in France.

There is a pool inside with several activities organized (older impression and no jets nor whirlpool) and a brand new swimming pool outside (small and long with salt water).

There is also a sauna and steambath.

This thalasso is mainly equiped to enjoy several treatments.

HINT: enjoy the 'plat de fruit de mer' in this hotel. It is a great experience and of very good quality!!