yan

Where is the best place to stay in Loire Valley in early July? We need private bath and AC if necessary at that time. <BR> <BR>By the way, is Amboise part of the Loire Valley? Anyone staying at Le Choiseul in Amboise before?

Rex

If by "best", you mean a luxurious dream, then try Chateau d'Artigny - - the cosmetics mogul Coty blew his whole lifetime fortune building this place, and you get to be the beneficiary. It is extraordinary, and a special treat for lovers of cognac and brandies. The webpage says that they have over 20,000 wines. My wife and I got to have one from our wedding year - - 1976 - - at a fairly reasonable price when we were there in 1995 - - but it was the entire room that they offered as their "brandy cart" - - 1000 bottles or some such thing - - that I particularly remember! <BR> <BR>See details at www.slh.com - - or more specifically at www.slh.com/pages/m/mondara.html - - details about Le Choiseul are available there also. and yes, Amboise is very nearly at the heart of what is usually considered the Loire Valley. I have never been there specifically. <BR> <BR>There are alternatives (not so luxurious) at www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com - - in Richelieu (the entire town is classified as a historical monument) is property #98 (La Maison) - - I have also never been there, but it looks like a very good choice to me. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

yan

Thank you, Rex! I checked the website about slh you mentioned, and have a question about the term "double room" they used. Does it follow the Paris standard--one full bed in the room, or does it have two full beds as in US? What is the case in d'Artigny? Thanks again, <BR>Yan

Rex

As is the case in so many different parts of Europe, a room with two beds is typically called a twin (the beds might be what we call twin beds, and they might be "full" or "double" beds). Many rental properties (as opposed to hotels) will cite the literal actual width of beds, so it would not seem odd if you want to write to them and ask what kinds of beds go with what room rates - - especially since they have a rather wide range of room rates for doubles and twins (675-1800 FF). As you can clearly see under "photographs" on the web page I cited before, they very clearly have (at least one) room(s) with two nice sized beds (these appear to me to be 140 cm). <BR> <BR>My wife and I had dinner here, but our itinerary required that we move on (yes, it was tough to leave there at 10 o'clock at night - - but arriving into Chartres at midnight provides a breathtaking first view of the Cathedral - - like a lighthouse - - from 10 miles or more away). So I can't personally tell you about rooms at d'Artigny, but write to them - - [email protected] - - and they will surely answer your questions and send you a lovely color brochure. I'm sure there will be no problem to write to them in English.

steve

I have twice stayed at Chateau des Tertes in Onzain. It is a very nice small hotel. Onzain is centrally located - not too far from Chaumont, Chambord, and Chenonceau. It is about 10 miles east of Amboise.