Amboise area hotels question
 

We stayed in Les Minimes in 2005 and loved it. I was tentatively planning to stay there again, but saw where a poster a couple years ago mentioned Le Clos d' Amboise. It looks similar, but a bit smaller and less expensive.

Has anyone stayed there recently?

Is the hotel that's 30 minutes or so away in Onzain even more expensive than Les Minimes? Any comments on the choices between the three? I would be planning two nights. I've already gone to Chenonceau and Chambord, but there are other things in the area I would like to see.

Hi Hoping,

I can't comment on the hotels you mention, but I can recommend the chateau I stayed in a few years ago. Chauteau di Chissay, very near Chennonceau. I loved it! They have a highly rated (and expensive) restaurant for dinner and breakfasts delivered to your room. It was fabulous staying in a real chateau, this one has lots of history too.

We also enjoyed our stay at Les Minimes but I am wondering if LeChoiseul which occupies the other half of that convent area right next door is cheaper.

What about Le Cheval Blance in nearby Blere? We stayed at Les Minimes last year but after a fantastic meal at Le Cheval Blance, we thought that if their hotel service is anything like the quality of the food... Wow. Admittedly Blere is a small town but quite interesting and close to everything. The prices are very reasonable.
http://www.lechevalblancblere.com/

Of course it is Le Cheval BLANC... my fingers just want to put an "e" on the end of that.

Well, let's see. First, I came home from work and opened the mail. There in the Discover Europe flyer was Le Manoir Les Minimes--they are touring there in April. There was a really nostalgic picture. Could this be an omen?

My thoughts on Le Clos (I could taunt my husband with the swimming pool).

Dayle--since we've been to Chenonceau I probably wouldn't venture that direction. However, someone may pull this up in the search key and quiz you.

robjane--I am looking this town up on the map, and saved your link to favorites in case.

Dukey, I had forgotten about Le Choiseul. I think when I researched my 2005 trip it showed up. It's also in my little purloined booklet. If nothing else, I could stay at one place, then eat at Le Choiseul and Voila, do a report!

I have stayed twice in Onzain at the Chateau des tertres. I thought it was very nice, great location. Ot as expensive as the fancy place in Onzain.

www.Chateau-tertres.com

We stayed in Les Minimes this September 2006
and thought it was quite reasonable for such a lovely hotel. We checked out Le Clos and LeChoiseul and still felt that Les Minimes was the best value. We loved this hotel, the city and most of all the people of Amboise. We hope to return.

i meant Not as expensive

Bigtyke--thanks, I just added another to my list. The grounds look lovely. Did you spend your evening in Amboise or in Onzain?

jrecem--I did get to remembering this morning the wonderful shower (and amenities) at Les Minimes. It seems that in so many hotels the nicer rooms only have a bathtub.

We stayed at Le Clos d'Amboise in May 2005, and thought it was just great. Except for a river view, I can't imagine that Les Minimes would be better -- and Le Clos was quite a bit cheaper. Our room was large and beautifully furnished, and the gardens were lovely. The photos on their web site:
http://www.leclosamboise.com
give a very accurate representation. You can also get Internet access in your room for 5 euro per day.

We did not eat breakfast there, since it was extra, and we decided it was more fun (and cheaper!) to sample patisseries in town.

Being first-time drivers in France, we appreciated that we could drive directly into Minime's courtyard from the D-road without having to navigate any of the tiny Amboisian streets. Piece of gateau.

Nonnafelice, thanks for replying. It may have been your post I saw. I have to admit that seeing the bridge over the river lit up at night from our third floor room and also, being able to walk over to and back from Le Shaker were bonuses. However, I thought my husband might like the swimming pool. Did you try it?

We were at Le Clos d'Amboise in early May, and it was too cool for us to think about swimming. However, there was a young couple there (possibly honeymooners?) who did go for a dip and seemed to enjoy it. The pool is beautiful, and if you are there in warm weather would be a definite plus.

Although the hotel doesn't front on the river, the courtyard is lovely, and the street is quiet -- probably more so than the street along the river from Les Minimes. You can walk to pretty much anywhere in Amboise easily from the hotel. If you can get there on a weekend when they have a "brocante" (antiques fair) that is a big plus, as it was a highlight of our visit. I have a trip report here:
http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=653

i always spent the evening in Onzain. Just had dinner. Once with a tour group, we ate a fancy one star restaurant in a neighboring town (can't remember which). Another time we ate at the restaurant near the bridge. IT was a good one, but it was a typical french restauant where it didn't open until 7:30 and then took 2 1/2 hours to eat. Then we discovered a little restaurant in Chaumont (Chez Collette) and ate there the remaining 6 days we stayed in Onzain. They even stayed open on their early close night just for our dinner. We were bicycling and didn't have a car.

I'm printing out some of these suggestions. Thanks all.

Should you end up back at Les Minimes (I loved it) ask if the bath amenities are now available for sale, please? They were wonderful!

Does Eric still own/manage Les Minimes? He is such a gentleman!

Yes, and if you do end up there pet the dog and consider staying in Room #11.

We stayed at Le Choiseul just a few years ago. The room was charming and the restaurant was excellent along with the view of the river.

We also happened upon a wonderful little restaurant across from the entrance to the castle (and down a little alley). I'll have to see if I can find the name in my file. I'd love to back again.

Another great little place for a drink and snack (if it is still open) is a bar called Le Shaker on the island in the river just across the bridge right at Les Minimes. If weather is good walk over since parking is shall we say difficult!

Le Shaker made a good old fashioned!

Le Choiseul is relatively expensive. I ate at the restaurant several years ago when it was a Michelin 2*. It has since reverted to a Michelin 1*.

It all depends on your taste, pocketbook and mode of transportation. Amboise is pretty much in the center, between Chambord and Chenenceaux.

Here's a web site I found through google.fr

http://en.federal-hotel.com/result-recherche.htm

Even if you don't end up staying at Bléré, don't miss the epicurean delight of Le Cheval Blanc. It has become a "must" stop for us! I can send you photos of dining room and cuisine, if you like. Contact [email protected].

Have a wonderful time.

We had a wonderful stay at the Bed and Breakfast, "Le Moulin du Fief Gentil", in the town of Bléré.
This former monastic water mill from the 16th century is now run by two delightful hosts, Florence and François-Xavier.
The breakfasts and dinners Florence served highlighted local produce from the region, the room was beautiful, and some of the best châteaux of the Loire Valley were an easy drive away along country roads.
http://www.fiefgentil.com/

As I'm traveling back to Amboise in May, I did choose the Clos D'Amboise as my hotel of choice. They have rooms facing the park that are quiet. I am quite anal about researching hotels and this seemed to be the best value overall 'value' that I wanted. Le Choiseul 'forgot' to lower their prices when their rating by Michelin was changed. Amboise is nice as I'm staying there 3 nights in late May and it is walking distance to many varieties of restaruants. Parking is nearby.

I am a lurker who wishes to thank everyone for your posts here. I am weighing Les Minimes and Le Clos as well and appreciate the reassuring comments on both.

Please excuse the imposition but I would like to add a question about Amboise. Is there enough to see and do in town without a car for 2 or 3 days? We are traveling to Paris for a family event but want to get out of the city as well. My husband refuses to drive through Tours again (long stories).

Thank you.

There is enough to do in 2-3 days for some people as there are people who live there! :-D

For a typical tourist who wants to spend that time seeing special attractions, I'd say no. It's a small town and the main attractions can be seen in a day, two at the most (the royal chateau, L da Vinci's chateaux, and a few minor museums). Of course because it's on a rail line, and there are also regional busses that go through there, you can go to other places from Amboise on public transportation -- like Chenonceaux. I think Blois maybe be on that rail route, also, but I'm not sure.

Why don't you look at their tourism website, or a good guidebook, to see what you think. I wouldn't stay there 3 days myself unless I intended to use it as a base to go elsewhere a bit.
http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com/

rastaguy--

When in May will you be staying at Clos d'Amboise? We're booked there 24th-26th. I'm glad to hear you're a repeat visitor. It looks like a very nice place (and we' almost never stay in places in Europe that have a pool!).

I agree with Christina about Amboise...nice place to stay but not enough for us to occupy two-three entire days. Good base for touring the area, however.