We are planning a trip next fall of 2006 to Brittany and Normandie--our first. We like to stay in better hotels or estates or charming B&Bs with excellent food. We will probably spend 7 0r 8 days in the region and then a couple days in Paris. We would like suggestions from anyone who knows these areas well and could advise us.
thanks,
jeanne

Most B&Bs serve breakfast only - hence the second B. A lot of the private chateaux (this is what I think you mean by estates) do serve dinner - but often only on certain nights - and you usually have to arrange at least a day in advance.

Exploring local restaurants will be one of the joys of your trip - don;t assume you'll be eating where you're staying.

From your reading guide books and web sites what sights have you picked out as must dos? Any special interests? Budget level - some of these chateaux are quite modest - others are distinctly luxe.

And do we assume you'll be driving?

We really need more info to help you.

B

Gites de France has a wide range of B&B, all of which are rated and described on each regional web site. This is the overall web site:

http://www.gites-de-france.fr/eng/index.htm

Hi,
There is a great French website I use for charming boutique hotels/B&Bs: http://www.guidesdecharme.com/fr/index.asp?lang=EN
The "Guides de Charme" are hotel guides published by the French group Rivage, but the website is just as good as the paper editions. It's easy to search for places by using the map, and many of the properties are beautiful old chateaux, farms, etc. I've used it for a few weekend stays around France and haven't been disappointed (and food is very important to me too!!) - we've often based trips around a property or B+B we've liked the look of.

Brittany has several regions within it and our personal favorite is Morbihan, (coastal and interior). Our favorite hotel in Morbihan is the Villa Kerasy in Vannes. Mixes the region's history with its connection to shipping and the spice routes and even has a Zen garden! Bright, comfortable, inviting rooms. All rooms are nonsmoking as I recall. The hotel is near the Vannes train station (Vannes is an interesting town), in case you don't plan to drive.
Very helpful staff.
http://www.villakerasy.com/index.php
also:
http://www.innsoffrance.com/hotelview.aspx?h=2013

FYI, while you are in the region (or in Paris), stop in a press shop and pick up the 2006 issue of Bretagne: 50 Balades & randonnees. A great guide to the region, lots of excellent suggestions for walking, sightseeing, dining, staying, etc. Full of info about wonderful places not found in the usual English guidebooks.

Repeating my post from another string in case you missed it. The Hotel de Carantec is made for you!

In Brittany, we loved the low-key Bay of Morlaix for religious sculpture, early-history sites, unspoiled scenery and antique hunting a bit inland. The Hotel de Carantec, in the town of the same name, near Roscommon, www.hoteldecarantec.com has stylish rooms with balconies overlooking the bay and a restaurant, one-star when we stayed and two-star now, I believe, arguably the best in Brittany, with a wall of windows overlooking the bay and superb food that we could sample at will (with only one main course off limits) at the demi-pension rate for two of 349 euros per night, in 2004. Worth every euro cent and a lot more.