I should add that Richelieu when we were last there had added spa facilities, so if spa treatments are your thing, then I'd stay on La Flotte at Richelieu and bike to St. Martin on Saturday for their market. Richeleiu has some rooms with fabulous decks looking directly onto the sea while Toiras is in town, not on the water but with a lovely garden and IME nicer furnishings though Richeleiu has likely updated since we last stayed there.

This all sounds great. Hotel Toiras gets very good reviews as does it's sister hotel Villa Clarisse. I now found another one which looks amazing Hotel Le Clos St Martin....has anyone heard of it?

We stayed in La Rochelle for 4 nights as we got a great weekend deal at the Novotel. Did the bike trip by bike bus to the Ile for a day, touring the very flat, hot island and biking through the salt marshes. It really was fascinating to see how the salt is harvested- glad I am not as cynical as some here -but we didnt buy any as we we were on a 3 week bike trip with full panniers. In La Rochelle, we toured shops, harbour, the stone towers, the museum , the farmers market and the aquarium and gardens. I loved it.
If you want pictures, I can post some.But you know, just go find things- that is the beauty of travel sometimes.
http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-0965...re/index.shtml

snowgirls Thank you! Did you wish you stayed on lie de re? I am thinking of flying into Paris spend a nite or two than tgv down to la rochelle spend about 3 nites and than stay on ile de re for another 3 nites before we tgv back to Paris to fly home. I am not sure if we will need a car in La rochelle to explore other areas/towns or we will be happy to just explore La Rochelle? It is summer and a time to chill so it seems like it could be fun to me. I just don't want to feel like why did I fly all the way here from NY to be at a beach which I doubt because it is France which is already fun and interesting! Also sometimes when I travel 2 days is enough anywhere! I agree teh beauty of travel is just to find things! Thank you for the recommendation of Novotel!

No I was happy to do the day trip to the Ile but dont forget we had bikes to get around the iland all day. We also walked everywhere in La Rochelle as we did not have a car. The Ile has that beachy Cape Cod feeling so if that whats you are looking for, ite there.For me, I wanted lots of choice of where to eat every day, from the fabulous market to a multitude of restaurants each night right outside my door and French shopping so we spent more time in la Rochelle. BTW I am in my 60s too.

:) thank you for sharing that showgirls. I am looking for hotel in La Rochelle and they all look like holiday inns. Is there anything nicer, more luxurious, special around the area or in La rochelle someone could recommend? Also do you think it is necessary to get a car and drive other places if you spend 3 days in La Rochelle and than 3 days in Ile de re? Does this sound reasonable? I do want a cape cod feeling vacation but might enjoy visiting other towns possibly along the coast? Haven't gotten that green michelin guide yet :)

From memory there is La Yachtman but I think lacking in "luxury" and La Monnaie which might be a little more chichi

Le Yachtman looks nice. Did you stay there? I read tripadvisor and dont' believe any of it! I am thinking 3 days La Rochelle and maybe explore by car down to Burgundy? Than go to Ile de Re bike and rest before returning to Paris and home? I need to decide and start learning some of my french!!!

Three days in La Rochelle, then across the country to Burgundy, then straight back across again to Ile de Ré???? Sorry, but I don't get how that makes any sense at all.