Anyone have any recommendations?? My daughter and I would like to spend 1-2 nights in a castle (reasonable!) and then 3 nights inexpensive lodging in a small town.....something beautiful, clean and quaint? Thanks.

zil

Many choices - do a search on 'chateau loire' in the France board.

I can personally recommend Chateau de Chissay.
See http://www.chateaudechissay.com/frameuk.htm

or for more see

http://www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com/index.html

Actually, in order to get many "hits" from the search function, you must use the word AND in between - otherwise, you'll only get threads containing the two words in the exact order as entered. So "loire AND chateau" or "loire AND hotel" will net you tons of threads. "Loire chateau" gets you only three.

I can recommend the charming Hotel du Mail in Angers for the inexpensive, quaint part of your stay. (Type the hotel name in the text box to find my more detailed previous comments.)

We used a bed and breakfast website www.stopoverconnections.com. They have an interactive map to choose locations you want. We stayed 10 km south of Blois within walking distance of Cheverney. Affordable and friendly.

If you want something reasonable in a good location,I can advice you the Chyteau des Marais in Muides sur Loire, near the parc of Chambord. Its open from May. Next to the the Chyteau des Marais (on its ground but separated) there is a (quiet) camping with a pool and slides, but the castel is a hotel. You can use all the facilities of that camping. We've been there twice and will return.