Saumur or Chinon
 

In the Loire, which would you prefer for a one or maybe two night stay? I have already spent 2 nights in Amboise and will spend another 2 there on this planned trip.

I would be coming from west of Quimper so it would be a long drive, which makes me lean toward 2 nights. However, I would like to see Fontevard Abbey, Caranac, and had been looking forward to staying at Hotel Diderot. Any similar type places to stay in Saumur? Or would I still prefer Chinon?

Both perfectly nice places, but I think you'll find more to do in Saumur.

Actually, I'd stay in Angers and visit them both from there.

If your concern is being in the middle of the Loire, Chinon would be a better location. Samur is at the Western end of the Loire.

It depends what your focus is.

Guess I need to go back to the books and maps. I had picked Chinon because I thought I'd be arriving from a more southerly direction--now am trying to make some cuts.

Any hotel recommendations in Angers or Saumur--under $200/night?

We stayed in Saumur 4 years ago and are returning on again next week. We are again staying at the Hotel Anne d'Anjou. www.hotel-anneanjou.com We loved the hotel and the town and are excited to return. By the way not sure if you enjoy tanks, but my husband loves Saumur's Museum des Blindes.

Have a great trip.

Travelatte

Another vote for Saumur. More to do there.

In Angers, we always stay at the Mercure Angers Centre, which overlooks the city's beautiful Jardin des Plantes. However, it's a modern hotel, not for anyone who wants "olde Europe" style. Excellent staff, comfortable spacious rooms, parking under the hotel. Easy to get to the autoroute or the "route touristique" to Chinon, Saumur and environs. If you want a more traditional style hotel, then the Best Western Anjou fits the bill, but it's not that great a hotel. There's also the Hotel du Mail, but I haven't stayed there since I was a teenager on my very first trip to France...at any rate, Angers doesn't have a really top quality hotel. A shame, they could use a good 4-star boutique hotel.
If you base yourselves in Angers for 2 nights (not enough, IMO), use the "route touristique" to go to Saumur and Fontevraud. Easy to follow and about as quick as the autoroute.
There's more to do in Angers than in either Saumur or Chinon, but as you only have 2 nights, it doesn't matter.

There's actually more to see in Saumur - although we stayed near Chinon because we wanted to stay in a private chateau - and one near near seemed the best option. (Nothing lie staying in a 15th centruy moated fortress and having a private dinner with the owners..)

I liked Chinon better, loved the Chateau (altho it's mostly ruins). I also stayed at the Diderot, which was fine. However, it doesn't compare with the Anne d'Anjou, which is lovely! I would like to go to Saumur again just to stay at that hotel.

I looked at the website for Anne Anjeau. It looks lovely. I checked the reservation page; it doesn't let you specify which price room or which view, but I suppose that could be done in a cover e-mail. So it's a possibility.

Saumur is my preference, more to do and the wine is nicer!

You can actually stay in the piory of Fontevraud (that is how I spell it) which is right in the grounds of the abbey and the food is ok ( could eat at the unicorn in the village which is exceptional)

Have researched several old threads on here--am leaning toward Saumur.

I like Chinon. I have sayed in the Hotel Diderot which was very good and there is an interesting Micelin starred restaurant in the town- Au Plaisir Gourmand

I've been going through this same decision for our trip next year, so this (and similar) discussions have been great. At this point, the boys (7 and 10 when we travel) have put Saumur at the top because of the tank museum (Musee des Blindes)!

piggybacking to this thread-

If we want to spend 2-3 hours strolling in town, taking in the scenery, would you recommend Saumur or Chinon?

Ditto to Angers - one of France's most underrated cities IMO - has its own formidable chateau

But is not as centrally located from which to hop to places like Vouvray or Azay-le-Rideau, Usse (Sleeping Beauty Castle), etc.

About Chinon...there's an area nearby with a fine echo. It's said that the townspeople of Chinon would stand there and cry "Les femmes de Chinon, sont-elles fidèles?" (The women of Chinon, are they faithful?) The echo would reply "Elles?" Then the townspeople would call "Oui, les femmes de Chinon!" (Yes, the women of Chinon!) and the echo would reply "Non!"

I stayed at the Anne d'Anjou hotel in Saumur this past May. A lovely hotel, overlooking the Pont Cessart which spans the Loire river. It also is underneath the Chateau de Saumur, which was undergoing major renovation a few months ago i.e scaffolding along the walls etc. I'd go with the recommendation of using Saumur or even Angers as a base and see both those towns. Angers has enough to do for a full day i.e the Chateau d'Angers as does Saumur and they are only 28 miles apart.

I just booked and was confirmed for 2 days at Anne d'Anjou in May. I'm looking forward to it and will report back. Thanks for all the comments here.

nytraveler, what was the name of the chateau you stayed in? I'd like to know for the future. thanks.