France

France is our spiritual home, where we first began seeking out special places back in the 90s. We’ve explored everywhere from Normandy to the Dordogne and the Loire valley, where one of our team has made her home. You’ll find blue-shuttered chateaux up and down the country, peaceful gîtes in the countryside of Brittany, chic townhouse hotels in Paris, and everything in between. Our inspectors have personally visited every single place to stay, looking for places that have a touch of magic and owners that give you a warm welcome, even it’s just a bottle of something left in your self-catering cottage.

Le Fleuray Hotel & Restaurant
Cangey-Amboise, Indre-et-Loire
From €98 p/n

Hotel

25 rooms for 2 - 6
Enter into the wonderful country-house mood... Sink into floral sofas, feast on exquisite cuisine, rest in cosy, immaculate rooms

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Château les Oliviers de Salettes
Charols, Drôme
From €99 p/n

Hotel

23 rooms for 2 - 4
Down the tree-lined avenue to elegant bedrooms with soul-lifting views - and marvellous meals on the terrace or in the cosy vaulted cellar

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Château de Saint Paterne
Sarthe
From €145 p/n

Hotel

10 rooms for 2
Authenticity and originality combine at this family chateau with its panelled rooms, theatrical flourishes and charming candlelit dinners

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La Maison des Chanoines
Turenne, Corrèze
From €90 p/n

Hotel

6 rooms for 2 - 4
One of the loveliest houses in a very lovely village. Pretty rooms have parquet floors and white walls, the food is a delight

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La Bastide de Boulbon
Boulbon, Bouches-du-Rhône
From €180 p/n

Hotel

8 rooms for 2 - 3
A traditional, grand 1850 townhouse sitting in a large, landscaped garden with mature trees, a short walk to the village centre and square

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Villa la Tosca
Lanton, Bordeaux, Gironde
From €159 p/n

Hotel

8 rooms for 2
A boutique hotel on the edge of Arcachon Bay. A natural pool, zen gardens, contemporary Eastern-style interiors, and good food await

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La Villa Eugène
Marne
From €210 p/n

Hotel

15 rooms for 2
A smart launch pad for visiting all things Champagne-related and Reims with its enchanting cathedral. All is cosy, luxurious...

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Hotel le Manoir Saint Michel
Fréhel, Côtes-d’Armor
From €85 p/n

Hotel

22 rooms for 2 - 6
A wonderful watery setting for a super family hotel. White sands and sunsets, waddling ducks, breakfasts to relish …

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Hôtel de l'Atelier
Villeneuve les Avignon, Gard
From €81 p/n

Hotel

21 rooms for 2 - 3
Small and elegant family-run hotel with airy bedrooms, plenty of private spaces and a bus to take you to the centre of bustling Avignon

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Hôtel Saint Paul Rive Gauche
Paris
From €198 p/n

Hotel

31 rooms for 2 - 4
French elegance meets English comfort in Paris by St Germain. Organic croissants, crisp duvets, an open fire... a favourite of many guests

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Hotel les Charmettes
Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine
From €95 p/n

Hotel

16 rooms for 2 - 4
A welcoming, affordable seafront base for exploring St Malo and northern Brittany with small rooms, good food and a lively atmosphere

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Le Château de l'Abbaye
Moreilles, Vendée
From €99 p/n

Hotel

10 rooms for 2 - 4
The Renard famille share their impressive local knowledge, and make you feel at home and cared for in their charming small hotel

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Le Relais du Lyon d'Or
Vienne
From €105 p/n

Hotel

13 rooms for 2 - 5
An idyllic hotel-restaurant in a postcard-pretty medieval village. Warm interiors, a varied menu of local produce, masses to see and do...

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Château d'Urtubie
Saint Jean de Luz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
From €130 p/n

Hotel

10 rooms for 1 - 2
Minutes from the beach, this listed retreat comes with beautiful rooms in classical style, charming hosts and a family-run restaurant nearby

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Hôtel Passy Eiffel
Paris
From €170 p/n

Hotel

49 rooms for 2 - 3
A calm, leafy bolthole in one of Paris' most elegant districts. Step out to stylish boutiques, good bakeries – and the Eiffel Tower

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Domaine le Bois des Dames
Chantemerle-lès-Grignan, Drôme
From €185 p/n

Hotel

10 rooms for 2
A real treat to stay in this elegant 18th-century house with pampering bedrooms, gorgeous home-cooked food and stunning gardens with pool

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Hôtel Le Cavendish
Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes
From €115 p/n

Hotel

34 rooms for 2
Climb the candle-lit marble staircase to dream between lavender-scented sheets in splendid rooms, some with balcony or terrace

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Ferme de la Rançonnière
Crépon, Calvados
From €100 p/n

Hotel

41 rooms for 1 - 3
An excellent and charming hotel with 41 rooms, near the British Normandy Memorial, Bayeux and D-Day landing beaches

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