Over the last 21 years we have discovered some wonderful little hotels, and have produced a series of routes to link them. As there are fewer hotels than campsites the choice is a little more limited, but we can still put together a tour that will suit all abilities and reach any area.
The hotels we use are not the large impersonal "chain"
type, but small family run establishments ranging from three rooms
to thirty. They are obviously very varied, and no we can't say they all have
2-stars or 3-stars (some do), or this certificate or that award, in truth the various 'labels' offer little guide to what a hotel is like (I've seen horrid 2-star hotels!). But they all provide
at the very least simple, but good accommodation and a friendly
welcome. They also supply some rather good food - have a look at our guide to food in Brittany article for typical examples...
Of late we've increasingly turned to Chambres D'Hotes, these are literally B&B's but the standards are super with en-suite facilities and always in beautiful buildings. In fact we've come to regard them as better than many hotels regardless of how many stars they have! To give you some idea, on one route you stay first in a 14c hotel converted from stables of a ruined abbaye (stunning location). Next day is in at a farm in the middle of nowhere, where the farmer's wife will cook you a huge meal fit for cyclist. Next day is in a modern, but family run hotel set right on the banks of the canal, Then off to a converted doctors townhouse in a Napoleonic town and thence to a 13c coaching inn. This is a typical mix... The fact that so many of these places have as few as three rooms means that we also have to have several alternatives for some routes, but in every case they are just as good - otherwise we wouldn't use them.
In order for us to book these hotels you need to decide on which route you want well before you come, though not necessarily when you book. The full list of hotel routes is on the "Hotel Routes" page.
What's included?
You obviously get all the equipment/routes, accommodation and back-up of all our holidays. As for food the price includes a continental breakfast in each hotel - i.e. coffee, hot chocolate or tea plus croissants, bread and jam (the best bit...). Otherwise you are free to eat where and when you like. Why do we do it like that? Well let's say you've cycled a morning and come across a lovely little restaurant at midday which gives you a 4-course meal including wine for 10-12 Euro (you'll pass places like this every day). Now there is no way you'll be able to eat another 4-course meal that evening! With any other cycling holiday company you will have such a meal waiting for you that evening- and you'll have paid for it whether you like it or not... Or say you arrive at your hotel and two doors down is the most gorgeous little creperie and you would much rather eat there. Well with anyone else you can't, because you've already paid for another 4-course meal at your hotel... You get the idea. Of course at every stop there is somewhere that will do you an evening meal - usually several and with a couple of exceptions you can eat at the hotel itself. When we use Chambre D'Hotes instead of hotels we only choose those that can offer an evening meal. In our experience these are stunning value - better than most restaurants and frequently cooked using produce from the owners garden or farm.
This is important when comparing our prices with other cycletour companies. If you add about £200/225 euro to our prices you will have a reasonable basis for comparison with companies offering evening meals - this allowing for a 30 euro meal a night i.e. far from the lowest price on a menu. In fact you could easily have a three course meal every night and spend no more than 120 Euro and those basic menus are often the most authentic and the best value all round...
French hotels are booked by the room rather than per person, and prices are based on two people sharing - singles or 'odd people' have to pay a single person suppliments. We hate doing this, but as the cost to us is double that of someone sharing we are passing on only a fraction of the cost. See the prices page for details
Lastly - the big news - several people have asked about the possibility of hiring a gite (holiday cottage) for their holiday. After a lot of searching we've found the perfect place situated right in the quiet centre of Gouarec. Sleeping up to 8, this gite is available from the end of July and the cost is only 400 pounds to be added to the basic camping price, so especially attractive to families and small groups. It is also the only choice for those coming out of season (when there is a special price). The gite will only be available for fixed centre tours of course.
See Breton Bikes new venture! For those wanting a place to drive their sportscar...!