La Renaissance

I first stayed at this small hotel in 1989 with a school group touring chateaux around the region. At the time, the plain rooms, low price, and basic breakfast suited us students just fine. It had more of a hostel feel, and we were young and busy with other things. Years later, my brother and I came back to Blois and chose it for the familiar setting, convenience, and low cost. We were there early in the season and had much of the place to ourselves. As on my first visit, we stayed one night. The service, simple food, and location were all fine. It's a small place with a real small-town French feel, and I liked the little dining area and its window, though it fills up quickly. The rooms offer simple views. There are 20 rooms, but they aren't all alike, and every one is small by any standard. The halls and stairs are narrow. Check-in and checkout can be a little awkward, but sorting out what you need ahead of time helps. The cleaning seemed OK, though some people on that first student trip mentioned smells. At the time I visited, parking was OK, if a bit far away. Still, there's no parking on site, and nearby spaces can be scarce or full, especially in season. It's handy for walking to most of Blois's sights, and the price covers the basics, including allowing pets. I think it's a decent place to sleep for a night or two, especially for students or two college guys on a road trip. Longer stays could feel cramped, and larger tour groups can fill the limited rooms. It's very basic and hostel-like in most other ways, so if I returned to Blois or the region now, I'd probably look elsewhere. It's a two-star place, and I wouldn't want to spend more than a weekend there.