Hôtel de la Loire

A cute place by the river, and the service was friendly.

Check your bill before paying. We were charged more for the room than the amount shown in the online booking. The buffet breakfast was nice, and they’ll make espresso if you ask. There are lovely walks along the river, and the view from the window is beautiful. The rooms are nice, with comfortable beds and good amenities. Bruno is a great host, and the hotel itself has plenty of charm. Nearby restaurants are pretty good, though a bit pricey.

Avoid staying here. The rooms were dirty, the staff were rude and unhelpful, and there was no service to speak of. It felt like greed came before looking after guests. Truly awful.

We skipped the bike ride along the clearly marked Loire cycle track, but had some lovely walks through the vineyards and nature reserve in neighbouring Pouilly. We were tempted by the Ship restaurant next door, but went up to Sancerre and ate both evenings at the Taverne du Connetable in the main square. The food, wine, and ambiance were exellent. The owner and staff were friendly and did a lot to help us enjoy our two-night stay. The owner’s suggested wine producers were really good, and we learned a lot from visiting them. Our brightly coloured "Les Indes" room looked over the river and felt special. The hotel was beautifully decorated and furnished, and impeccably clean. The buffet breakfast was very nice, especially the home-made rhubarb and apple and orange jams. Even the dog Elliott was courteous, friendly, and very obedient. Les Indes was great, and all the other rooms we saw looked fabulous too, each with totally original decor.