Grape Escapes to the Loire Valley

The Hotels
Typical hotels we us are in the centre of Tours to allow easy access from the airport, station and the motorway. They offer a range of good restaurants and bars in the evenings.

Holiday Inn Tours Centre

Holiday Inn Tours Centre

3 grapesOFFICIAL RATING 3* • GRAPE ESCAPES RATING 3 • 105 ROOMS
ROOMS: A/C • TV • SATELLITE • PHONE • Holiday Inn Tours CentreMINIBAR • INTERNET • SAFE • HAIRDRYER
Hotel: • Secure Parking • Restaurant •Bar

This hotel is situated in the centre of the city of Tours, adjacent to the TGV railway station. The main shopping area is less than 5 minutes from the hotel while the cathedral with its fabulous gothic frontage is less than 10 minutes walk.

It has 105 rooms, including 11 Executives rooms and 2 suites with balcony. It offers all the comfort you expect, air-conditioning (individually controlled), satellite TV, Canal+, Wi-Fi, Internet access, in-room safe, mini bar, trouser press, hairdryer, direct dial telephone, alarm clock radio.

Best Western Le Grand Hotel
Best Western Le Grand Hotel

3 grapesOFFICIAL RATING 3* • GRAPE ESCAPES RATING 3 • 107 ROOMS
ROOMS: A/C • TV • SATELLITE • PHONE • MINIBAR • ROOM SERVICE FROM 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. • INTERNET • HAIRDRYER
Best Western Le Grand Hotel Le Bar
Hotel: Restaurant • Cocktail lounge • Parking nearby • Lift • Guest laundry service

The historic Grand Hotel was built in the grand style of the late 1920’s and opened in 1930. It is situated directly in the centre of Tours, opposite the railway station. The shopping district is located directly behind the hotel while the historic "Place Plumereau", with its famous 11th century half-timbered houses and the Saint Martin Basilica is a 15 minute walk. The hotel is undergoing continuing refurbishment each winter – Grape Escapes customers will only be allocated to the newly refurbished, larger rooms.
The Grand Hotel provides a welcoming atmosphere for guests and the bar / lounge offers a pleasant place to unwind at the end of a busy day.

Hotel de L’Univers

Hotel de L’Univers

4 grapesOFFICIAL RATING 4* • GRAPE ESCAPES RATING 4• 85 ROOMS
ROOMS: A/C • TV • SATELLITE • PHONE • MINIBAR • HAIRDRYER

Hotel: Beauty Salon • Restaurant • Bar • Secure Parking • Hotel de L’Univers bedroomLift • Gift shop

The Hotel de l'Univers is a five-floor hotel dating from 1846. It is set in a fashionable shopping area between the station and the historic centre of Tours and the cities’ main sites including the cathedral, basilica and the Place Plumereau are all within a few minutes walk. The 85 guestrooms are decorated in rich burgundies with classical-style furniture, and include satellite television, direct-dial telephones, minibars and wireless Internet connections. Bathrooms are equipped with shower/bath combinations, telephones, hair dryers and designer toiletries.

Guests can relax on leather sofas in the atrium-style lounge area, and browse through the portraits of the hotel's famous visitors. French gourmet food is served in the restaurant and the lounge bar serves Champagne and a selection of malt whiskies and cocktails. Guests can visit the onsite gift shop and hair salon, and multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk can provide room service, safety deposit boxes and a laundry / dry cleaning service. Wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Motorists can park securely in the hotel garage.

Prices
Please call us so we can give you an idea of an itinery and indicative pricing.

Travel Options
The driving time to the Loire from Calais is approximately 4 ¾ hours using the new Autoroute to travel via Rouen instead of Paris.

The other options are as follows:

  • Travel by Eurostar and TGV (high speed train). Tours is less than 1 hour from Paris by train.
  • Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Tours. The airport is less than 10 minutes away from the city centre by airport coach transfer or taxi.
  • Fly to Paris (numerous operators) and get the TGV to Tours.
  • Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais.
  • Long sea crossing with Brittany ferries from Portsmouth to Caen. The travel time from Caen to the Loire is 2 ¾ hours.

To book a Loire Trip, please contact us on 08456 430 860 or email info@grapeescapes.net