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TripAdvisor
Traveler rating: 
Amboise:
Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes
: "Unforgettable experience"
Sao Paulo, Brazil Oct 17, 2007
I stayed at the Le Manoir le Minimes about one year ago and the experience was unforgettable!!! Staying at a gorgeous chateau by the Loire River was sooooo romantic. And what about the breakfast? I felt like a queen with all the silver servings and everything. I totally recommend this hotel!!!
Traveler rating: 
Les Manoir Les Minimes is the perfect place for a home base while touring the chateaux of the Loire valley. Situated on the Loire River, in the shadow of Chateaux Amboise, Le Manoir is a luxurious hotel. Run impeccably by a gracious staff, there is ample room to enjoy a bottle of wine from a local vineyard on the terrace, or to relax in the beautifully appointed rooms. My husband and I spent two lovely days of our honeymoon here, and had a delightful time. Everything is perfect, from the manoir chien, Olga, greeting you at the door, to our gorgeous suite. We will be sure to return.
Traveler rating: 
Amboise:
Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes
: "Just perfect..." Coimbra, Portugal Sep 29, 2007
Le Manoir des Minimes is the perfect place to stay in Loire Valley! Fantastic little Hotel, beautiful decorated in the centre of a lovely town!! I stayed 3 nights there with my husband and 12 year-old son, late August to explore the Castles. We had a superior room on the first floor with views overlooking the castle and the river. The room was big enough for us 3 with one the most comfortable bed we have had in any hotel!! The sofa-bed for my son was also very comfortable. Everything in the room and in the bathroom was perfectly cleaned and had very good quality (the towels, the bedclothes, the toiletries...). The staff was kind and helpful all the time!! They made us fell at home... Amboise itself is a very nice town in a perfect position to explore the Loire Valley. We went to Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord, Giverny, Chenonceaux and Valençay. The Amboise Castle is one of the most important castles in the French history. Anne de Bretagne lived here as well François 1º who invited Leonard DaVinci to live in Amboise the last years of his life(The Leonard grave is there). The Castle, the Clos Luce, the main shopping street and many restaurants are a walking distance to the Hotel. If you are in the area do yourself a favour and stay in Le Manoir des Minimes. For us it was the best Hotel we have been during our 3 weeks trip in France!! This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: everything was perfect...
Traveler rating: 
After reading all the reviews on this property my friends and I booked two nights in September. We arrived late at night in Amboise to no taxis. I called the hotel directly. They arranged a taxi for my friends and I and were waiting at the gates to let us in. In addition they helped us with internet, taxi service, useful amboise information and dinner reservations. The rooms were large and very clean. The only downside is that on our last night the staff sent us to L'especine for dinner. DO NOT EAT THERE. We went with a reservation and were left in a corner for more than 45 minutes without acknowledgement. We were one of five tables when we sat down, and when we walked out, the restaurant was full and everyone was eating. We were totally humilated. The staff was rude and told us they were just busy. So we went and ate at a grill in the alley around the corner and had a fabulous fun filled evening! We used Acco dispo for a day tour of the loire valley chateaus and had a great stay.
Traveler rating: 
Amboise:
Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes
: "Fabulous hotel and kids are welcome!" Waterloo Sep 16, 2007
We spent two nights at Le Manoir in August with my 5 year old son. We felt welcomed from the moment we arrived. The woman at reception was kind, escorted us to our rooms, gave excellent restaurant recommendations and handled all reservations for us. The breakfast was good, basic French and included some cereals and cold cuts, as well. The rooms are large and fabulous, very clean and the attention to detail is a special treat (special toiletries, candies, etc.). Highly recommend this hotel...even if you are traveling with kids.
Traveler rating: 
Amboise:
Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes
: "Fantastic" Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, UK Sep 4, 2007
I picked this hotel because of the great reviews and wasn't disappointed. The hotel is very pretty and in a great location. We stayed for two nights in one of the courtyard rooms which cost about £80 per night. The courtyard rooms are located in a small detached outbuilding near the gates to the manor. The room was large and very well appointed, and even though we didn't manage to get a room in the manor itself we were not at all disappointed. All the staff were very friendly and spoke excellent English. We will definitely be going back!
Traveler rating: 
Amboise:
Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes
: "What a Find" Cambridge New Zealand Jul 31, 2007
We Loved Amboise and staying at this hotel.The bedrooms were fabulous and spacious ( we had a deluxe manor room) and the terrace at the front of the hotel was a special place to enjoy a drink and look out to the Castle at Amboise at the end of the day.You can walk to town and to Clos de Luc,where Leonardo DeVinci lived out his last years.
This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: The Setting Disliked: Nothing
Traveler rating: 
Amboise:
Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes
: "Beutiful Rooms and Great Service" New York Jul 25, 2007
So after reading tons of wonderful reviews we decided to stay at the Manoir. We didn't do too much research about the Loire Valley but Amboise was a great location to sightsee from. The rooms are impeccably decorated and clean. The air conditioning could use a ton of work but beyond that the rooms were perfect. The guys running the hotel do whatever they can to make your experience enjoyable. I recommend starting the day with the breakfast as its only slightly more expensive than in town and much more enjoyable. If you can have dinner at L'Epiccerie as the food is awesome. Also take some time in Tours. Wine tasting was a bit weird compared to California and the Chateauxs were all very crowded.
Traveler rating: 
From the moment we drove into the lovely grounds of the Manoir we felt its charm.....And as we ascended the staircase to our bedrooms we fell in love with the hotel....What a lovely base for our Loire Valley trip... Our family of 6, 4 adults and 2 kids 11 and 13 stayed at the Manoir for 2 wonderful days from June 22 -24. We stayed in Rooms 11 and 12 which both had fantastic views of Chateau Amboise and the river. The rooms were beautifully appointed, each room had a king size bed and a small sitting area and felt very clean ( I am very particular about cleanliness).... The staff were outstanding particularly Pierre who was always very pleasant and eager to please....He also gave excellent recommendations for dinner....our favorite was L'Alliance.... the food was excellent and very good value. Although the breakfast was a little bit pricey we splurged and enjoyed it as it completed the whole experience of staying at the Manoir... The hotel is only a 2 minute walk to the center of town.... and a 10 minute walk to Le Clos Luce where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. My kids loved LE Clos Luce as it housed many of Leonardo Da Vinci's "inventions". Amboise is a small town but is centrally located . Chenonceax is only 15 minutes away and Villandry is about 45 minutes away.... The Gardens at Villandry are really worth a visit.....We also visited Chambord on our way back to Paris ( 30 minutes from Amboise).... That was our kids and our favorite Chateau.... Although it did not have a lot of furnishings, it felt the most like a medieval castle with its massive architecture and medieval style and fairytale like setting... The Manoir was a great find... I highly recommend it and I would definitely stay there again if I went back to the Loire Valley....
This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: The ambience
Traveler rating: 
Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "Awesome!" vancouver canada Jul 7, 2007 We read about this hotel in a travel review and deceided to stay. A great hotel central to the whole Loire Valley. We had a room on the top floor. During a hot spell, it was amazing to have a room airconditioner that worked. Everyone at the hotel was fantastic to us. (There was an incident where there was one of the housekeeprs crying with one of the managers. I would hate to think he made her cry.) Dinner reservations were made for us at the last minute. The breakfast was good with excellent coffee, croissants and other items. Definately the best hotel of our one month vacation. This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: Location, comfort...everything Disliked: I can't think of a thing
Traveler rating: 
Everything good that has been said previously about this place is true; it is simply outstanding. From the moment we arrived, we could see that it was a very special place and the next three nights confirmed that. The service is outstanding and the amenities and room decoration are second to none. Our room on the second floor overlooked the Chateaux and the river and was beautifully appointed, as was the bathroom. Located only a short walk to the Chateau and the town, it is easy to walk around Amboise. It is definitely worth hiring a car and driving to see the Chateaux at Chenonceau and Chambord, as well as stopping at some of the wine caves along the way. Amboise was the perfect place for us to announce our engagement and this hotel just made it even more special. We can't wait to return! Restaurant suggestions: L'Epicerie- great value, good quality food in a friendly, environment. Le Lion D'Or- incredible food and service, served in a charming dining room.
This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: Everything Disliked: The only minor thing was the hand-held shower, but it really didn't spoil anything
Traveler rating: 
Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "Simply the best"
Berkshire, England
Jun 10, 2007This was our second visit to the Manoir les Minimes in consecutive years and was just as good as the first. As before, we had booked a deluxe manoir room for the extra space and view over the courtyard towards the chateau and river. We happily realised that we might get the same room as before, but we actually got the next door room, which was decorated and furnished differently and thus it felt like a completely unique experience again. We were very comfortable - I had the best nights of sleep in months - and enjoyed lounging in the little tv area and looking out at that view. The bathroom was spotless with lots of quality goodies and soft bathrobes. Breakfast is a very civilized way to start the day, lots of starched tablecloths, baskets of pastries and fresh coffee in a lovely breakfast room. What else - secure and ample parking, beautiful lounges with lots to read and do, internet access. The terrace at le Manoir is a superb spot for a quiet drink at any time of day - but there is no pressure to buy drinks, the staff are just as happy to leave you be for as long as you wish. Actually the drinks prices are very reasonable, as are the minibar prices. It's hard to single out anything for special attention, as the whole le Manoir experience is just so good. However special mention must be made of the staff and management who are always friendly, polite and approachable. They must work very long hours judging by the times of day that we saw the same people, but they were just as cheerful at the start of day as at the end. They all spoke fluent English. Last but definitely not least, Olga the resident dog is delightful, completely unthreatening and rather lazy. She can usually be found spread out on the cool hall floor or lying in the shade on the terrace and completes the relaxed and homely feel of the Manoir les Minimes. We will find it hard to resist going back again and again in future years. Some final recommendations: the patisserie Bigot for good salads, pastries and ice creams; the L'Amboiserie creperie for informal grills and salads on a covered, outdoor terrace alongside the chateau; the Pavillon des Lys for a gastronomic, excellent value special dinner (essential to book). Amboise chateau is well worth visiting for its interesting architecture and views. Clos Luce is rather overpriced and (for us) was disappointingly boring. A Sunday morning market held just past the Amboise tourist office is extensive and worth a visit. Tours is 20 mins by train from Amboise and is worth visiting for the good selection of shops and fine arts museum, although we didn't think the old part of town was particularly attractive. This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: Sitting on the terrace admiring the view Disliked: Having to leave - it's not fair!!!!
Traveler rating: 
Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "Another great experience!"
New York City, New York
Jun 2, 2007Like just about everyone else who has reported on staying here, we loved this hotel! The grounds, rooms, commons areas, etc. were all immaculate. Staff was extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming. We booked the suite and were happy we did....it enters into a separate living room with many windows overlooking the Loire River and the hotel grounds, as well as the chateau in the background. There is a separate bedroom and very big bathroom with a large soaking tub and separate shower. The hotel provides an abundance of bath supplies which was a nice touch. I know a place is really special when I do not want to leave and that was definitely the case here. Highly recommended
Traveler rating: 
Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "Lovely Manoir"
chicago, IL
May 23, 2007The Manoir lived up well to expectations. We also stayed in Suite 10--and the rooms really looked like the pictures in the webpage. Whenever anyone asked us where we were staying, all the responses from hoteliers, shop owners, retaurateurs,etc. were +, "Ooh la la" and so even the locals are impressed with the Manoir. I will be redundant to say anything more but just keep up the superlatives. This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: The lovely Suite--very large and luxurious. Disliked: Nohing
Traveler rating: 
Toronto, Ontario
May 9, 2007
Stayed in Suite 10 at the Manoir. Beautiful views of the river. Very spacious room(s) and bathroom. The whole house is quite nice and I love the personal driveway. Staff is very friendly and the manoir is a close walk to the chateau in the center of town. Nice town to stay in to see the Loire Valley. If you want a big city feel - stay in Tours. We found it to be a great place to stay and would definitely return. Did not try the breakfast but there are many towns in the center that the hotel can book for you. We walked into one and they wouldn't let us eat inside without reservation though. I think was called L'Epicerie. We did eat at La Cave in nearby Vouvray and the food and ambience was excellent. Don't forget to try the wine while you are in this valley. I wish we had tried more!
Traveler rating: 
Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "Another happy customer"
Boston area
Apr 27, 2007The only thing different that I can add about this beautiful small hotel, is that we had the guts to bring our 2 boys (ages 9 and 12) there. It is really more adult than I had imagined, but they were very patient and kind to us. Even when my 9 year old wrote "You rocked, man!" in their guest book, they were still kind :) . Great location with a 5 minute walk to the little Amboise village and castle. Two nice bonuses: 1) We had perfect weather during our trip, and the sunset behind the bridge over the Loire River was amazing, and 2) On our last night in our room, as we were ramping up to say goodbye to France, there was suddenly an explosion of fireworks outside our window. They were beautiful and lasted about a half hour. It was such a nice way to say goodbye....
Traveler rating: 
Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "special place"
Ft Lauderdale
Apr 26, 2007We stayed in the cottage and our rooms were lovely. The location of the Manoir is wonderful for traveling to see many of the chateaux. The staff went out of their way to be helpful and were very friendly. I will stay here again! This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: the beauty and locatrion Disliked: gravel parking lot, couldn't roll the luggage
Traveler rating:  Can't stand airports any more so we have decided to spend more time in France. The Loire valley was on our tick list and we searched Tripadvisor for the best hotels. At one weeks notice top of the list could not accommodate us but Manoir les Minimes could. They offered us a selection of rooms for four nights. We decided to push the boat out and go for the prestige suite. We were not disappointed as the suite was superb and spotless. The owners and staff could not be more helpful and helped us to book a selection of first class restaurents all within walking distance (saves the usual argument). Breakfast at 12 euros per head may sound expensive but forget going elsewhere. The quality is excellent along with an unlimited supply of tea or coffee. The grounds are immaculate and there is secure parking for your expensive car (if you have one).Overall a most enjoyable stay, a view endorsed by two very pleasant young American ladies who departed to Paris on the Saturday before we left. Not a cheap trip but worth every penny.
Traveler rating:  Amboise: Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes: "Great View Great Hotel"Berwyn, PA Apr 9, 2007My wife and I stayed 3 nights at this wonderful small hotel and really enjoyed our experience. We booked on line directly with the hotel and all of our inquiries were handled promptly and professionally. The hotel is beautiful with private off-street parking. It sits at the base of the Chateau Amboise and across the street from the Loire River. The views from the rooms are spectacular. We stayed in a standard room on the top floor. It was spacious with a king bed and modern bath. It had a hand held shower and no curtain, which we found a minor drawback. If I had the do it over, I would reserve a room on the second floor. Our room was great but I just got tired walking the two flights of stairs (bad knees). It was less than 2 minutes to walk into town. The staff was terrific. They were very attentive to our needs and concerned that we were comfortable. They made sightseeing suggestions, gave great directions, made dinner recommendations that were spot on and even made reservations for us. Breakfasts were very good. We opted for convenience and did not go into town to eat. Bar service is available in the hotel with cocktails either in the very comfortable public rooms or outside on the patio. It is a great hotel with the perfect blend of professionalism and "the personal touch." Amboise is a good spot to base while visiting the Loire Valley and Hotel Le Manoir les Minimes is the ideal spot to stay in Amboise. This TripAdvisor Member: Liked: The personal touch provided by the staff Disliked: Hand-held showers
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Le Manoir les Minimes is a lovely 18th-century manor built on the site of a 13th-century convent, convenient to the wonderful town of Amboise with its intriguing streets and shops. The hotel has a spectacular location in the shadow of the château right on the river’s edge, surrounded by acres of gardens and embraced by an old stone wall. Furnishings are elegant, with antiques and attractive color schemes. The salon is spacious and formal in a wash of warm yellow, while the dining room is light and pretty (you can opt to eat in the garden when weather permits). The hotel offers eleven guestrooms in the main building and three in the facing annex. All the rooms have large beds that can convert to twins. A first-floor room is easily accessed by those who have difficulty with stairs and is also the one truly handicapped-fitted room. At the top of the first stairway is the most spectacular room (10), a corner suite decorated in beiges and creams with magnificent views both of the flowing river and up to the crowning château. There are several superior rooms on the second floor, which have glimpses of the Loire and are equipped with every modern convenience, while on the third floor are some great-value rooms. The three rooms in the annex are spacious but tend to be decorated in brighter colors, which contrast vividly with the stark white walls.
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This authentic 18th century manor house was built on the foundations of the ancient medieval Monastère des Minimes and is situated in proximity of the old town. It is the ideal place from which to explore the chateaux and vineyards of the Loire Valley. This selected stopping place offers its visitors comfort "à la française", a harmonious blend of sophistication and intimacy, whilst affording glorious views of the Château Royale d'Amboise and the river Loire. Air-conditioned rooms; private enclosed parking; no restaurant.
Our inspector loved : The total attention to detail.
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MANOIR LES MINIMES - AMBOISE, FRANCE
There are any number of four-star hotels in the Loire region, but Manoir les Minimes stands out for its extraordinarily tasteful interior design, the work of owner Patrice Longet (previously manager at the historic Château de Chissay). As you visit the opulent chateaux of the region with their tapestries, upholstered chairs and fanciful chests, you come to truly appreciate the refinement of your own room at Manoir les Minimes.
Mr. Longet opened the hotel in 1998 after the complete renovation of its original 18th century building (which was itself constructed on the foundations of the ancient convent "les Minimes"). He employs lavishly rich fabrics in guest rooms, creating an impression of considerable comfort and elegance. Each room has its own décor; the Prestige Suite features Jouy fabric throughout. In the guest room visiting Cognoscenti Magazine editors stayed in during their recent visit, two-tone fabric in gold and charcoal clothed the curtains, bedspread, and sofa pillows; the carpet is equally plush; and the 18th century-style chairs, all ovals and curves, are themselves richly upholstered in shades of yellow.
"This is a place from which people can walk downtown in just a minute or two, look on the Loire - all rooms look on the Loire - be safe (since there is private parking within the gated grounds) and relax," says Mr. Longet.
Relax we did! Recommended.
This article was written by Nicole Medvecky-Riggs and other contributing editors to Cognoscenti Magazine. © 2003 Cognoscenti Magazine
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Every detail has been thought out with tender care, lovingly-chosen antiques and objets placed to create a light sophistication. A far cry from the Minimes order who had a convent here until it was destroyed in the French Revolution; then this noble townhouse took the site. Between majestic Loire and historic castle, the manor has 18th-century grace and generous windows that look onto its big courtyard, the castle and the lustrous river. Before opening Les Minimes in 1998, the charmingly young and enthusiastic Eric Deforges was a fashion designer, hence his faultless eye for fabric, colour and detail. Exquisitely-decorated rooms are big - slightly smaller on the top floor, with beams and river views from their dormers - and have luxurious bathrooms. The masterpiece is the suite where the toile de Jouy wall fabric seems to be one single piece. The elegant checquered hall leads to a series of interconnecting salons. There's a smaller, more intimate television room and a breakfast room in soft yellow and grey. With fresh flowers everywhere, it feels more like a classy home than a formal hotel.
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Testimonials
Located on the Loire River and at the foot of the Chateau d'Amboise, this small hotel was built in the 1700s but was gut-renovated in 1998-- and what a renovation it is!
Le Manoir Les Minimes is centrally located, a perfect base for exploring the chateaux and wineries of the Loire Valley. It is elegant, private and romantic, an ideal location for a small wedding and/or honeymoon. After a harrowing drive from Paris in our tiny rental car (top speed: 140 kph; begins shuddering around 120 kph--but that is another story!), all we wanted was a place to relax. Arriving Le Manoir Les Minimes was like finding the treasure at the end of the rainbow.
THE ROOMS
The rooms are unbelievably spacious, and most have a view of the Loire River and the Chateau d'Amboise, which is lit with floodlights at night. Best of all, at the current US$-FF exchange rate, it is a bargain. Our "double deluxe" room was located on the second floor of the house, up a small winding staircase. It faced the courtyard with a view of the Loire River and the Chateau D'Amboise. We were expecting at best a queen sized bed, and a room comparable in size to a standard hotel room in the U.S. What we got: Our king bed (a rarity in France) had luxurious sheets and soft, puffy down pillows. The room itself was about the size of our apartment in New York City- it also had a separate sitting area with a double sofa bed, coffee table and a small TV, a writing desk, another small table with two chairs, and one of those wooden valet-stand thingies where you can hang a jacket and pair of pants and put all your loose change. The bathroom included Burberry toiletries, lots of fluffy towels and bath sheets, and two heavy terry cloth robes embroidered with the hotel's logo. The main bath room included a tub large enough for two, with a hand-held shower massage, and double pedestal sinks. The "WC" was discreetly located in a small alcove with a door- oh, how I wish American hotel rooms would do the same! The deep closets were spacious and included quality wooden hangers. (Aside: I get rather offended by those hotel/motel hangers that have the pieces that don't come off the rod-- the last thing I intend to do when I check into a hotel is steal the hangers!!) Also included was a bottle of mineral water, although the tap water is safe for drinking and tastes fine.
THE ATMOSPHERE Le Manoir Les Minimes is one of the most tranquil and relaxing hotels I have ever visited, bar none. It achieves this result mainly by having very few rooms (there are only 14 of them) and by having attentive and friendly service. The check-in area is a small office located behind and beneath the stairs to the second floor. We were greeted by Monsieur Eric Deforges, who spoke English fluently, yet graciously complimented my own stuttering attempts at French. We parked our little rental car in the courtyard, along the gravel drive. In front of the hotel, there were several tables and chairs set up on a terrace for the guests, and a family was already at one of them, quietly laughing and playing cards in the late afternoon sun. On the ground floor, there are two large lounges decorated with period antiques or reproductions. In these rooms there are also several books, magazines and maps providing information on tourist attractions in the area, ranging from chateaux, to restaurants, museums, and wineries. M. Deforges also has a collection of menus of restaurants in the area for browsing, and the hotel staff (which, as far as I could tell during our stay, consisted of M. Deforges and one other gentleman) will gladly make reservations for you at any of the nearby restaurants. We also enjoyed looking through the photo album of the renovations of the hotel. Guests are expected to have breakfast at the hotel, which is 58FF per person. Breakfast is served in a smaller room on the ground floor, with white linen, silver, and fresh flowers at every table. It includes freshly squeezed orange juice, strong coffee, a bountiful basket of pastries with butter, jam, preserves, and honey, and fresh fruit, all served by M. Deforges, of course. (Does the man ever sleep?) One thing is for certain: M. Deforges' care in the renovation and operation of this hotel make Le Manoir Ler Minimes a real pleasure. We only wish we could have stayed longer.
DETAILS, DETAILS
Le Manoir Les Minimes is located in the historic section of Amboise, within walking distance of the Chateau d'Amboise, shops, restaurants, and the Loire River. The commercial center of town, including the SNCF train station (Gare d'Amboise) is 1 km away, across the Loire River. The nearest TGV (high-speed train) stops at Tours, about 20 km away. Amboise itself is centrally located in the Loire Valley and within 20 km of numerous chateaux in the region. Room rates range from about 490FF for a single room, low season, to 2200FF for a palatial two bedroom, four room suite during the high season. Breakfast is 58FF per person. Our room, a double deluxe, was 820FF in the high season. (Our stay, including the cost of breakfast, came out to about $135 US) Pets are welcome. There is a large and very friendly dog on the premises. There is ample free parking in the courtyard, which is locked at 10pm at night (guests have keys to the gate). Phones are only answered between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm, local time. (Take Eastern time and add 6 hours). We made our reservations over the internet, via email, about one week before our arrival. The staff speak English fluently and are very friendly to Americans.
We planned a two-night stay in the Loire Valley on a trip through France in May 2002. Amboise seemed a good choice - the town was not too big but still had a lot to offer including a well known Chateau.
As soon as we arrived at the Manoir Les Minimes Hotel it was going well. The Manoir was located right by the river in town, but even in this bustling city at rush hour, the driveway in front of the Manoir made parking easy and the entrance grand. We received a warm welcome from the hosts and were taken to our room. The room was lovely, with views to the Chateau and down to the Loire. Everything was beautifully presented in a traditional French style. Large fluffy white towels, corner tub, A/C, everything I needed. The cost for this Deluxe room was around 110 Euros, which, when compared with the hotels in Paris is excellent value.
We enjoyed an apéritif on the terrace before heading out to explore the town. The town centre itself was small and friendly, but had plenty of bars and cafes, shops and scenery to keep us amused. Day one, we took a tour of Chateau Amboise, which is very grand and affords excellent views of the whole town. The second day we drove the ten minutes to Vouvray for a spot of wine tasting. Anyone that has been to the Napa Valley will be in for a shock – for there are no big, highly organized tours and pay as you go tasting, this is the real thing. With our limited grasp of French we managed to arrange tours of caves, often by the owners themselves. Caves des Producteurs was the largest and most commercial, with a tour of some of their 4km of underground caves. The tour could be taken in several languages including English and German and it felt more like what we were used to. Most tastings are free, which means it’s important to have a designated driver!
The romantic setting of this trip would be more suited to couples – regardless of age. And if I had one tip it would be to make an effort with your French – it’s much appreciated and will be well rewarded!
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WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL France : Exploring the Chateaux of the Loire Valley
In the shadow of the chateau, we found the lovely Le Manoir Les Minimes, recommended by a French friend. We also discovered it in the Sawaday guide, which gave us confidence in its recommendations, as we explored the Loire Valley over the next five days. We were greeted at the lovely Manoir by a statuesque, platinum blonde -- a longhaired sheepdog named Robspierre. From the car he looked like a carved apparition of great poise and dignity sitting beside the front entrance. As we walked to the door, this commanding statue wagged its tail and, after quick scans from large brown eyes, barely visible between long strands of hair, allowed us to pass. The manor was originally a convent for the Minimes monastic order, was destroyed during the French Revolution, then restored as a grand townhouse. Its unique design and selection of antique furnishings create an atmosphere of quiet dignity. We climbed the stairs to the attic and were delighted to find our room, with its slanted ceiling covered by huge wooden beams. Best of all were the two dormers and their magnificent views spanning river, castle, and town. Le Manoir Les Minimes has 11 rooms and 2 suites. Doubles: 590-820 francs. Suites: 1200-1400 francs. Breakfast 58 francs. (Current exchange rate: about 7.5 francs to the dollar.)
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Oct 4, 2002 VIRTUAL TOURIST MANOIR LES MINIMES by Helga67 Type: Pension/Guesthouse Description: Our accommodation in Amboise was a beautiful authentic 18th century manor house built on the foundations of the ancient medieval Monastere des Minimes and situated near the old town. Prices: US$40-80 Comparative Price: more expensive than average Customer Satisfaction: A Great Experience.
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Fodors
Author: Suki Date: 10/22/2004, 09:50 pm it's been a year and a half since we stayed at Le Manoir Les Minimes, but my daughter and I were just talking about how this was the favorite hotel of our trip.We had two rooms on the third floor - in the corner to the left of the stairs. These are the least expensive rooms but they were still charming with views of the river and the castle (well, the windows are a little small up there but if you looked out, you had a good view.) The bathroom was roomy and well-appointed. The rooms on the second floor were really nice and roomy with large windows and great views.
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Author: cmcfong Date: 10/23/2004, 07:32 am I just returned from a stay there. I posted a review on trip advisor. We stayed in room 11, which was absolutely lovely. We enjoyed the hotel immensely. There is a very helpful lady who works the reception desk in the evenings. She will give you excellent dinner suggestions, as well as driving directions, activities, wineries...well, you name it. She is very friendly and accomodating. The men who own the hotel are polite and pleasant, but not nearly as warm as the lady. The hotel was very comfortable, the amenities were high quality and the beds excellent. It was our absolute favorite hotel during our stay in France. We had breakfast at the hotel one morning. It is OK, but we learned quickly we did better by taking a short walk into the town and having our breakfast at a cafe. I cannot recall the name, but there is a large cafe on your right, two blocks from the hotel, which has a lovely bakery out front and a very pleasant dining area in the back. Don't skip Le Manoir les Minimes, it is wonderful!
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Author: Travelnut Date: 10/24/2004, 12:14 am Le Manoir les Minimes is very well located for car travel, just off D751 in Amboise, with guest parking. You can walk to pedestrian center of Amboise, the chateau and Clos Luce very easily. LMLM is a very nice inn, warmly decorated and the staff is very cordial and efficient. The 11E breakfast is a glorified continental but we still took it as we prefer to eat and have coffee before leaving hotel for the day. (the breakfast was very good - breads, jams, honey, coffee, juice, grapes, cereal, yogurt, etc). There is a giant dog on the premises (Briard?) but he is very calm and quiet. Our room was a king bed with a bath (wc in a separate 'room'), minibar, table w/2 chairs, armoire, chest of drawers, angled beams (watch your head!), etc. View of chateau from dormer-style windows. Very roomy and immaculate. We stayed Oct 14&15, 2004.
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Author: TopMan Date: 10/27/2004, 06:21 pm The place is absolutely WONDERFUL IMO and as described above; if you are driving the parking is a nice-to-have. If you are a dog lover then all the better although the pooch is politely reserved as are the owners..but ultimately knowedgeable about local restaurants, places to visit, and helpful in making reservations, etc. GO for it!
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