France - Nantes and Amboise

Nantes
I did like this hotel and I did like Nantes. I won’t be going to either of them again, but if you find yourself there it’s fun and the old town (pedestrian mostly) is great. I would argue the Oceania is on the chain side while my friend stayed in an Airbnb on the more boutique local side, but it’s all close and the same general area so maybe it doesn’t matter. For what it’s worth, this hotel is in the same square as the seafood restaurant la glaces, which is like being in a room at Versailles or some shit. Nantes is big enough and has these adult stores all around, but they all seemed pretty basic, not a lot to speak of on that front.

Chinon was a great small town!
Worth a visit if you’re in the area (we stopped here on the way to Amboise from Nantes). Watch out for that anduillette though! It’s not sausage, it’s poop sausage!!!!

Amboise
This town is the jam. Super small and built around a castle. It’s really fantastic. It’s small town living so you just take it easy and make a dinner reservation cause they be bursting. The castle is rad and overall this is a good example of what you want in a small European town that isn’t on water…if you’re in the area I mean…there are others :)

Notes to self:

-Great wine of course!

Oceana Hotel Nantes - Aug 2023

Pretty bare bones room but on the nice side, and I looked right on the square which was nice I guess.

Le Manoir De Minimes Amboise - Aug 2023

The hotel is a grand estate. Very nice but regal and spectacular in ways that aren’t so impressive in modern times. My suite was huge with a huge bathroom and a castle view. Pretty stellar. And the staff was the jam. There was a mini bar but bare bones other than that. I guess they did have room service but it’s that awkward kind where the front desk person has to bring it up…