Stays in Le Mont Saint Michel

The Mercure suits families who want space and calm near the Mont: it is set in parkland 2 km from the abbey, and the rooms are spacious, air-conditioned and en suite. Children can let off steam in the grounds after a day on the island's steps. Ample free parking makes arriving with a full car easy, and the restaurant and bar save a second outing in the evening. Pets are welcome too.

The view is the reason to come here with children: the hotel faces the bay, and most rooms have a private terrace, some looking straight at Mont Saint-Michel. The free shuttle to the Mont stops right outside, which saves tired legs on the way back. Rooms are soundproofed, with a minibar and free Wi-Fi, and the restaurant serves traditional dishes on a terrace facing the abbey. Ask for a Mont-view room when booking.

Le Relais du Roy stands by the River Couesnon, 1.5 km from Mont Saint-Michel, with a free shuttle stop 50 metres away, and for a family visiting the Mont I would value that easy access above all. Private parking means no searching for a space, rooms are classic in style, some with balconies, and a buffet breakfast is served daily. Pets are accepted. An 8.3 score over more than 2,500 reviews is reassuring.

Only 2 km from Mont Saint-Michel, Hôtel Vert is a simple, well-run base for a family visit to the abbey and the bay. Family rooms are available, the pastel rooms have private bathrooms, TV and free Wi-Fi, and a shuttle service saves tired legs. Two restaurants and a bar with a terrace mean no evening drive after a long day. Private parking and a pet-friendly policy add comfort, and almost 6,000 reviews give it 8.2.

Hotel Gabriel is 1.6 km from Mont Saint-Michel, about a 25-minute walk to the old walls, which makes an evening visit possible without moving the car. Family rooms sit on the upper floors and there is no lift, so parents with pushchairs should ask for the ground floor. Rooms have a kettle, a TV and a private bathroom, a buffet breakfast is served daily, and pets are welcome.

Hôtel La Croix Blanche is inside the medieval village of Mont-Saint-Michel, so families can walk up to the abbey without waiting for the crowds to arrive by shuttle. Family rooms are available, with flat-screen satellite TV, a minibar and free Wi-Fi. The hotel offers a free shuttle service and parking is available. I recommend it to families who want to see the Mont early in the morning and in the evening, when the village is quieter.

Auberge Saint Pierre occupies small 14th-century half-timbered houses on the main street of Mont-Saint-Michel, and I recommend it to families who want to sleep on the island itself, a short walk below the abbey. Rooms combine exposed beams with private bathrooms, TV and WiFi, and some have sea views. Note that the annex rooms deeper in the village involve several flights of stairs, which matters with young children. Breakfast is a buffet and the restaurant serves Norman and fish dishes.

Le Duguesclin has family rooms with private bathrooms and a TV, a simple set-up that works for a short stop at Mont-Saint-Michel with children. The traditional restaurant serves French cuisine, and the coffee shop and bar cover breakfast and breaks, so there is no need to search for a table at busy times. Luggage storage helps on arrival and departure days, and a shuttle service is offered. Pets are welcome. Expect a functional two-star, not a family resort.

I would recommend Hotel De La Digue to families visiting Le Mont Saint Michel who want comfortable family rooms with river views. Each room has a private bathroom, WiFi is free and the front desk is open around the clock. Daily housekeeping and room service are provided, and both a continental and an American breakfast are available. Pets are welcome and there is bicycle parking, which helps if you plan to explore by bike.

La Mère Poulard welcomes children and pets, and for families who want to sleep on the Mont itself it is the one I would choose: its rooms are spread over three historic houses, including La Maison Rouge with its adjoining garden, the calmest option for a family. The rooms are classic in style rather than modern. The 7.6 score across more than 3,000 reviews suggests a solid stay, valued above all for its setting on the island.

About 2 km from Mont Saint-Michel, Le Saint Aubert gives families a calm base instead of a room at the foot of the abbey. The flower gardens give children space to move after a day on the ramparts, and the restaurant in the former farmhouse serves regional cooking without a drive. Pets are accepted. Remember that check-in happens at Le Relais Saint Michel, just before the bridge.

La Vieille Auberge stands in the medieval village of Mont-Saint-Michel, just steps from the famous abbey, which means children wake up inside the village. Rooms are spread across two annexes, some with bay views and terraces, and all have a flat-screen TV and an en suite bathroom. There is free WiFi, a restaurant, a bar and a terrace. It is a simple two-star address, so I would choose it for its location.

Sleeping on the Mont itself is the experience here: La Confiance is a historic property inside Mont Saint-Michel, so children can see the abbey streets once the day visitors have gone. Rooms have modern decor and some look over the bay. The hotel is split across two buildings, and the island's lanes are steep, so pack light. There is an on-site restaurant and a bar, and pets are accepted, so the family dog can stay too.

Le Mouton Blanc is a historic 14th-century hotel at the foot of Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, and I think children enjoy sleeping inside such a setting. The comfortable, simply decorated rooms are spread over three buildings, some with views of the Mont and others in a medieval style. A restaurant serves traditional local cuisine on a terrace, and breakfast is available daily. Pets are welcome, and visits and activities can be arranged for you.