Stays in Lorient

For a family base in Lorient, I would book Hôtel Le Patio de Victor, rated 9.2 on 857 reviews, for its position: the Île de Groix ferries are a ten-minute walk away, so an island day needs no car. Children curious about boats can visit the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly, 1.5 km from the hotel, and Larmor Beach is 5 km away. The sun terrace gives parents somewhere to sit outside at the end of the day.

Aiden by Best Western Lorient Centre lends free bicycles, which is why I would book it for active families who want to ride around Lorient. It is a four-star with air-conditioned family rooms and bathrobes, a fitness centre for parents and a family-friendly restaurant serving French cuisine, plus a bar. Concierge service and daily housekeeping keep things easy, and the airport is 10 kilometres away. Its 8.9 rating is excellent.

Logis REX Hotel Lorient is a three-star five minutes' walk from the train station, with family rooms that have balconies and city views, so I would book it for families arriving by train who want space and some fresh air. Rooms are soundproofed, the lift helps with luggage, and bicycle hire makes it easy to ride to the harbour. The Stade du Moustoir is under a kilometre away, and a continental buffet breakfast is served.

Hôtel Victor Hugo is a two-star two minutes' walk from Lorient's town centre and the Port de Plaisance, and 800 metres from the station with direct trains toward Quimper and Carnac. I would book it for families travelling without a car who want to watch the boats and take day trips by rail. Rooms are en suite with free WiFi, and the 24-hour reception makes a late train arrival easy. Its 8.5 rating is very good.

For a family trip built around an event at the Palais des Congrès, I would book Mercure Lorient Centre, which stands opposite it in central Lorient, near the marina. Children can explore the harbour on foot while one parent attends sessions, and the independent restaurant serves traditional and Italian dishes, an easy choice with children. Rooms are air-conditioned and en suite, and the train station is 1.5 km away.

For a family on a budget, I would book Hôtel Le Keroman for its position: it is 300 metres from Lorient's fishing port, so watching the boats come in needs no car. Older children with an interest in sailing can walk to the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly in about fifteen minutes, and the Marine Museum is 1.8 km away. It is a simple two-star hotel with modern rooms, free Wi-Fi and breakfast each morning.

Hôtel Escale Oceania is a three-star in central Lorient, a short walk from the train station and the Palais des Congrès and under a kilometre from the harbour and the Groix ferry, so I would book it for families planning a day on the island. Family-size rooms keep everyone together, rooms are en suite with free WiFi, and the covered private parking on site keeps the car safe overnight.

MOKA Hôtel sits in central Lorient close to the harbour, and I would book it for families who want the town on foot and the beaches of South Brittany a fifteen-minute drive away. Family rooms are available, the lift helps with luggage and pushchairs, and rooms are en suite with satellite TV, Canal+ and free WiFi. The nearest beach is 2.9 kilometres away, so plan on the car or a bus for a day by the sea.

Smartappart Lorient offers self-catering studios in central Lorient, each with a kitchenette and a private bathroom, and I would book one for a small family who prefers to cook its own meals. The lift helps with luggage and pushchairs, WiFi is free and public parking nearby is free. The train station is a fifteen-minute walk, and Larmor-Plage, the nearest seaside town, is 5 kilometres away for a day at the beach.

Hotel les Pêcheurs is a simple hotel two minutes' walk from Lorient's harbour, with a terrace and a bar, and I would book it for families who want the boats on their doorstep and do not mind basic rooms. Some rooms share bathroom facilities while others are private, so I would check which one you get when travelling with children. WiFi is free, public parking nearby is free, and the FC Lorient stadium is a kilometre away.

Brit Hôtel Confort Cléria is a three-star five minutes' walk from Lorient's train station, so I would book it for families arriving by rail who want an easy first walk with bags. The port is a twenty-minute walk away. Rooms are individually decorated and en suite, with free WiFi, and breakfast can be served in the room or on the patio, handy with young children. Parking is free for cars, bikes and motorbikes.

Hôtel Les Océanes is a recently refurbished two-star near Lorient's fishing port and the Keroman Nautical Village, and I would book it for families who want to watch the fishing boats and visit the sailing quarter. Rooms are modern and en suite, with Canal+ and free WiFi, and a continental breakfast is served. A free public car park is nearby. There is no lift, so I would ask for a lower floor with a pushchair.

ibis Lorient Centre Gare is five minutes' walk from the Gare de Lorient, the Congress Centre and the Port de Plaisance, and I would book it for families catching an early train or ferry. The buffet breakfast starts at four in the morning and runs until ten, so nobody leaves hungry. Rooms are air-conditioned, and the 24-hour bar is there for a late drink. Golfers will note Val Quéven nearby. Its 7.9 rating is fair.

Sure Hotel by Best Western Lorient Centre is a three-star decorated around the story of Lorient from the 1900s to the 1950s, and I would book it for families planning the boat to Île de Groix, as the ferry port is 1.5 kilometres away. Private parking is free, which helps before a day trip, and the full buffet breakfast sets everyone up. Rooms have tea and coffee facilities. Its 7.8 rating is fair.

The soundproofing genuinely worked, which mattered with young kids who go to bed early and wake up if it's noisy. Dinner at the hotel restaurant on our first night saved us from hunting for somewhere with the children in tow after a long drive. It sits a bit further from the harbour than some other options, but the free parking and quiet rooms made up for the short drive into central Lorient each day.