Spa Hotels in Nantes, on the Loire

Kitchenettes in every family room make the Mer & Golf City aparthotel on the Ile de Nantes an easy base for families. With a dining area as well, breakfast and an early dinner can happen at your own pace, and the soundproofing helps when children go to bed first. Secure parking and bicycle storage are useful, and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany is within a short walk or bike ride.

Oceania l'Hôtel de France is the Nantes address I would suggest to families who want a historic setting and a central base. The 18th-century building has spacious rooms, some overlooking the square and the Graslin Theatre, and the Passage Pommeraye and Place Royale are a short walk away, so a stroll through the old centre fits any day. The hotel welcomes families and pets, and parents can use the fitness centre or the bar.

I would pick SOZO Hotel for a couple's stay in Nantes when you want something out of the ordinary. The boutique hotel occupies a renovated 19th-century chapel, directly opposite the Botanic Garden. Some rooms have vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows. There is a spa, and the reception is open round the clock. Private parking is available, as a paid extra.

Seven Urban Suites Nantes Centre offers apartments with kitchenettes as well as rooms, which is what I look for when travelling with children for more than a night or two. Everything is air-conditioned, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne is about 1 km away, and the building sits on a main bus route. There is a spa and private parking, both at extra cost, and pets are accepted. Guests give this four-star address 8.7 across 1,915 reviews.

OKKO Hotels Nantes Centre Ville is a four-star in the city centre, so families can reach the sights of Nantes without a car. Rooms are modern and air-conditioned, with satellite TV and free WiFi, and a buffet breakfast gets everyone fed before setting out. The spa area gives parents a quiet hour, the reception is open 24 hours, private parking is available and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.6 out of 10 across more than 2,000 reviews.

Comfort Aparthotel Nantes La Beaujoire offers modern, fully furnished apartments, which give families more room than a hotel room and a place to prepare simple meals. It is a short drive from Beaujoire Stadium and the Parc des Expositions, with local shops and services within walking distance. A laundrette helps on longer stays, the spa and thalassotherapy facilities are a treat for adults, and parking is free and private. Pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.5 out of 10 across more than 2,000 reviews.

Family rooms at 4 Rue du Couëdic are the main asset for parents, along with a lift, a step-free entrance for pushchairs and soundproofed, air-conditioned rooms that keep the city noise out at night. The Commerce tram stop, 94 m away, takes children anywhere in Nantes without a car, and the Bouffay quarter and Place Royale are short walks. There is no pool or kids' club, so this is a base for a city visit rather than a holiday hotel. Pets are welcome too, and the 24-hour room service helps after a late arrival.

For a family in Nantes, the kitchenette is the quiet hero here: breakfast and an easy dinner can happen in the apartment, which keeps costs and bedtimes under control. Units have private bathrooms, there is a terrace and a fitness room, and the Cité des Congrès neighbourhood leaves the château of the Dukes of Brittany within easy reach. Pets are accepted, which is rare in city-centre aparthotels. With 3,384 reviews averaging 8.4, it delivers consistently.

Residhome Nantes Berges de la Loire stands on the banks of the Loire in the Euronantes district, and its two-room apartments are the reason I would suggest it to families: parents and children get separate spaces. Studios suit couples or a parent with one child. Everything is air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, the city centre is a short walk away, and there is a spa and a snack bar on site. Pets are accepted, and 638 reviews average 8.4.