Stays in Saint Malo

For a family break in Saint-Malo, I like how little walking Hôtel Le Nautilus asks of children: the beach is about 50 metres away and Saint-Vincent Cathedral two minutes on foot, all inside the walled city. The 17th-century building has been fully renovated, there is a shared lounge for quieter moments, and pets are welcome, so the family dog can come too. A 9.5 score across nearly 1,000 reviews is reassuring for a three-star base.

Families heading to Saint-Malo for the beach will find the Grand Hotel de Courtoisville well placed: the renovated Belle Époque villa is a few steps from the Plage du Sillon, so a morning on the sand needs no car. The hotel sits in a green, quiet setting, rooms are bright and calm, and the spa-thalasso centre gives parents some time of their own. Pets are welcome. I would pick it for a relaxed seaside stay rather than an action-packed one.

I would choose L'Hôtel Particulier Ascott for a quieter stay in Saint-Servan, 400 metres from the beach and two kilometres from the centre of Saint-Malo. It is a renovated 19th-century mansion with individually decorated rooms, some with a balcony, and a floral garden. The hotel welcomes families and pets, which makes it an easy choice for travellers who like character over a busy location.

I would book Château Hôtel du Colombier for a family that wants space outdoors near Saint-Malo. This 18th-century château stands in a six-hectare park with a rose garden, a chapel and a pond where guests can fish, which keeps children busy. Free bikes are lent to guests, and the beaches are a five-minute drive away. A tea room and a terrace suit a slow afternoon, and free WiFi covers the essentials.

Staying inside the historic walls of Saint-Malo is the experience families get at Hôtel Bristol Union, and I find that a real plus for children, who can explore the ramparts and lanes on foot from the door. The marina is 180 metres away. En-suite rooms and suites come with satellite TV and free Wi-Fi, and the suites give a family more room. Breakfast is served daily, and the bar suits parents in the evening.

Villa des Thermes is two minutes on foot from Sillon Beach, and its family rooms come with a fully equipped kitchen, so I see it as a self-catering base for a beach holiday with children. Rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning, free WiFi, a coffee machine and a microwave, and many have city views. Pets are accepted. The Casino Barrière is nearby for adults. Guests rate it 9.0, though from just 24 reviews.

I would book Hôtel Le Nouveau Monde for a family that wants the beach on the doorstep and the walled town within walking distance. The hotel is on the Saint-Malo beachfront, and its spa has an indoor pool and a hammam for days when the sea is too cold. Rooms are spacious and soundproofed, with town or sea views. The restaurant looks out over the water, and pets are accepted.

I would choose Hôtel Le Croiseur Ginette for a family that likes small hotels with a strong personality in central Saint-Malo. The recently renovated building is decorated with Breton crafts and has a distinctly feminine style, which gives older children something to look at beyond a standard room. Beds are comfortable and of high quality. A terrace, a communal lounge and a bar give the family space to gather after a day on the ramparts or the beaches.

La Maison des Armateurs is a four-star in the historic heart of Saint-Malo, a short walk from the cathedral and the marina, so families can explore the walled town on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned with minibars and satellite TV, and room service helps when children need an early night. Breakfast is served daily in continental or American style, there is an on-site bar, WiFi is free and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.9 out of 10 across nearly 1,900 reviews.

Hôtel Les Charmettes stands directly on the Saint-Malo seafront, with immediate access to the beach and a beach bar, so a day of sandcastles needs no planning. Rooms have a nautical theme, private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. Some come with a balcony over the sea, others look onto the courtyard, so ask for the view you prefer. A continental breakfast is served and the restaurant cooks traditional seafood.

Hôtel L'Adresse is 30 metres from Sillon Beach, close enough for children to go back to the room between swims. Most rooms have a fully equipped kitchenette, which makes simple family meals easy, and some come with a balcony worth requesting. The town centre and marina are a short walk away, rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, and pets are accepted. With 8.9 from 1,157 reviews, I see it as a practical beach base in Saint-Malo.

I would choose Manoir du Cunningham for a seafront stay in Saint-Malo, a short walk from the Old Town. The 17th-century manor has spacious rooms and suites, many with a private terrace or balcony overlooking the marina and the Île de Cézembre. Free Wi-Fi is included, and the ferry terminal and local attractions are easy to reach. Pets and families are welcome.

The Kyriad Prestige Saint-Malo works well for families who want a fallback for grey Breton days. The indoor pool gives children something to look forward to after the beach, while parents can use the sauna, steam room or hot tub. Family rooms are air-conditioned, the buffet breakfast saves a morning search for a café, and free private parking helps with a loaded car. The walled old town is a drive away rather than a stroll.

I would choose Hotel des Abers for a family that wants to stay inside Saint-Malo's old centre and walk everywhere. The hotel occupies a 16th-century building and is a short walk from the marina, the casino and the ferry terminal, which suits families crossing by boat. Rooms have flat-screen TVs and there is free WiFi throughout. It is a three-star address, so I would book it for location and character rather than for facilities.

Hôtel La Villefromoy is an elegant mansion by the sea in a residential district of Saint-Malo, with just 26 rooms, which keeps the atmosphere calm. Rooms have free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, minibars and hot drink facilities. The garden and terrace give children space outside, while parents can relax in the lounge bar. Pets are welcome for an extra charge. Guests rate this four-star 8.9 out of 10 across nearly 1,800 reviews, an excellent score.

Every room at the Sézam Appart'Hôtel Saint-Malo has a kitchenette, which I find practical for families who want to prepare simple meals between beach sessions. Sillon Beach is less than a kilometre away, and the Palais du Grand Large is close by. Rooms have a private bathroom, a tea and coffee maker, a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is included, and breakfast can be served in the room, handy with young children.

Logis Hôtel la Grassinais is a 10-minute drive from the beaches of Saint-Malo and the walled Intra-Muros, so it suits families who travel by car and want a calmer base. Free private parking makes coming and going easy. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, satellite TV and free WiFi, a breakfast buffet is served each day and pets are welcome on trips along the Emerald Coast.

Hôtel Quic en Groigne has rooms for up to four people, which spares families from booking two rooms. It sits in a quiet part of old Saint-Malo, close to the beach, the main shopping streets and the ferry terminal, so arriving by boat with children is easy. Breakfast can be taken on the veranda, on a small terrace or in the room. Rooms are simple, with a private bathroom and TV, and 1,131 reviews average 8.8.

Hôtel Oré stands at the entrance to Saint-Malo and offers family rooms for up to six people, rare enough that I would point large families straight to it. The breakfast buffet uses local and homemade products, and the garden and terrace give children space outdoors. Parents get a wellness area with a sauna and a Nordic bath, plus a bar. Guests rate this four-star hotel 8.8 across 2,160 reviews.

I would choose Hôtel Anne de Bretagne for a stay within the walls of Saint-Malo, close to the marina, the ferry terminal and the exhibition centre. The hotel is pet-friendly and welcomes families. The reception is open around the clock and bar service is available. A spa and thalassotherapy centre is nearby, though not in the hotel itself, so I treat it as a possible extra.

Direct access to the Plage du Sillon is what families will value most at Résidence Neptunia: the sand is right outside, and each apartment has a kitchenette for simple meals. When the weather turns, the indoor pool keeps children busy, while parents can use the sauna, hammam and solarium. An on-site restaurant and bar save a trip out in the evening. Pets are accepted. I would book it for a self-catering family week by the sea in Saint-Malo.

Ar Iniz is the Saint-Malo hotel I would suggest to families who want the beach right outside: it has direct access to the Sillon Beach, so buckets and spades need no car. The terrace has sea views, the regional restaurant saves a search for dinner, and a buffet breakfast starts the day. Bicycle rental makes the 1.5 km ride to the walled city an easy outing with older children. Rooms are modern with free WiFi.

I would choose this ibis Styles for a stay inside the historic walls of Saint-Malo, with Sillon Beach and the marina within easy reach. Rooms are en suite with modern amenities, and a daily buffet breakfast is served. The bar has a panoramic terrace, which is the highlight for an evening drink. The hotel is pet-friendly, and the location suits families exploring on foot.

Oceania Saint Malo faces the sea on the Chaussée du Sillon, near Sillon Beach and the marina, so the sand is only a short walk from the room. Guests get complimentary access to the swimming pool and the spa area, and an open-air hot tub sits on the panoramic sea-view terrace. Rooms are air-conditioned, with parquet floors, flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. Pets are accepted, a real help for families travelling with a dog.

Hôtel La Porte Saint Pierre sits inside the ramparts of Saint-Malo, about ten metres from the beach, so children can go from the room to the sand in a couple of minutes and walk the walls afterwards. Rooms are contemporary, with flat-screen TVs, electric kettles and private bathrooms, and some have panoramic sea views worth asking for. A buffet breakfast is served each morning, families are welcome and pets are accepted.

I would choose Résidence Reine Marine for a family stay by the sea in Saint-Malo. This four-star residence has direct beach access and panoramic views of the islands and the bay. A spa and a thalassotherapy centre are on site, and a golf club is accessible. The residence is pet-friendly, which makes it easy for a family with a dog, and the setting suits long walks along the shore.

Facing the beach of the Sillon and next to the port, Hôtel Alba lets families step from the room onto the sand, which I see as its main appeal with children. Rooms with sea views are available, a memorable detail for a short coastal break. The tea room and bar give a calm spot when the weather turns, a buffet breakfast is served each morning, and the 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. Wi-Fi is free.

I would book Le Port Malo for a family that wants to stay inside Saint-Malo's walls and reach the sand in minutes, since Eventail Beach is just 100 metres away. Rooms are soundproofed with private bathrooms, a help when the old town is busy in the evening. A continental breakfast is served every day, and parents can have a drink at the pub-style bar or on the terrace, next to an artisanal brewery. Pets are welcome.

I would pick the Grand Hôtel des Thermes for a family that wants the beach and a pool in the same stay, since the hotel stands directly on the Saint-Malo seafront. The indoor swimming pool is a useful fallback when the Breton weather turns, and the spa and fitness centre let parents take turns. Some of the refined rooms have balconies and sea views, which are worth requesting. The Cap Horn restaurant serves meals facing the sea, so dinner needs no planning.

Directly on the Saint-Malo seafront, the ibis Saint Malo Plage puts the beach steps from the door, which I see as the strongest argument for families with young children. Rooms with sea views are available, and the south-facing garden gives a sheltered spot to sit after a windy day on the sand. The historic walled town and the train station are both a short walk away, so a car is not essential. Pets are welcome.