Stays in Tours

Les Trésorières is an adults-only hotel, so I would not book it for a family travelling with children. It suits parents taking a break of their own in Tours. The wellness offer is broad: an indoor pool, a plunge pool, a sauna, a hammam and a fitness centre. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, with bathrobes and minibars. The Basilica of Saint Martin and Place Plumereau are a short walk away.

I would book Hotel Colbert for a family arriving in Tours by train, since the station is less than a kilometre away, as is the Vinci International Congress Centre. Family rooms have private bathrooms and free WiFi, with views over the garden or the city; I would ask for the garden side. A continental breakfast and a coffee shop cover the mornings, and the concierge can help plan day trips to the Loire châteaux. It is a simple two-star with a strong guest score.

LABE Hôtel Tours Centre Gare offers soundproofed, air-conditioned rooms close to the train station in central Tours, and family rooms make it easy to keep everyone together. Breakfast is a strong point for families with specific needs: continental, buffet, vegetarian and gluten-free options are all available. The bar, lounge and coffee shop give parents a quiet corner in the evening, and WiFi is free throughout the hotel.

I like the Hôtel du Cygne for its setting in an 18th-century building on a quiet street in the historic centre of Tours. Rooms are individually decorated and come with modern comforts and free Wi-Fi. The cathedral and the antique shops are close by, so exploring on foot is easy. Pets are welcome, and I find it a calm base for couples.

Every unit at 211 Rue de la Presle comes as an apartment, which is what families gain here: a kitchenette and a dining area for meals at your own hours, a balcony, and two-bedroom units with separate dining and sitting areas, so children can sleep while parents stay up. Air conditioning helps on hot Loire summer nights. The location is the limit. Rue de la Presle is in Tours Nord near the airport, so days at Chenonceau, Amboise or Villandry and evenings in the old town all mean the car. That suits a family that drives every day anyway; a family without a car would be better placed in central Tours.

I would choose Château de l'Aubrière for a family stay in a château near Tours. The four-star hotel has a garden and a sun terrace, a restaurant and a bar, and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool. Rooms are air-conditioned, with private bathrooms and garden views, and free Wi-Fi covers the property. The restaurant serves French cuisine and welcomes families, so dinner is easy.

Castel Fleuri is a three-star house in a quiet residential district of Tours, which makes evenings calm for families after a day out. Breakfast is served on a veranda or brought to the room, a small help on slow mornings with children, and some rooms have been recently renovated. I see it as a base for the Loire châteaux rather than for central Tours itself. An 8.6 score across more than 1,300 reviews speaks well of the welcome.

A 2.5-hectare park near Tours city centre gives Château Belmont a space for children that few city hotels can match, and I would add the heated swimming pool as the main draw for families. Accommodation is split between a renovated 17th-century castle and a contemporary residence, with air-conditioned rooms, TV, minibar and free Wi-Fi. Parents can use the steam room, sauna and fitness room, and pets are welcome.

Hôtel du Manoir occupies a 19th-century mansion in Tours, and I would suggest it to families who prefer character to facilities. The rooms are spacious, which matters when travelling with children, and simply decorated in a French style. A lift serves every room, so strollers and luggage are not a problem. Breakfast is served in a vaulted cellar, a setting children tend to remember. There is no pool or restaurant listed.

The Hampton by Hilton Tours Centre puts families within walking distance of the main sights of Tours, which I find is its biggest asset for a short stay with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, and the sun terrace and outdoor seating area give everyone a place to sit outside. Parents can use the fitness room and the spa, the coffee shop helps with a quick breakfast or snack, and the bar covers the evening. Pets are welcome.

Family rooms are the starting point at the Campanile Tours Nord, each with a private bathroom, air conditioning, a TV and a tea and coffee maker, which helps when children wake early. I find the shared spaces useful for families too: a sun terrace, a bar, a lounge and a coffee shop give everyone somewhere to go outside the room. A continental buffet breakfast is served every day, free Wi-Fi is included, and pets are welcome.

I would choose Hotel Mirabeau for a family that wants to explore Tours on foot without spending much on extras. The hotel is a short walk from the railway station, the Congress Centre and Saint-Gatien Cathedral, which keeps sightseeing simple. Rooms are individually decorated and have free WiFi. In warmer weather, breakfast is served on the terrace, a pleasant start before a day trip to the Loire châteaux by train.

Hilton Garden Inn Tours Centre, France puts families in the city centre of Tours, a convenient base for exploring on foot. Rooms are modern and air-conditioned with free WiFi, and the breakfast is varied enough for different tastes. The restaurant serves French cuisine and caters to various dietary needs, which helps with children or allergies. A sun terrace, a lounge and a fitness centre complete the picture. Guests rate it 8.4 out of 10 across more than 2,000 reviews.

I would book the Logis Hôtel des Châteaux de la Loire for a family that wants a simple, central base in Tours. The Old Town and the Vinci International Conference Centre are within easy reach, so evenings out need no car. Rooms are well appointed with free WiFi, and breakfast is served in a dedicated dining area. A bar and lounge give parents a quiet corner, pets are accepted, and free private parking for bicycles suits families cycling the Loire.

I like this Best Western for its position in the Old Town of Tours, close to Place Plumereau and within reach of the train station. The pretty garden and terrace give guests a calm place to sit after a day out, and Wi-Fi is free. The hotel lists spa and thalasso facilities, though I would not call it a wellness retreat. Pets are welcome, and the setting suits couples and families who prefer walking.

Frenchdoor Tours Corneille offers air-conditioned family rooms in central Tours, and I like the shared kitchen as a bonus for families: a snack or a simple meal for children is easy to prepare. Rooms have parquet floors and views of a landmark or the city. The sun terrace, lounge and coffee shop give everyone somewhere to sit, and luggage storage helps on departure day. Paid private parking is available for those who drive.

Hotel Val De Loire is a small boutique hotel in central Tours, just 50 metres from Tours SNCF station, which makes arriving with children and luggage simple. Rooms have flat-screen TVs and free WiFi, and look either onto the garden or onto the Boulevard Heurteloup, so families wanting quiet should ask for the garden side. A buffet breakfast is served daily, and many restaurants and the Vinci congress centre are close by.

Best Western Plus l'Artist Hotel is a Tours address I would suggest to families arriving by train: the central station is very close, and the Old City is a short walk away, so the car can stay at home. The hotel caters to families and accepts pets, which keeps the whole household together. Parents can use the fitness centre, and the bar with its terrace is a pleasant end to a day of Loire sightseeing.

I would point families towards the dedicated family rooms here, which avoid splitting up across two bookings. The hotel stands 300 metres from the Vinci congress centre, central enough to walk to the old quarter of Tours and to set off for the Loire châteaux by car, helped by private parking. The bistro-style restaurant and room service make tired evenings simpler, while the spa and hot tub suit parents after a long day.

Mercure Tours Nord is the hotel I would suggest to families exploring the Loire by car who want a pool at the end of the day. The outdoor swimming pool and furnished terrace give children a reward after a château visit, and the restaurant serving traditional local dishes saves a drive back into town. The 93 rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed. It sits 6 km from the centre of Tours, so a car is useful. Pets are accepted.

City Résidence Tours has 99 modern, fully equipped apartments sleeping up to four, a format I find well suited to families who want a kitchen and a bit of space. It sits between the TGV station and the Palais des Congrès, with shops and the city centre a few minutes' walk away, so arriving by train with children is easy. It also works as a base for day trips into the Loire Valley. Parking and air conditioning are included, and pets are accepted.

Hotel TULTY offers family rooms in Tours with private bathrooms, a walk-in shower, a TV and city views, which keeps everyone in one room without feeling cramped. Free WiFi, a concierge and express check-in help after a long journey, and the hotel is close to Tours train station and the Vinci congress centre. An ice rink nearby gives children an easy outing when the weather turns.

Less than a kilometre from Tours train station, The People - Tours is an easy arrival for families travelling by rail, and I like that the family rooms come with walk-in showers and views of the garden or the city. The garden and sun terrace give children room to move, and the on-site restaurant and bar save hunting for dinner after a day of sightseeing. Free Wi-Fi is included, local sights are close by, and pets are welcome.

Cit'Hotel Criden is a central base in Tours for families planning days out to the Loire Valley châteaux. Its 33 rooms are described as spacious, each with a private bathroom and free WiFi, which helps when sharing with children. A buffet breakfast gets everyone fed before a drive, and the indoor and outdoor private parking means the car stays close. There is a bar and lounge for quieter evenings, and pets are welcome.

Ibis Tours Centre Giraudeau is a contemporary hotel with quiet rooms, which helps when children need an early night. Free private outdoor parking makes arriving by car easy, and Saint Gatien Cathedral is 3 km away, with public transport linking the hotel to the city's main sights. A buffet breakfast and a bar round out the essentials, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.1 out of 10 across more than 2,100 reviews.

The LOGIS Hôtel Du Théâtre stands opposite the Tours Opera, an eight-minute walk from the railway station, which makes a family arrival by train simple. The hotel occupies a renovated 15th-century building in the city centre, and rooms have flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. A shed for bicycles and motorcycles is useful for families cycling in the Loire Valley. I would suggest it to families who want a central, characterful base on a modest budget.