Stays in Valence

Maison Pic is a five-star hotel in central Valence built around its cooking: the gourmet restaurant run by chef Anne-Sophie Pic holds three Michelin stars, and a bistro offers a simpler table. For families, the heated outdoor pool, open from May to October, is the main asset during a summer stay. Rooms designed by Bruno Borrione use wood, leather, metal and glass. I would see it as a treat for food-loving parents rather than a children's hotel.

The Hotel Victoria is a four-star in Valence with plenty of shared space, useful when a family needs room beyond the bedroom: a terrace, a lounge, a bar and a coffee shop. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and city views, plus a minibar and free WiFi. A lift helps with luggage, and the front desk and concierge are available around the clock, handy for planning outings in the Drôme. A score of 9.0 is excellent.

Ace Hotel Valence is 200 metres from exit 15 of the A7, an easy break for families driving through the Rhône valley. The real bonus for children is outside: a children's entertainment park and a mini-golf course thirty metres from the hotel. Rooms are air-conditioned with a flat-screen TV, desk and wardrobe, parking is free and video-monitored, and the front desk is open 24 hours for late arrivals. Guests rate it 8.7 out of 10 across more than 2,000 reviews.

The detail families need to know at the Clos Syrah is that its spa is restricted to guests aged sixteen and over, so parents of younger children will rely on the seasonal outdoor pool instead. I see it as a four-star suited to families with teenagers or to parents sharing spa time in turns. Rooms are air-conditioned with a balcony, a safe and a desk, and bathrooms have a bath or shower. The hotel lies 4.6 kilometres from Valence's Exhibition Centre.

An outdoor swimming pool and spacious modern rooms make the Novotel Valence Sud an easy pick for families, and I like that the on-site restaurant saves a drive out in the evening. It is a four-star hotel a five-minute drive from both the A7 motorway and Valence's city centre, so it works as a stop on the road south or as a base for a few days. The meeting rooms point to a business clientele during the week.

You Hotel de France is a contemporary four-star hotel in central Valence, and a few details make it easier with a baby: a cot is available on request, and rooms are air-conditioned for warm Drôme summers. The daily buffet breakfast is included, so mornings start without a search for a café. For more space, suites add bathrobes, slippers and a coffee machine. The large terrace gives everyone room to sit outside in the evening.

I would not call the Best Western Atrium a family hotel first: it is built around meeting rooms and a business corner. Still, families get useful basics here. The four-star rooms have walk-in showers, a welcome tray with a kettle and a minibar stocked with free fresh drinks, which helps with children in the evening. The 24-hour front desk handles late arrivals, and the central location keeps Valence's streets and restaurants within reach for a city stopover.

The outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by a furnished sun deck, is what I would put first for families at the ibis Valence Sud, especially after a hot day out. The hotel sits three kilometres from central Valence, close to the Drôme provençale, the Ardèche and the Rhône, so it works as a base for day trips by car. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private shower room and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and Wi-Fi is free.

For a family road trip down the Rhône valley, I find the Ibis Budget Valence Sud a sensible overnight stop. The outdoor pool is the detail that changes a budget stay for children, especially in summer, and free parking keeps arrival simple. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom and shower, and the 24-hour front desk handles late check-ins. Expect a functional hotel, with a shared lounge and a vending machine rather than a restaurant.

I would consider Hotel Les Negociants for a family or a small group that wants to stay in the middle of Valence. This two-star hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a terrace, and the Victor Hugo shopping centre is two hundred metres away. Rooms have a flat-screen TV, a desk and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries, and the front desk is staffed around the clock. Breakfast is available at an extra cost.

Mercure Valence is a freshly renovated four-star beside the viaRhona cycle path, three minutes from the A7 and from Valence's historic centre. The outdoor pool gives children a reward after a day on the road or the bike, and two restaurants keep dinner simple. Rooms are air-conditioned with a safe and a private bathroom, and free secure parking suits families with cars or bikes. Guests rate it 7.7 out of 10 across more than 1,800 reviews.

The B&B Hotel Valence Sud is a no-frills option that I would suggest to families mainly for an overnight stop by car. Free private parking and free Wi-Fi are included, rooms are soundproofed with a private shower room, and cable TV helps keep children busy in the evening. Breakfast is served every morning for an extra charge, which lets you decide whether to eat in or head out. The hotel sits six kilometres from Valence Parc Expo.

Campanile Valence Sud is a three-star south of Valence, easy to reach by road, which makes it a practical stop for families crossing the Rhône valley. Children can let off steam on the playground, while rooms come with a TV, a welcome tray and a private bathroom. The on-site restaurant serves dinner Monday to Friday, handy after a long drive, and private parking and free WiFi are available. Guests rate it 7.3 out of 10 across nearly 2,000 reviews.

I would book the Logis Hôtel Saint Jacques for a family curious about history, since it occupies a sixteenth-century building and is described as the oldest hotel in Valence. The old city and its historic sights are within walking distance, which keeps outings simple with children. Rooms have a flat-screen TV, a desk and a private bathroom with a bath or shower and free toiletries. It is a modest two-star, chosen for its character and location.

I would book the Hôtel de Lyon for a family passing through Valence by train, since the railway station is only fifty metres away. The two-star hotel sits in the city centre, and its rooms are bright and soundproofed, each with a private bathroom and free WiFi. Drivers are close to the A7 and A9 motorways, which makes it a practical stop on the way south. It is a simple address, chosen for convenience rather than facilities.