Spa & Wellness 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 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.

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.

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.

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.