Seaside Hotel in Vannes on Conleau Beach

Best Western Plus Le Roof Vannes Bord de Mer is the only seaside hotel listed in Vannes, and its score of 9.1 from more than 1,200 reviews is both high and reliable. It stands on the shore of Conleau Beach, looking over the Gulf of Morbihan, with established gardens and direct access to the beach. Rooms with a balcony and a sea view are available and worth requesting, as watching the tide and the boats from your room is the point of staying here. Free high-speed WiFi, a safe and Canal Plus channels are included, and free parking makes arriving by car simple.

The two restaurants and bar mean you can spend the evening without leaving the waterfront, which is a real advantage at Conleau, a quiet wooded peninsula rather than a busy resort. Breakfast with a view of the gulf and dinner as the sun sets over the water are among the pleasures of a stay. The beach is small and sheltered, and the calm water of the gulf suits a swim more than surfing. Next to it, the tidal seawater pool on the peninsula is a local favourite for a dip at high tide. Paths through the pines lead along the shore for gentle walks.

The hotel is a short drive or bus ride from the walled centre of Vannes, so it combines a seaside setting with easy access to the town. Free parking means you can leave the car at the hotel and still reach the old town, the Saturday market at Place des Lices and the marina for boats to the islands. For families, the beach access and gardens are a draw; for couples, sea-view balconies and the restaurants on site make a romantic weekend. Booking well ahead is wise in July and August, as a 9.1 score with over a thousand reviews keeps the hotel in high demand.

The Gulf of Morbihan is the reason to come. Boats from Vannes and nearby harbours sail to the Île aux Moines and the Île d'Arz, two car-free islands with paths, small beaches and views across the water. The Rhuys peninsula, on the southern shore of the gulf, has the castle of Suscinio and long ocean beaches, and the megaliths of Carnac and the Quiberon peninsula are within an hour. Oysters from the gulf are served everywhere along the shore, and the walled town of Vannes, with its cathedral, ramparts garden and half-timbered houses, rounds off any stay.