Le Régent

I’d always dreamed of going to the Loire Valley… an enchanting land of floral gardens, fine wines and rolling green hills scattered with more than a thousand chateaux. But with a husband who likes nothing more than spending his summers lying on the beach and basking in the sun, Loire had never gone any further than my imagination. That was until we found an excellent deal online which turned out to be the perfect compromise for both of us - I could have my castles, culture and coves and he could have his sun, sand and serenity.

A few weeks later, we were off on a romantic break to a small town called Pornichet, located in the heart of a region of rich historical, natural and cultural heritage. After a short drive from the airport, we arrived at La Baule which has been officially recognised as one of the ‘most beautiful bays in the world’ alongside Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and the San Francisco Bay – and it wasn’t difficult to see why! Our hotel was right on the seafront, with porthole windows and maritime-décor to blend with the natural beauty of the surroundings. After being greeted by the friendly receptionists who gave us a multitude of useful information about what to do and where to go during our stay, we were taken up to our Sea-View Room which was chic, comfortable and full of character. The terrace boasted panoramic views of the bay, and we had everything we needed including a king-sized bed, a ship-style bathroom, a satellite TV, free high-speed Wi-Fi and a safe.

Needless to say, my husband headed straight to the beach, but I was dying to explore the local area so I spent the afternoon visiting the fortified town of Guérande, the salt marshes and the Saint Nazaire. I then retreated to the hotel’s luxurious spa where I treated myself to a “Hot Chocolate Massage” and a Moroccan-inspired “Heart of the East” treatment, before wandering down to the beach to find my husband looking more relaxed than I’d witnessed in a long time. We watched the magical sunset from the comfort of our sun beds (complete with exotic cocktails in our hands) and soaked up the calm pace of life that permeates La France. Pure bliss.

Our magical evening ended with a delicious meal at the hotel’s restaurant, Le Grain de Folie. The chef, Pascal Perrais, creates unique and imaginative dishes using local ingredients which can be enjoyed in a lovely setting with views of the bay. I indulged in the fresh fish of the day complemented by a glass of local wine, followed by a rich chocolate ganache with sorbet and finished off with a plentiful selection of cheeses…. We were in France after all!

After a comfortable sleep, the buffet-style breakfast was more than enough to set us up for the day, which we spent wandering around stunning chateaus, before a lazy afternoon of soaking up the sun on the beach. After a week of exploring everything I love about France… the countryside, the beaches, the food, the wine, the scenery, the people and the fascinating culture, I was definitely not ready to return to the ever-looming British winter. But now that I knew how easy it was to hop on a plane and head to Nantes, I knew I wouldn’t be saying ‘au revoir’ forever to my beloved Le Régent Hotel.