I recently returned from my third visit to the Loire Valley. Each visit I have chosen a different place to stay. Although the other places were nice, there is no question in my mind that Domaine des Hauts Loire is THE place to stay. Not only is it a beautiful and well run property, but its location is, by far, the best I have found for touring the region and amazing chateaux. The great ones and others worth seeing are easily reached from the hotel. Three or four can be easily reached and leisurely visited a day, with plenty of time remaining for a nice lunch in between.

The hotel is set back on beautiful grounds, just outside of Onzain. The property consists of two buildings. One is the original chateau while the other is a more recent structure that is very attractive and appears to have family sized accommodations. We opted for the original house and had a room overlooking the front of the property (Room #2) with a wonderful view of the grounds and pond. The room was very comfortable, with a good sized bath with double sinks and good toiletries.

The dining room, even in late October, stayed very busy. Dinner was very good and breakfast even better. The wine selection (for dinner, not breakfast) was very thorough with many wines from the region as well as some very good Bordeaux. The main reception/lounge room with beautiful furnishings and a pleasant fire provides an excellent setting for a pre-dinner cocktail and people watching. The staff was extremely helpful with everything from directions, planning routing for chateaux visiting and confirming reservations. Everyone was very nice and gave you the feeling they were happy you were there.

I would recommend this place to anyone planning a visit to the Loire Valley. It is perfect for couples or families.

Domaine des Hauts de Loire was our favorite and most romantic place we stayed on our honeymoon! As soon as you pull into the long tree lined driveway, you feel like you have been transported into a fairy tale, then you see the magical chateaux at the end of the road that truly takes your breath away.

We were greeted by the lovely and kind staff who took our bags in these adorable carriers to our room at the adjacent carriage house, which was beyond expectations, only to find a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses next to it with a note from the hotel wishing us a happy honeymoon! They went above and beyond to ensure we had a phenomenal stay and that we did.

We went on complementary bike rides around their grounds and the lake connected to it. We had our best meal in the Loire Valley at their restaurant, the service and food were just spectacular. Then, when we were about to go explore the chateaux they offered a map and guide book for the day to navigate and read all about the history of each.

As for the review below claiming it to be over rated, we had no problems at all with our stay or room. The room was more than spacious, odorless, lavishly decorated and filled with every amenity possible, from the deep soaking tub to the double sinks, separate toilet, large plush bed and private patio overlooking the garden, not to mention all the toiletries imaginable including his and hers slippers!

If you are looking for a romantic getaway or a place to stay in the Loire Valley for your honeymoon, this is it!

For those who want to experience the quintessential gentry life, there is no better place. The property is converted from a manor house hidden inside a beautiful, lush forest at Onzain. Service is personal and attentive. Restaurant is great and not excessive in price. There is a gorgeous garden at the back with various sorts of flowers, and they adorn each room and the lobby. Rooms are spacious by French standard. Feel free to borrow a bike to cycle around.

I advise driving by yourself while staying here, as it is quite isolated. I had a thoroughly memorable stay here.

The setting of the hotel in an extensive garden plus the location of the hotel in the midst of the Loire valley make this a great place to stay. The rooms are spacious and nicely furnished and typical for a country side hotel. Unfortunately, our room had a slight smoky smell - as there seems to be no real distinction between smoking and non-smoking rooms. The hotel staff was always very friendly, although no real help with our luggage was offered. The restaurant met the expected high standard; very positive is, that also children are welcome - which is a pleasant surprise, as this is not always the case in similar hotels and restaurants. The breakfast however is very expensive for what it is - which is basically bread, rolls and jam only. But having a nice glass of local wine on the lovely terrace or in the lounge after a day of sightseeing makes a stay here worthwhile.