We stayed here for three nights before flying back from La Rochelle (so close - about a 10 minute drive to the airport from the southern tip of the island)

The hotel is fine but I cannot get too excited about it.

It's on the coast next to a vineyard but there was no appreciable beach. It is modern and clean and you get the impression that it does a lot of corporate functions.

The room was as you would expect for a typical business traveller - not luxurious but perfectly acceptable. The staff were helpful. There is a seafood restaurant which seemed nice but quite formal. Not cheap. We didn't eat there but had a snack at the bar in the spa part of the hotel which was OK. The spa is joined by a tunnel to the hotel. We didn't try the spa but apparently lots of famous French people did as there were signed photos of them all the way down the corridor (not sure I would have stayed there if I was a rich celeb),

Problem is that it's just bland and out of the way. It's about 2km to Sainte Marie and there is nothing else around. Had I known I would much rather have booked into a hotel in a town or village where you get some of the atmosphere and have somewhere to walk to.

Ile de Re is absolutely lovely. The towns and villages are beautiful and there are plenty of lovely restaurants to eat in (avoid the touristy ones for dinner if you are looking for something special). We had a lovely dinner in Ars en Re at the other other of the island - the restaurant almost on the corner of the harbour just before you go round the corner to the car parking area- very good fish and fantastic live jazz.

Beaches are lovely too. Clean sand but can be windy as it's the Atlantic coast. Hire a bike if you get a chance - very bicycle friendly.

Next time, I'll book into somewhere with a bit more character.