Have you ever fallen in love with a hotel? This small hotel in the French town of Amboise is not only comfortable and peaceful, but also has that French charm that exudes both elegance and relaxation. Le Clos d’Amboise stole my heart the first time I stayed there, and every time I look at photos of the hotel, I feel relaxed and can’t wait to go back and experience that again.

I found this hotel when I was looking for a place to stay in Amboise on my trip to explore the Loire Valley with my mom, which I will write about in my next blog. If you think about exploring the Loire Valley and its many châteaux, Amboise is a perfect base.

Joie de vivre in a French mansion

Situated in the royal town of Amboise where French king Francis I had his royal residence, Château d’ Amboise, this 17^th century house was converted into a hotel in 2003 and was completely renovated in 2011.

The first thing that caught my eye when I first saw the pictures of the hotel was its French country mansion aesthetic. The cream-colored main building has that typical French gray roof and shuttered windows and doors. Boxwoods line the building and courtyard adjacent to a hidden swimming pool. Cute tables and chairs in the lawn are perfect for dining alfresco throughout the day. It’s beautiful during daytime, but with evening lights, it’s stunning. Photos don’t do it justice.

But the highlight of the hotel is inside. The elegant wall paneling, gilded mirrors, lamps, crystal chandeliers, and ornate furniture are hallmarks of the French style décor while the colorful velvet chairs give it a modern twist. The multiple drawing rooms where guests can hang out provide additional space and remind me of a château. The common area is inviting, sophisticated, yet comfortable. 

The hotel also has a restaurant, which comes in handy when you’re out sightseeing all day and just want to relax at the hotel with a good meal. We were there in March, so we had our meals indoors as it was still a bit chilly. A breakfast buffet was served in the beautiful drawing rooms, which were even lovelier in the morning light. 

The room

Unlike typical hotel rooms in Europe, our room was quite spacious. Besides the comfortable bed, the room had a sitting area and a little mini bar where we could make coffee or tea. But my favorite part was the walk-in closet. The little walled off area at the far end of the room gave me an idea of one day creating an easy walk-in closet in my bedroom. 

How to get there

There are several daily trains from Paris to Amboise. Some are direct and some with connection. A direct train takes only 1 hour and 40 minutes. An indirect one takes about 2 hours.  The Amboise train station is small, so there may not be a taxi waiting around. It’s best to ask the hotel to arrange a taxi for you or you can also walk. It’s a 20-minute walk across the Loire River to the hotel. 

A nice touch

We got there early, and while we were waiting for our room to be ready, they served us tea and delicious croissants to help us relax while waiting. We really appreciated this level of hospitality. All in all, we had a great stay and can’t wait to go back!