Sometimes my holiday challenges come through a chat rather than the form on this blog. The other morning, coming back from school drop off, I was chatting to one of the class mums and she mentioned that she had troubles finding the right place for an upcoming birthday weekend away with her husband without the kids.

So I of course immediately jumped at the idea of helping her as I love a challenge!

The Challenge

• hotel or bed and breakfast in the North of France
• easy transportation from Paris Gare du Nord
• for two without children
• cheap to moderate budget

My first and best recommendation was la Grenouillère (see below). Amazing reviews, food, a different style of decor, it’s apparently a gem. It is near Amiens so they could just get off at Lille on the Eurostar or also just drive there from Calais.

Then I mentioned le Perche, a region in Basse Normandy which is only one hour from Paris.  Perche is still a relatively unexplored area in the south of Normandy. It is a national protected area with forests, hills and rivers, interspersed with medieval chateaux, manors, churches and peaceful villages. A good place to be based then. 

Here are where they could stay.

La Grenouillère

• From 140 euros
• http://lagrenouillere.fr/

You will come here for the amazing food by a Michelin star chef. But the stay should be quite pleasing with charming “huts”, or rooms and breakfast is included in the price.  You can benefit from a mid-week offer on room and diner as well. Check their site.

D’une Ile

• 9 rooms/flats
• From 140 Euros
• http://www.duneile.com

This place has been featured in many interior magazines as the dutch owners like to change the decor regularly.  There are 5 two-person cottages, 1 two-person suite, 1 four-person cottage, and 2 four / six-person (family) cottages.

Hotel de Suard

• 5 bedrooms
• From 110 Euros
• http://www.hotel-de-suhard.fr/en/

 

A classic 18th bedroom house turned into a very welcoming little hotel.  The bedrooms are beautiful (look on the site) and the fact that there are only 5 guarantees an intimate atmosphere.

Côté Parc

• 8 rooms
• From 155 Euros
• http://www.cote-parc.fr/?lang=en

Côté Parc comes back regularly in reviews or recommendations for the regions and looking at the bedrooms, one can see that there is a certain sense of style that justifies it.

Villa Fol Avril

• 12 rooms
• From 79 Euros
• http://www.villafolavril.fr/en/boutique-hotel-normandy.html

 

This is a lovely hotel with restaurant and pool at quite unbeatable prices really! Looks very confortable and welcoming.

Entre Voir

• One room
• 130 Euros
• http://www.entre-voir.com/

I selected this place because it’s a former priest house and as such has tons of charm. I couldn’t find a picture that would fit the blog and would show the garden and building but it is really cute. Go check it out

La maison des petites faries

• 3 rooms , can also be rented as a whole
• From 100 Euros
• http://www.hotesparticuliers.fr/maisons-dhotes/basse-normandie/orne/la-maison-des-petites-faries

This challenge is about a birthday weekend without kids but if you want to consider going in that region with your family, then you might like this place as it has a dormitory and a home cinema !

Voilà, hope these suggestions will please Wendy but also generate some ideas for a different trip for some of you.