Paying less than 135 Euros ($180) a night for a boutique hotel in France sounds too magnifique -- yet it’s a true tale in Nantes, a bustling town in the Loire Valley. Open since January, Okko Nantes Château is laid-back but chic, with a no-frills ethos that still covers all the basics in clean, contemporary style. In the 80 neutral-hued rooms here, the furnishings like the blonde wood desks and midcentury modern chairs take on a Danish- or Swedish-design bent. Built into the platform bed is an attached bench, a great spot for reading or relaxing, and a wall-less shower is connected to the bathroom via a sliding-glass door. And, what every traveler loves to hear: WiFi access is complimentary, as is a welcome glass of wine.
While each room includes a Nespresso machine, there awaits a more complete breakfast (already included in the rate) in the colorful shared lounge full of ottomans and sofas. Help yourself to anything in the refrigerator, including yogurts and juices. Come nightfall, this same space transforms to a wine bar, thanks to a Cuvinet system, with complimentary snacks. There are also computers and a fitness center for guests’ use.
The hotel is fantastically located, too. Nantes, home to around 900,000 residents, has plenty of top notch attractions and restaurants. It's an easy walk from the property to the Musée des Beaux Arts de Nantes, a botanical garden and Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. The Loire River snakes through the town, and if you're interested in a day trip, a train station is a 10-minute walk away.
Sounds like your kind of hotel? Keep an eye out for more Okko hotels to come throughout France and eventually the rest of Europe. Nantes is the first property to have opened under the brand, but the owners -- a seven-member team of hospitality veterans in France – are opening another hotel in Grenoble, France on October 6, with more in the works in Bayonne, Strasbourg, Toulon Lyon, Cannes, and Paris from 2015 through 2017.