NORMANDY - France 2014 - page 403

Hotels
$$$ Hôtel le Cheval Blanc***, a Best Western, is a waterfront splurge with port views
from all of its 35 plush and pricey rooms (many with queen-size beds), plus a rare-in-this-
town elevator and a spa, but no air-conditioning—noise can be a problem with windows
open (small Db with lesser view-€150, Db with full port view-€180-230, family rooms/
suites-€280-435,mustcancelby16:00thedaybeforeorforfeitdeposit,freeWi-Fi,2Quai
des Passagers, tel. [phone], www.hotel-honfleur.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$$ L'Absinthe Hôtel*** offers11tastefullyrestoredrooms,allwithking-sizebeds.
Rooms in the “old” section come with wood-beamed decor and Jacuzzi tubs, and share
a cozy public lounge with a fireplace (Db-€160-210). Five rooms have port views and
four-star, state-of-the-art comfort, including air-conditioning and saunas (Db-€170-190,
Db suite-€265; breakfast-€13, private parking-€12, 1 Rue de la Ville, tel. [phone],
www.absinthe.fr , [e-mail] ).
$$$ Hôtel de l'Ecrin*** is a true Old World refuge. Enter the private courtyard
to find a vintage mansion with lovely gardens and ample grass, a big pool, a sauna,
public spaces Eugène Boudin would appreciate, free on-site parking, and très traditional
rooms—some have four-poster grand lits (Db-€120, bigger Db-€145-155, big suites-
€200-250, Wi-Fi, 10 minutes by foot from the harbor at 19 Rue Eugène Boudin, tel. 02 31
14 43 45, www.honfleur.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$$ Hôtel du Dauphin** is centrally located, with a colorful lounge/breakfast
room, many narrow stairs (normal in Honfleur), and an Escher-esque floor plan. The 30
mostly smallish rooms—some with open-beam ceilings, some with queen- or king-size
beds—provide reasonable comfort. If you need a lower floor or bigger bed, request it
when you book (Db-€100-125, Tb-€125-155, lovely Qb-€165, Wi-Fi in lobby, a stone's
throw from Ste. Catherine Church at 10 Place Pierre Berthelot, tel. [phone],
www.hoteldudauphin.com , [e-mail] ) .Thesameownersalsorunthe $$$
Hôtel des Loges***, a few doors up, which offers larger rooms with Wi-Fi, but less per-
sonality (Db-€115-140). Both hotels offer a 10 percent discount for Rick Steves readers in
2014 if you book direct—mention when you reserve and show this topic at check-in.