Hotel Oceania St Malo 4*

The Oceania has much to recommend it as it is, quite literally, next to the beach and casino and is the closest hotel to the old town. The designer furnishings are stylishly attractive in tones of blue and brown and air conditioned bedrooms all have ultra modern shower rooms (a few have bathrooms). Additionally the hotel has an indoor pool and jacuzzi. Hotel garage approx. 22€/night. Pet accepted 20€/night.

Foot passengers - the hotel is approximately 1.4km from the ferry terminal and taxis are available. Alternatively, you can catch the minibus/shuttle (bus stop 3 minutes walk from the terminal) which runs every 20 minutes -does not run on Sundays - and will drop you outside Intra Muros. From there the hotel is about a 10 minute walk.

This romantic resort, with its long maritime tradition and historic attractions, is one of France's great tourist centres - many travelling no further on leaving the ferry. Particularly popular is Intra Muros (within the walls) where strolling through the maze of cobbled streets with their tall granite buildings, lively bars, restaurants, and stylish boutiques feels like stepping back in time. For a day at the seaside you need venture no further as the local beaches are superb and opposite the old town there are 2 or 3 little offshore islands and forts that can be reached on foot at low tide, one of which is Grand Bé where the writer Chateaubriand is buried. Even if you don't want to spend the day relaxing on the beach there are still plenty of things to see and do for all the family including the Grand Aquarium, the thalassotherapy centre (seawater spa therapy), the casino and the Fort National amongst others. You can take a bracing walk around the old ramparts admiring the fabulous views or take a ride on the little road train and discover places you might have otherwise missed. One thing is for sure though, once you've visited St Malo it's almost certain that you'll want to return.