Cycling hotel review: Lafayette Hotel, Rochefort

Published by Andrew on 25 April 2018

Lyn and Nicky stayed at the Hotel Lafayette in Rochefort during their La Flow Velo cycle ride from Île d’Aix to Thiviers.

Hotel Lafayette Rochefort review

Hotel Lafayette 
10 avenue Lafayette, 17300 Rochefort 
Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Book online

On bike routes:

Rochefort is a mid-sized town between the ferry port of Fouras (for Île d’Aix) and Saintes. It’s the Charente river port that’s home to the Hermione tall ship. The town is rich in maritime history, including the Corderie Royale, a ‘floating’ dock that’s a whopping 374 metres long. The town also featured in the 1966 Gene Kelly and Catherine Deneuve film The Young Girls of RochefortPlace Colbert, where they danced in the film, is now home to a selection of brasseries that spill out on to the square in nice weather.

The hotel is named after the Marquis LaFayette, who fought against Great Britain alongside George Washington in the American War of Independence as part of the Continental Army. 

Hotel LaFayette Rochefort wall art

5 things we like

1. Bikey facilities. Lafayette Hotel is accueil velo-accredited with the local tourist board. It has a private garage for bikes (we parked our bikes with the owner’s). The hotel hosts cycle tour companies, so it is used to having sweaty riders turn up on the doorstep. It also has maps and local bike hire information available. 

Acceuil rating Hotel Lafayette

Hotel Lafayette Rochefort La Velodyssee

2. The room. Our room had a double bed that split into two beds to make a twin. The beds were very comfortable for a night’s kip. The hotel is central to the town, so there was local traffic from around 7am. Our room faced out on to one of the main thoroughfares and we could hear the traffic when we had the window open (this may be necessary throughout summer as there’s no air-conditioning). The noise didn’t bother us as we were getting up early anyway, but if traffic is likely to bother you (or if you’re not getting up for an early start), then request a room at the back of the hotel. 

Bedroom at Hotel Lafayette

3. Breakfast. Like all French hotels (though not B&Bs), breakfast is not included in the room rate. We paid €9 extra for breakfast and it was a good start to the day for us. There was a full range of cereals, yoghurts and compots, plus homemade bread, juices and a selection of crepes and various other bits and pieces to enjoy.   

La Pet Dej at Hotel La Fayette

4. Location. The hotel is a short ride from the train station and handy to local atractions and restaurants. Rochefort is on both the Velodyssee and La Flow Velo, and the hotel also has a map with a selection of other local rides that can be taken in the area.

5. The owners. Passionate about cycle tourism and about Rochefort, the owners were friendly and welcoming. A warning, though, not to get Monsieur on to French politics … 

All in all, we enjoyed our stay here. The garage and the fact that the owners are so accommodating towards cyclists (and keen to welcome more of us) was hugely reassuring, and makes this an easy hotel to recommend to other cyclists. 

Hotel Lafayette
10 avenue Lafayette, 17300 Rochefort 
Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Book online

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