Where to stay in Grand Est, from Alsace to the spa towns

Where to stay by area

Grand Est is a large region that cannot be seen in one go. My six places are spread between Alsace, with its vineyards and villages, and a quieter side between Haute-Marne, Champagne and the Vosges. I suggest choosing the area first, then the style of stay.

Alsace and the northern Vosges

• Résidence Patrice Bruppacher, in Beblenheim. A guesthouse in Alsace among the vineyards, with rooms and apartments, a seasonal pool, a sauna and a buffet breakfast. I can see it suiting families and wine-route fans, less so anyone wanting luxury bedding.
• Si Le Coeur Vous En Dit, in Châtenois. A holiday apartment with a sauna, hot tub, terrace and private parking. It suits couples on a relaxing weekend and cyclists, with two bedrooms for a small group or a family.
• Un gîte dans la vallée, in Obersteinbach. An apartment with two bedrooms and a garden, in the heart of a village in the northern Vosges. It appeals to walkers, climbers and small families who want a kitchen to prepare their own meals.

Haute-Marne, Champagne and the Vosges

• Le Nid d'Hirondelles, in Langres. A quiet gîte with one bedroom, a fitted kitchen, a private garden, a terrace and a large garage. It suits couples, friends or small families who want calm near the ramparts, the lakes and the walking trails.
• Hotel de Champagne, in Saint-Dizier. A two-star hotel with free parking, a restaurant and a bar. It caters to travellers passing through and to business trips, as long as you don't mind a slightly dated look.
• Hôtel Providence Vittel, in Vittel. A hotel very close to the spa baths, the park and the casino, with a restaurant, a bar and a buffet breakfast. It suits spa guests and weekends as a couple or with family, a little less so for those who arrive late.

What kinds of accommodation you'll find in the region

The region mainly has guesthouses, holiday homes and town hotels. The first two dominate in the countryside, and hotels in the stopover and spa towns. It is a region that lends itself well to self-catering.

The guesthouses like those in Beblenheim set the Alsace tone, with vineyards all around. The holiday homes and apartments in Obersteinbach, Châtenois and Langres suit those who enjoy cooking, staying quiet and exploring at their own pace. As for the hotels in Vittel and Saint-Dizier, they meet a different need, more practical, with reception, restaurant and parking.

Which place to choose for your trip

For a weekend for two, I would look at places offering relaxation, with a sauna and a terrace. For walking, the gîtes in the northern Vosges and around Langres are the most logical. For a stopover or a spa break, a hotel is more than enough.

When to go to Grand Est

The region can be visited all year round, but it does not offer the same thing in every season. Spring and autumn are ideal for the vineyards, the villages and walking. Summer makes the most of the seasonal pools, and winter suits cosy stays with a sauna.

The grape harvest gives Alsace a festive air, but the villages are then busier. If you prefer the quiet paths of the northern Vosges or the surroundings of Langres, the mid-season is the most pleasant. For a spa stay in Vittel, the baths run to their own timetable, which is worth checking before you book.

How to get around the region

To move between areas, the car remains the simplest option. The wine villages, the Vosges valleys and the small towns of Haute-Marne are not always easy to link by public transport. Once there, some stays are largely done on foot or by bike.

In Grand Est, cycling works well around Châtenois, and walking around Obersteinbach and Langres. Vittel, on the other hand, can be explored on foot from the baths. If you want to link several stops, it is better to plan on a vehicle and choose places with parking, such as Saint-Dizier or Châtenois.

What to check before booking

Each place has its limits, and it is best to know them before you book. These are often practical details rather than serious faults, but they can change how a stay turns out.

In Beblenheim, the bedding does not please everyone, although the setting does. In Saint-Dizier, the Google rating is modest and the décor is dated, but the price and the welcome make up for it for a night. In Vittel, anyone arriving late should make sure the reception will be open. Finally, the gîtes in Langres and Obersteinbach are small, so they are perfect for two or a small group, less so for a large table.