Where to stay in Hauts-de-France, between coast and countryside
Four stays in Hauts-de-France, spread between the Aisne, the Oise and the coast towards Calais. Bed and breakfast, gîte, hotel-restaurant and small apartments for car trips, quiet weekends or cycling breaks, as a couple, with family or with friends. A region best explored by car.
4 places to stay
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
Places to stay in Hauts-de-France
4 places to stay
Where to stay in Hauts-de-France by area
The selection is short, four places, but it covers two different worlds. On one side the north-west, towards Calais and the coast, on the other the south of the region, towards the Oise and the Aisne. In both cases you are in a region you mostly approach by car, and each place can serve as a stopover or a calm base for exploring.
Towards Calais and the coast
- À La Maison Du Bonheur, in Audruicq. A guesthouse with rooms, a chalet, a garden and parking. Guests praise the owners' welcome and the calm of the place, ideal for a stopover or a quiet weekend.
Oise, Vexin and Aisne
- L'Escale du Vexin, in Chaumont-en-Vexin. Simple apartments and small flats, with free Wi-Fi and private parking. A practical place for a stop in the Vexin français or as a base for trips towards Beauvais.
- Ma Gentilhommière, in Croutoy. A characterful gîte in a former village inn, with rooms that have a private bathroom and a fitted kitchen. It suits families and groups of friends travelling by car.
- Relais de Fleurette, in Pontavert. A Logis-style hotel-restaurant, with a bar, a garden and a closed car park. I can see it working well for a stop as a couple, by bike or as a family.
A word of caution on L'Escale du Vexin. Its five-star Google rating rests on a single review, which tells you little. Read the description carefully before booking, and take it for what it is, a simple place to stop.
What types of accommodation you'll find in the Hauts-de-France
You will mostly find simple, practical options, designed for travellers arriving by car. A guesthouse, a gîte, a hotel-restaurant and apartments: that is what this selection offers, without grand hotels or holiday complexes.
The guesthouse in Audruicq bets on welcome and calm. The gîte in Croutoy offers space and a kitchen, which matters for a family or a group. The hotel-restaurant in Pontavert has the advantage of bringing everything together on site, room, meals and a closed car park, which is useful if you are cycling. As for the Vexin apartments, think of them as a practical solution rather than a comfortable holiday stay.
Which accommodation to choose for your trip
What changes most from one place to another is the kind of stay it allows. Calm and welcome on one side, flexibility and price on the other. Here is how I would approach it.
| Type of trip | The places that suit it best |
|---|---|
| Stopover before or after the crossing to England | À La Maison Du Bonheur |
| Quiet weekend for two | À La Maison Du Bonheur, Relais de Fleurette |
| Family or group of friends travelling by car | Ma Gentilhommière |
| Cycling break | Relais de Fleurette |
| Practical base around Beauvais | L'Escale du Vexin |
When to go to the Hauts-de-France
Spring and summer are the most pleasant for enjoying the gardens, the cycling routes and the coast. The region is open to wind and rain, and the weather changes quickly whatever the season. Always carry something to keep you dry.
Out of season, quiet weekends remain a good plan, especially in guesthouses and gîtes, where the fire and the kitchen matter more than the beach. If you pass along the coast in the warmer months, book early, as well-placed stopovers go quickly.
How to get around the region
The car is by far the simplest way. All four places have parking, private or closed, and none of them is designed for getting by without a vehicle.
The road network is dense and the main towns are well linked, which makes it easy to explore from a single base. Cycling suits the small country roads, as long as you choose a stay that will let you store your bike. If in doubt, ask your host directly before booking.