Holiday Inn Le Touquet

Popularized by Brits in the early 20th century -- when the likes of Noel Coward and Winston Churchill came calling -- charming Le Touquet remains a popular choice for chic vacationers. Located on the outskirts of town, this small year-round hotel isn’t the poshest place to stay. That said, it does occupy a quiet lot shaded by mature trees, and the low-rise main building has an attractive exterior that's marred only by the brand’s familiar garish green signage. Better yet, it's covered by a glass atrium-style roof that allows natural light to pour into many of the public spaces. The big, bright lobby in particular makes a natural meeting point for patrons: most of them families lured by the onsite amenities or business types who want to combine work with leisure while attending conferences and conventions at the nearby Palais des Congrès. 

This Holiday Inn sits right on the edge of Le Touquet, a popular seaside resort town near the bottom of Northern France’s Côte d'Opale (or Opal Coast, so named for the color of its sand). You can drive to both Le Touquet’s compact center and the beachfront Boulevard de la Plage in five minutes: guests preferring a pleasant stroll along a tree-lined road can reach them in under 20 minutes on foot. Golf du Touquet (with two 18-hole and one nine-hole courses) and the Hippodrome du Touquet (home to world-class horse racing) are a short drive away, too. Boating and other beach-y activities are also close at hand. 

• Eight-minute walk to the Palais des Congrès le Touquet-Paris-Plage (convention center) 
• Four-minute drive to the Hippodrome du Touquet
• Four-minute drive to Golf du Touquet
• Five-minute drive to Le Touquet's center
• Five-minute drive to Boulevard de la Plage
• Seven-minute drive to Aqualud Water Park
• Nine-minute drive to Le Touquet-Côte d'Opale Airport  
• Nine-minute drive to Etaples-Le Touquet Train Station
• 51-minute drive to Eurotunnel’s Calais Terminal
• 56-minute drive to the Dover-Calais Ferry Port

Guest rooms here tend to have a rather institutional “Holiday Inn” look. The contemporary furnishings are more functional than fabulous; moreover, the tiled bathrooms (most with tub/shower combos and separate toilet stalls) are beginning to show some wear and tear. But the rooms as a whole are well-outfitted, featuring minibars, tea/coffee-making equipment, safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi (though it's not always reliable). The earthy palette, inspired by Opal Coast colors, is appealing, too. Over-sized windows let in lots of natural light, and in some rooms a private balcony or shared ground-level patio further enhance the outdoorsy vibe. Note that Cabin Rooms with an additional wee cubby for a single bed and the two-level Duplex Rooms complete with sleeping loft are both smart choices for families. Cribs can be added to any room category at no extra charge.

The Holiday Inn Le Touquet boasts three dining areas, all of them family-friendly: a breakfast room in the Winter Garden, where kids under 12 eat free; a jaunty, nautical-look snack bar that focuses on lighter fare; and Le Picardy, an elegant white-linen option in the rotunda that serves classic French cuisine (such as duck foie gras or steak with Bearnaise sauce) plus special dishes for young gourmands. When ready to relax, many guests take advantage of the large heated pool with adjacent hot tub. Housed in a two-story wing with walls of windows, it is lined with loungers and has a terrace that provides outdoor seating in summer. The grounds also hold a rooftop tennis court, an outdoor ping-pong table, a small workout room with a smattering of fitness machines, and a recreation room with snooker and foosball tables as well as arcade-style games. For those mixing work and play, the hotel offers eight well-equipped meeting rooms too (the largest accommodating 90, the smallest eight). Other features include a 24-hour reception desk, laundry service, room service, lots of free outdoor parking, and free (if somewhat spotty) Wi-Fi throughout.