Review: Francois Premier Hotel, Cognac

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If you are visiting Cognac, a good place to stay is the Francois Premier Hotel. It’s convenient to everything, you can stroll to the grand Cognac houses like Courvoisier and Hennessey, and it’s a pleasant place to hang out as well, rooms were renovated in 2012 and there’s an indoor pool and steam room.

The hotel is set in a 19th-century building, which makes it an elegant place to come home to. And the renovations mean you get the best of both worlds with up-to-date bathrooms and luxurious mattresses. There are 21 rooms and four suites, private parking and a small bar where you can stop for a drink, ask to try some of the new cognac cocktails. All rooms feature high-quality linens. Go here for the full run down on room types. Rack rates start at around $400, but there are weekend specials for quite a bit less and deals on the various booking sites are around $300. Staff are pleasant and accommodating.

Cognac, of course, is the region in France that producers the fine brandies that go by that name. (And can we pause for a moment to consider how cool the wine region thing is? Wouldn’t it be a boost to tourism if Kentucky, for instance, was renamed the State of Bourbon?)

In addition to visiting the Cognac houses, you can stroll around town, stopping and eating every few blocks as one does. If you brought a car you can explore the Atlantic coast. Ile de Re is a good spot to visit, you leave your car at the outskirts and can rent a bike here and pedal your way up and down the coast. Here‘s a helpful post on bike rental shops.

Closer to home, the Charente River in Cognac is a lovely spot where you can stroll along the riverpath or book a boat trip.