France hotel

France has an impressive variety of individual hotels and hotel groups, chronicled by a variety of brochures, websites, and hotel guides (my favorite is the Charming Small Hotel Guides series by Duncan Petersen). However, most hôtels de charme and many distinctive properties are often not included in standard listings. The best-known hotel chains in France are Accor (which owns Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, Etap, and Formule 1) and Groupe Envergure (comprising Première Classe, Kyriad, Bleu Marine, and Campanile). Each group has both budget and upscale options. French hotel groups offering a more personal touch include Relais du Silence, Relais & Châteaux, and Logis de France. Two U.S. hotel groups that feature French properties are Leading Hotels of the World and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.