Pros
- Well-maintained Norman manor house with extravagantly lavish interiors
- Located in a quiet street in Honfleur town center minutes from the Old Port
- Inviting outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers
- Spa area with sauna, steam bath, and hot tub
- Some rooms also extravagantly decorated
- Two cozy lounges and a billiards room
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
Cons
- Some annex rooms are subpar compared to lavish rooms in main house
- Breakfast not free
- No elevator and lots of stairs
Bottom Line
The 30-room Hotel l'Ecrin is set in an 18th-century manor house in the center of the pretty, medieval town of Honfleur. Interiors are lavish to the extreme and facilities way beyond what you'd expect from an advertised three-star property. Some annex rooms are disappointing, though generally standards are high and the outdoor swimming pool and spa are impressive. Everything considered, this hotel is great value for money -- just insist on a room in the main building.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
- Spa
Oyster Awards
Scene
Eighteenth-century Norman manor house with lavish interiors and peaceful gardens
Once an 18th-century Norman manor house, the Hotel l'Ecrin -- with its pretty shuttered facade, intricate wrought iron detailing, and stately neo-classical portico -- has retained plenty of the property's original elegant grandeur. Through a pair of tall, wooden doors, however, the interiors are lavish beyond expectations. The reception alone is awash with richly decorated period furnishings, thick red velvet tasseled drapery, and numerous antiquities and exotic curios, all overlooked by an impressive and intricately carved white-stone fireplace. Even more extravagant displays of opulence can be seen in the hotel's dining room and lounge, while an elegantly spiraling staircase connects immaculately finished crimson hallways illuminated by cut-glass chandeliers. Despite its wall of geraniums, the rear conservatory is comparatively drab, though it does overlook a tranquil garden comprising of well-tended lawns, pretty flower beds, and another traditionally-styled, though much more restrained, relaxation lounge. The property also includes the mansion's former semi-timbered stables as well as another period building overlooking the hotel's parking lot.
Location
Situated just off a quiet street in the center of Honfleur close to its pretty Old Port
The hotel is located just off a narrow, quiet road in the heart of town of Honfleur, just five minutes' walk from its old picturesque port -- as frequently painted by the Impressionist painters of the time. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and patisseries within a short walk through the quaint medieval streets, while the pretty Notre-Dame de Grace church is a 10-minute walk away. Slightly further afield the golden sanded Plage du Butin is around 20 minutes away on foot, while further down the coast is Plage du Vasouy and other D-day landing beaches. Normandy's historic capital city, Rouen, is an hour away by car, while the French capital is at least two hours away.
Rooms
Sumptuous furnishings and impeccable finish -- though not in all rooms
The hotel has 30 rooms in all, 11 in the main buildings and the rest spread between two annexes (which are generally inferior -- some are even scruffy). Interior design varies in degrees of opulence, from Deluxe Rooms in the main building -- packed with sumptuous period furnishings and lavish decor -- to the more sober yet still traditional styling of Standard Annex Rooms. Bathrooms are all simple, modern, and clean, while in-room amenities include the standard free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Movie buffs might find it interesting that the Green Room is the one featured in François Truffaut's 1978 film La Chambre Verte.
Features
Impressive facilities include outdoor swimming pool and separate spa area
Unusual for hotels in Honfleur, the hotel has an outdoor swimming pool surrounded with sun loungers -- though it is heated it can be cold in the cooler months. Guests also have access to a nicely finished, modern spa area with sauna, steam room, and hot tub, although it's quite expensive and unstaffed. Breakfast is served each morning (for a fee) in the conservatory overlooking the garden, while relaxation can be found in two lounge areas or the hotel's billiards room with an antique table. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout and those arriving by car have access to free secure parking.
Scene
Eighteenth-century Norman manor house with lavish interiors and peaceful gardens
Once an 18th-century Norman manor house, the Hotel l'Ecrin -- with its pretty shuttered facade, intricate wrought iron detailing, and stately neo-classical portico -- has retained plenty of the property's original elegant grandeur. Through a pair of tall, wooden doors, however, the interiors are lavish beyond expectations. The reception alone is awash with richly decorated period furnishings, thick red velvet tasseled drapery, and numerous antiquities and exotic curios, all overlooked by an impressive and intricately carved white-stone fireplace. Even more extravagant displays of opulence can be seen in the hotel's dining room and lounge, while an elegantly spiraling staircase connects immaculately finished crimson hallways illuminated by cut-glass chandeliers. Despite its wall of geraniums, the rear conservatory is comparatively drab, though it does overlook a tranquil garden comprising of well-tended lawns, pretty flower beds, and another traditionally-styled, though much more restrained, relaxation lounge. The property also includes the mansion's former semi-timbered stables as well as another period building overlooking the hotel's parking lot.
Location
Situated just off a quiet street in the center of Honfleur close to its pretty Old Port
The hotel is located just off a narrow, quiet road in the heart of town of Honfleur, just five minutes' walk from its old picturesque port -- as frequently painted by the Impressionist painters of the time. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and patisseries within a short walk through the quaint medieval streets, while the pretty Notre-Dame de Grace church is a 10-minute walk away. Slightly further afield the golden sanded Plage du Butin is around 20 minutes away on foot, while further down the coast is Plage du Vasouy and other D-day landing beaches. Normandy's historic capital city, Rouen, is an hour away by car, while the French capital is at least two hours away.
Rooms
Sumptuous furnishings and impeccable finish -- though not in all rooms
The hotel has 30 rooms in all, 11 in the main buildings and the rest spread between two annexes (which are generally inferior -- some are even scruffy). Interior design varies in degrees of opulence, from Deluxe Rooms in the main building -- packed with sumptuous period furnishings and lavish decor -- to the more sober yet still traditional styling of Standard Annex Rooms. Bathrooms are all simple, modern, and clean, while in-room amenities include the standard free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Movie buffs might find it interesting that the Green Room is the one featured in François Truffaut's 1978 film La Chambre Verte.
Features
Impressive facilities include outdoor swimming pool and separate spa area
Unusual for hotels in Honfleur, the hotel has an outdoor swimming pool surrounded with sun loungers -- though it is heated it can be cold in the cooler months. Guests also have access to a nicely finished, modern spa area with sauna, steam room, and hot tub, although it's quite expensive and unstaffed. Breakfast is served each morning (for a fee) in the conservatory overlooking the garden, while relaxation can be found in two lounge areas or the hotel's billiards room with an antique table. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout and those arriving by car have access to free secure parking.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
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Balcony / Terrace / Patio
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Cable
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Internet
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Jacuzzi
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Kids Allowed
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Mini Bar (with liquor)
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Pool
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Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
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Spa
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.