The Ile de Re is wonderful: quiet, nice beaches, wonderful seafood, lots of cycle ways and bikes for hire. Great place to take kids, enough for adults too.
It’s really a collection of very pretty villages and beaches all linked together by some great bike paths. For a couple of days, though, you wouldn’t get too bored.
It’s very much a relaxing holiday – if you don’t like beaches, you can hang out at St Martin, which I liken to a small and less glitzy St Tropez. It’s a very upper-middle class family haunt – bring your Boden clothes – that you may enjoy if you like good food, drinking coffee, people-watching, cycling, walking and beaches. There are some museums or galleries, but probably only one morning’s worth.Overall, though, it’s a very picturesque, natural and relaxing place to visit.
La Flotte is lovely but the beaches on the north of the Island in general aren’t that great. If you stay in Saint Martin the best and nearest beach is at Le Bois Plage about 21/2 miles away and a pleasant cycle along dedicated cycle paths. The Le Clos Saint Martin hotel is the only hotel in the town with a swimming pool (well 2 pools actually) and I can thoroughly recommend it. It is also on the edge of the cycle path, which takes you to Le Bois.
There are many children riding on a small bike attached to their parents’ bike. You do all the work really but the child still thinks they are cycling! These can be hired from one of the many cycle shops on the Island. The terrain is so flat that it really isn’t hard work I’m sure you will have a fantastic time whatever you decide.
At least in St Martin you have the harbor which is really bustling and there always seems to be something going on (I know in July and August they have an open air Jazz festival) and of course the donkeys in culottes.
La Flotte is very pretty, too. St. Martin definitely has more boutiques, hotels, cafes, bistros, etc. And you will also be very well placed to explore the island by bike. The best beaches are towards Le Bois Plage (Gros Jonc), about 15-20 minutes maximum on easy bike paths from St. Martin, La Couarde and the north of the island (Conche in particular, near Phare de la Baleine).
It’s a very small town and it’s enjoyable to be there in the evenings. Use it as your base and explore the rest of the island from there.
If you want the superb stretches of golden sands on your doorstep, then yes, you should go for a hotel in La Couarde or Bois Plage. You can always drive into St. Martin in the evening (if you want to) to enjoy the bistros and restaurants…
A 2.9 km bridge connects it to La Rochelle on the mainland.
There is a train service between Paris and La Rochelle. It only takes about 3 hours and then a 45 minute bus ride to the Island. There is a bus to go from La Rochelle to Ile de Re. The bus starts from the train station.
If you can’t cycle, you will need to hire a car then – certainly arrange this before you go. The public transport (bus)system seems to run around the island every hour or so, but it can take forever to get from A-B as it goes the long way to every town.Taxi’s seem to be non-existent on the island.
I’m sure you’ll love the island. It’s a fabulous island.