Appartements La Cigale

Appartements La Cigale is an aparthotel for divers who prefer a proper base rather than a room with just enough space for a suitcase. You get a self-catering apartment in Arzon, with a separate living area, dining space and kitchenette, plus the services of the adjoining Hotel Miramar La Cigale just 30 metres away.

That arrangement gives you choice. Cook something simple when you return hungry, order a platter to the apartment, or walk across for the hotel’s restaurants and reception. Couples can keep things pleasantly straightforward; families and small groups have larger apartments with more than one bathroom. English and French are available through the property’s website, which is useful when planning the stay.

You are in Arzon, France, at Port du Crouesty on the Morbihan coast. The residence sits by the sea, a few metres from Plage du Fogeo, so the beach is part of the local geography rather than a distant day trip. Plage de Kerver is about 0.9 miles away on foot, while Plage de Port-Sable is around 1.3 miles away.

The immediate area is handy for eating out. Crêperie l’Epidor is about 150 metres away, with Alain Chartier and Le Cap Horn also within roughly 250 metres. Bar le Green is about 450 metres away on foot. For a change of scenery, the Site Archéologique du Petit-Mont is around 0.5 miles away, and the Tumulus de Tumiac about 1 mile away.

Vannes is 35 km from the residence. By road, Montoir Airport is about 50 miles away and Lorient South Brittany Airport about 60 miles, so this is a place where having a car can make the wider coast easier to explore.

The useful distinction here is not between one hotel room and another, but between different ways of occupying your own apartment. The one-bedroom option suits a couple who want a generous living space and a kitchen to themselves. If you need an extra sleeping place, the one-bedroom apartment with sofa bed gives you more flexibility without moving up to a larger layout.

For four people, the two-bedroom apartment brings two bathrooms into play, which is the sort of detail that matters when everyone has returned from the coast at the same time. The three-bedroom apartment is the logical choice for a larger group, with enough separate space to avoid turning the sitting room into a permanent kit bag obstacle course. Family rooms are available, and children of all ages are welcome.

Every apartment is air-conditioned and soundproofed, with a private bathroom, separate toilet, dining area and seating area. The kitchen equipment includes an oven, microwave, hob, fridge, dishwasher, coffee machine, kettle and toaster. That means chilled water when you return hot and tired, and breakfast on your own terms if an early start is calling. WiFi is free throughout, and upper floors are reached by lift.

Self-catering is the starting point, not a demand that you cook every meal. The apartment kitchens are properly equipped for that practical middle ground: coffee, toast, something in the oven, and a table where you can eat without balancing a plate on your knees.

Thirty metres away, Hotel Miramar La Cigale serves a daily buffet breakfast in its breakfast room. Seafood, cold meats and cheese platters can also be ordered and brought up to your apartment, which is a sensible option when the day has taken more out of you than expected. There is no need to turn dinner into a project.

For a more formal meal, Le Safran serves lunch and dinner, with refined cooking based on fresh, seasonal produce from Brittany. The restaurant’s chef is an Euro-Toques chef and a Maître Cuisinier de France. Lunch runs from 12:15 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:15 to 21:30, giving you a clear choice between eating in, eating out locally, or crossing to the hotel for the evening.

The swimming pool is in the building opposite the apartments, rather than inside the residence itself. It is a heated panoramic seawater pool, accessible free of charge, and open from 09:00 to 18:00. Clean flip-flops are required for access, so pack a pair rather than treating pool footwear as an optional extra.

The same neighbouring building houses the spa and wellness centre. Treatments include massage and facials, while the facilities include a hammam, sauna, hot tub and marine circuit. Children under 15 may use the wellness centre only when accompanied by an adult. There is also a gym, giving you somewhere to move without pretending that a slow walk to the beach counts as a training plan.

When you want fresh air, the Fogeo beach is only a few metres away. Golf is available within about 2 miles, while horse riding, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, windsurfing and tennis are available locally. Bicycle hire can be arranged on site, and car hire is also available. The concierge can help with the practical side of making a day of it.

Check-in starts at 17:00 and check-out is by 12:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time in advance and show photo identification and a credit card at check-in. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested.

Free private parking is available on site, with a reservation needed. An airport shuttle is available, and car hire can be arranged if you are planning to explore beyond Port du Crouesty. WiFi is free throughout the property, and the building has a lift. Apartments adapted for guests with reduced mobility are available.

Pets are welcome, and the residence is non-smoking. The property also offers a 24-hour reception through the adjoining hotel, which is useful when your arrival does not quite follow the neat timetable on the booking page. The pool and spa are in the annex opposite the apartments, so allow for a short walk between your front door and the wellness facilities.