The Île de Ré, is a french island sitting off the coast of La Rochelle. Quite famous its beaches, the sunshine and the authenticity feel of the place. Ile de Ré can be a posh, snob place where Parisians buy very expensive second house. But on the isle you feel more like a countryman than an elitist or rockstar fan.
Ile de Ré is famous for the bicycle. Like the island could have been might have been designed for cycling. No comparision to Tour de France: its flat and has more than 60 kilometres of cycle lanes. The donkeys with pants are a major attraction of saint martin de re. If they wear culottes it is because they used to work in the salt marshes and needed to be protected against mosquitoes and other insects and salt burns.
Finding a hotel in ile de re is no hassle if you pick the right season, i mean if you chose not to go while parisians and french are on holidays. August being very very busy. Saint Martin de Ré, surrounded by the Vauban fortifications, is the best place to stay. Your base: a 17th century shipbuilder’s residence with windows overlooking the port with the hotel Toiras or the famous Hotel La Jetée just opposite the five stars hotel.