Nantes Gateway
The Vendée and Charente-Maritime zone starts at Nantes or La Rochelle, even though the zone map does not show either: neither airport has direct US service, so most travellers connect through Paris. This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, how the flights, trains and roads reach the zone, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
Nantes Atlantique (NTE) is the gateway for Brétignolles-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-de-Monts in the Vendée and Charente-Maritime zone, roughly an hour's drive to Saint-Jean-de-Monts, and no direct US routes exist, so expect to connect through Paris or another European hub (reported on the zone page). La Rochelle-Île de Ré Airport (LRH) is the gateway for the two islands: only Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 fly there, mostly from the UK and a handful of European cities, with no direct US service. It sits at the foot of the Île de Ré bridge, about 16 minutes' drive; Île d'Oléron is roughly an hour further south.
France is in the Schengen Area: US citizens get 90 days within 180 without a visa (reported). Rules move, so check the official source. Details are in the Vendée and Charente-Maritime Getting There section.
Getting Out of the Airport
- Taxi: taxis serve both airports; ask for a van or estate car.
- Rental car: the practical way to the coast and the islands; ask about board space.
- Train: Nantes and La Rochelle both have main stations (reported); confirm the board-bag rule before you rely on it.
The Two Airports
- Nantes Atlantique (NTE): for Brétignolles-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-de-Monts, about an hour to Saint-Jean-de-Monts (reported on the zone page).
- La Rochelle-Île de Ré (LRH): for Île de Ré (about 16 minutes) and Île d'Oléron (about an hour further south); Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 only (reported on the zone page).
- Via Paris or another European hub: there is no direct US service to either airport (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, see the Vendée and Charente-Maritime Getting There section.
Stays
Near Nantes Airport
- La Maison BlancheNantes area Hotel with a high rating. About 2 km from Nantes Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 39 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Le Nid du MassereauNantes area Bed and breakfast with a top rating from over 60 reviews. About 6 km from Nantes Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 64 reviews. Google Maps listing
- L'EssongèreNantes area Bed and breakfast with a top rating. About 9 km from Nantes Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 47 reviews. Google Maps listing
Chain airport hotels are left out.
Nantes
- Hôtel de la CitéNantes Independent hotel with a high rating from nearly 800 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 800 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hôtel BillieNantes Hotel with a high rating. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 210 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Demain Hôtel & ConciergerieNantes Hotel with a high rating from over 400 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 400 reviews. Google Maps listing
- CISN Le SpotNantes Hostel with nearly 500 reviews. About 2 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 470 reviews. Google Maps listing
La Rochelle (for the Islands)
- Maison PlumeLa Rochelle Cottage with a high rating. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 88 reviews. Google Maps listing
- La Résidence des IndesLa Rochelle Bed and breakfast with a high rating. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 86 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hôtel Le ManoirLa Rochelle Hotel with a high rating from over 300 reviews. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 320 reviews. Google Maps listing
Saint-Jean-de-Monts
- Chambres d'hôtes Cale 32Saint-Jean-de-Monts Bed and breakfast with a high rating from nearly 200 reviews. About 4 km from Saint-Jean-de-Monts in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 190 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hôtel Restaurant l'EspadonSaint-Jean-de-Monts Hotel with a high rating. About 1 km from Saint-Jean-de-Monts in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 460 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Auberge BonBeauJoliSaint-Jean-de-Monts Bed and breakfast with a high rating. About 4 km from Saint-Jean-de-Monts in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 54 reviews. Google Maps listing
Saint-Jean-de-Monts stays are also covered on the zone page.
Where to Eat
Nantes
- BonbourgNantes French restaurant with a high rating from nearly 600 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 590 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Le Lion et l'AgneauNantes French restaurant with a high rating from over 900 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 920 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Bouillon de la PaixNantes French restaurant with a high rating from over 1,100 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 1,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Bouchon BastilleNantes French restaurant with a high rating. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 150 reviews. Google Maps listing
Bakeries
- Marguerite Boulangerie du CoinNantes Bakery with a high rating. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 380 reviews. Google Maps listing
- ArnO BoulangerieNantes Bakery with a high rating from over 680 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 680 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Maison Arlot ChengNantes Bakery with over 500 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 530 reviews. Google Maps listing
La Rochelle Seafood
- Le Panier de CrabeLa Rochelle Seafood restaurant with a high rating from over 1,600 reviews. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 1,600 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Le Tout du CruLa Rochelle Seafood restaurant with a high rating from over 1,100 reviews. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Bistrot des PêcheursLa Rochelle Seafood restaurant with nearly 2,900 reviews. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 2,900 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Taxis & Transfers
- Taxi Nantes AéroportNantes Airport taxi with a high rating. About 13 km from Nantes Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 66 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Taxi AC NantesNantes Taxi service with a high rating from nearly 270 reviews. About 9 km from Nantes Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 270 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Air Taxi Nantes SudVertou Taxi service with a high rating. About 8 km from Nantes Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 61 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Taxi Rochelais ConventionnéLa Rochelle Taxi service with a top rating from nearly 250 reviews. About 5 km from La Rochelle Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 250 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Green Taxis RochelaisLa Rochelle Taxi service with a top rating. About 5 km from La Rochelle Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 38 reviews. Google Maps listing
Ask for a van or estate car for a board bag; the islands are well served from La Rochelle.
Car Rental & Campervans
- Loc Eco Nantes CentreNantes Independent car rental with a high rating from over 600 reviews. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 620 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Van-It NantesNantes Campervan rental with a high rating; confirm availability. About 7 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 150 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Van-Away NantesNantes area Campervan rental with a high rating; confirm availability. About 18 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 72 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands are left out. Ask about roof racks and board space before you book.
Board & Luggage Storage
We found no storage listing that confirms it takes a full board bag. Ask your hotel first. Chain luggage-storage networks in the city are left out.
Luggage Storage
- LockinNantes Luggage storage by the castle; ask whether it takes a board bag. We could not confirm it. About 1 km from central Nantes in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 87 reviews. Google Maps listing
Locker sizes rarely fit a full board bag; ask your hotel first. The luggage-storage networks are left out.
Surf Shops
- Mika SurfshopSaint-Jean-de-Monts Surf shop with a top rating from over 130 reviews. About 15 km from Saint-Jean-de-Monts in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 140 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Zion Surf ShopSaint-Jean-de-Monts Surf shop with a high rating. About 11 km from Saint-Jean-de-Monts in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 27 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Surf AvenueLa Rochelle Surf shop with a high rating. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from 68 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Sirocco Skate Surf ShopLa Rochelle Skate and surf shop with a high rating from over 170 reviews. About 1 km from central La Rochelle in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 170 reviews. Google Maps listing
Getting Out to the Zones
Vendée and Charente-Maritime: see Getting There. Saint-Jean-de-Monts is about an hour from Nantes Airport.
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for the Vendée zone?
Nantes Atlantique (NTE) for Brétignolles-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-de-Monts; La Rochelle (LRH) for the islands. Neither has direct US service (reported on the zone page).
How do I get from the US?
Connect through Paris or another European hub (reported on the zone page).
How far is La Rochelle Airport from Île de Ré?
About 16 minutes by road, essentially at the foot of the bridge (reported on the zone page).
Who flies to La Rochelle?
Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2, mostly from the UK and a handful of European cities (reported on the zone page).
Do I need a visa?
US citizens get 90 days within 180 in the Schengen Area without a visa (reported); check the official source.
Disclosure & How This Page Works.
Straight talk: Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we’d use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Nothing on this page is an affiliate link today; every listing link is a plain courtesy link.
Every listing was researched in 2026 and has not yet been verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change; treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.