Rébus runs bus services all over the island from La Rochelle, leaving from place Verdun via the train station every hour; crossing to Sablonceaux just across the bridge costs €1.52. For frequent travelling, ten-trip cards are better value: La Rochelle–Sablonceaux costs €10.98, La Rochelle–St-Martin €29.73, La Rochelle to anywhere on the island €35.06, but the timetable can be awkward if you want to tour the island.The alternative is to rent a bike from the Sablonceaux bus depot; from Cyclo-Surf Location, 14 rue Henri-Lainé (tel 05.46.09.51.60), in seaside La Flotte between Sablonceaux and St-Martin; Clos Vauban, avenue V.-Bouthillier in St-Martin; or Cycland, impasse de Sully in St-Martin or 2 route Joachim in La Couarde on the southern side of the island. Hotels are plentiful in all the island's villages, though obviously packed in July and August. Most reasonably priced are the one-star Le Sénéchal, 6 rue Gambetta in Ars-en-Ré, in a protected bay on the western side of the island (tel 05.46.29.40.42, fax 05.46.29.21.25; €30–40; closed Oct–March), L'Océan, 172 rue St-Martin in Le-Bois-Plage (tel 05.46.09.23.07, fax 05.46.09.05.40; €55–70; closed mid-Nov to Jan), and, in La Flotte, the L'Hippocampe, 16 rue du Château-des-Mauléons (tel 05.46.09.60.68; €30–40), and Le Français, 1 quai de Sénac (tel 05.46.09.60.06, fax 05.46.09.58.77; €40–55; closed mid-Nov to March). There are even more campsites on the island than there are hotels, and it shouldn't be difficult finding a place, except perhaps in desirable locations near the southern beaches at the height of the summer. A few names, if you want to book ahead, are the Camping du Soleil in Ars-en-Ré (tel 05.46.29.40.62), L'Île Blanche in La Flotte (tel 05.46.09.52.43, www.ile-blanche.com; closed Nov–March) and L'Océan, La Passe in La Couarde (tel 05.46.29.87.70; closed Oct–March). Online, www.campings-ile-de-re.com lists other options. Good-value food is available on the quayside in St-Martin at Les Remparts, 4 quai Daniel-Rivaille, which has a piano bar upstairs. The airy La Salicorne, 16 rue de l'Olivette in La Couarde (tel 05.46.29.82.37), has a high standard of cuisine starting at €19.82 for lunchtime menus, as does Le Bistrot de Bernard, 1 quai de la Criée, in Ars-en-Ré.
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