The AA publish this :
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/france-monaco.pdf
Which should tell you all you need to know.
In the west, depends how far north & how far south you're going, but the following are all nice places.
Vannes in Brittany, a pretty town near a nature reserve, plenty to keep busy with.
Noirmoutier-en-l'ile, a small island that's connected to the mainland by a bridge and by a tidal causeway that you can drive on at low tide. There are nice beaches at the far end of the island, past the town of noirmoutier, and a few tourist attractions. If you are self-catering you can dig out clams from the sands near the causeway and use them to make a nice vongole pasta for free! Well almost free.
The seaside from the bridge at noirmoutier down to the south is about 50 miles or so of sandy beaches with cliffs, pine forests and small fishing villages.
Saint Gilles croix-de-ville, a very pretty little town on the coast, nice harbour and lots of pretty shops and a market. Gets a bit touristy, but it's worth a visit.
Les Sables de l'Olonne and La Rochelle are two larger seaside towns, either is worth a visit. The Ile de Ré is supposed to be very beautiful also, but I've never been.
Further inland, Nantes is a nice city with plenty of historical sights and good restaurants.
Angers is further up the Loire valley and is a great place to buy wines from all around the region as are some of the smaller villages nearby. Angers also has a castle and other historical sights to visit.
Poitiers and Limoges are both famous for pottery and all things cow (beef, leather etc)
Cognac and Bordeaux speak for themselves. Bordeaux is a very beautiful city, lots of shopping and history and of course wines to buy. Thousands of vineyards and chateaux to see. I would recommend a visit to Saint Emillion as one of the prettiest towns win the area.
The only place I stayed in a hotel is Bordeaux, where we spent a great couple of nights at this place:
http://www.lamaisonbord-eaux.com/
Ask for a courtyard room or suite in the old stable building, but it depends on your budget, it wasn't cheap!
We have a house in a little village south of Nantes, so I get around the west coast quite often.