Mercure Ax Les Thermes

We stayed at the newly opened Mercure Hôtel in Ax-les-Thermes for a weekend getaway and overall had a lovely experience. The location is ideal — just a 5-minute walk from the train station and perfectly situated for hiking (randonnées) in the surrounding mountains. The hotel’s facilities are great. We especially appreciated the wellness area — we tried the spa (hammam, sauna, and jacuzzi), as well as the indoor pool. It was the perfect way to relax after a long day of hiking. Our room was spotless and modern, and the bed was incredibly comfortable — probably one of the best we've ever slept on! The bathroom was fully equipped with everything we needed. That said, there are still a few areas that need improvement. The breakfast (brunch) was quite limited. We understand the hotel had just opened the week before, so we hope the selection will expand with time. However, basic items like a toaster (grill-pain) would have been appreciated. We also had dinner at the Château restaurant owned by the hotel. While the setting was beautiful and very romantic, the food didn’t quite meet expectations. My boyfriend had the trout with a strong rouille sauce and fries, and I had lamb with fregola. The flavors were average, and the service was quite slow, even though the restaurant wasn’t full. Again, we assume this might be due to the staff still being in training. All in all, it’s a beautiful place to stay, and we’re sure it will only improve with time. We’d gladly return — especially for the spa, pool, and fresh mountain air!