Hôtel Mercure Bourg-en-Bresse

Hotel located a 10-minute drive from the city center, has ample parking, rooms are all-too-small and comfortable. The staff was very friendly. Perfect hotel for a stop during a trip, close to the highway and with a good in-house restaurant.

This Mercure hotel is more of the Novotel standard but that is no bad thing and is reflected in the price. Clean, comfortable, functional rooms in the standard layout. Everything we needed and nothing we didn’t for an overnight stop while motoring through France. Secure, outside parking, which is vital for us, and friendly reception staff. We decided not to walk/drive into the town (1.8km) to eat but chose to dine in the hotel restaurant. This is actually really nicely decorated with very attentive staff. There is also outside dining on a lovely patio. The food was of a good standard for these sort of hotels and we enjoyed our meal and wine. The bed was comfortable and the air conditioning efficient.

The day was hot and the welcome was warm. Shortly afterwards I was in a nice clean room - almost straight away I had a thirst quenching welcome drink in the garden which is the highlight of this hotel - a airy peaceful spot to relax away from the traffic sounds outside. I went to the restaurant for dinner. Menu looked promising and wine carte was ample I took a bottle of localish wine. Starter arrived and looked fantastic, pity rather than a drizzle of dressing the salad leaves were drenched. I usually find that the French menu sounds really good and the English translation does not really match. Sautéed potatoes with French - cooked potatoes in English just doesn't make it very appetising. However much to my surprise the English translation was in fact correct the chef obviously didn't know how to make sautéed postatioes and what arrived was oven cooked potatoes - just a Little thing... The three waitresses in the restaurant did a wonderful job of trying to look after the guests - but might have benefited from some more support, and guidance, from the Gentleman in charge. My sleep was good and the bed comfortable. Breakfast managed by AVA was wonderful I felt welcome and found everything I wanted easily, this was well organised and managed with tables cleared quickly and made a great start to the day. Whilst taking out lagged I tripped on a loose paving slab just outside of the main entrance, fortunately regained my balance - could have been disastrous !! When I checked out I was not asked how my stay was just presented a bill to pay and this was quite cold, almost the opposite of arrival. I might have been given a chance to mention a couple of things but I guess this Mercure prefers feedback afterwards