A La Villa Boucicaut

The suite was superb and the staff were excellent. The manageress even brought us up a tray to our room with an excellent bottle of wine and some nibblies after our long drive from London. We were running late the next morning and didn't have time for breakfast, so she made us up another tray with pastries and coffee - she was exceptionally helpful and friendly. We went to the Sphinx restaurant for dinner - they don't speak english, but it's not hard to figure out food on a French menu and we had a brilliant meal with a very tasty bottle of local wine. I didn't like being charged for parking and I thought breakfast was included, but turns out it wasn't - there was no mention of a breakfast charge when the manager showed us where it was served, so I just assumed it was included.

It was like staying over at the house of your parents; everything felt cosy and familiar right from the start. The staff was very nice and helpful and made you feel right at home. It is a very quit and relaxed place while still being about 10 minutes walking distance of the city center. When we arrived at about 16:00 there was no hotel staff around and the door was locked. We were let in the door by passing hotel guests who knew the entrance code on the door. After about 15 minutes waiting in the lobby a teen girl passed the lobby who turned out to be the daughter of the hotel owner. She was gracious enough to help us out but was at first totally lost at how to do that as everyone she called for help didn't answer the phone. After 10 minutes of frantic calling people she got her mother on the phone and got us into our room. About 15 minutes later the maid / receptionist / nice woman in charge was back and approached us with all kinds of apologies.

The hosts are very welcoming and helpful, and the hotel a very good value for the level of accommodation. Breakfast is the best buffet we encountered in France! Easy walk to the heart of city. Without a gps, it would have been hard to find--but no problem with our Garmin. Then again, that's true of many of the best lodgings across France!