When I first researched for places to stay for a short weekend in Annecy, many of the hotels were already full. So I had very limited choices and this hotel came up. I didnt feel that there were many good reviews on Trip Advisor and regretted booking it, until I was staying there of course.
Location:
The location was one area I was concerned with. On Google Map, it looked like a walking distance from the main city centre area of the old town (Palais d'Ile, Chateau, etc). But it's actually just a 15-20 mins walk away from the old town. Annecy is a very small area with all the attractions concentrated within walking distances.
It is also actually very close to the SCNF Gare (Main train station) once you arrived into Annecy. It is just a 5-10 mins walk up straight to the hotel from the train station. Tip: Turn right after exiting the station, and keep walking up that main road, you will see Best Western Hotel on the left. Further in the smaller road, you will see IBIS Styles on the right. It is very feasible and easy to walk there even with heavy luggage. I was pleasantly surprised.
Hotel & Room:
The lobby and breakfast area are all very comfortably furnished. The room I stayed in was 310- on the 3rd floor. For a single person, the double bed was a luxury and the terrace was nice with a view of the mountains in the distance. Unfortunately, I was not high enough, else I would probably see the lake.
What I liked most about the room was that there are many power points for me to charge my gadgets, and many small ledges/ tables for me to put my stuff.
The toilet paper holder however, was not optimally positioned, and the space between the toilet door and the toilet bowl is super narrow. Not a problem if you are staying alone. The blue basin, while nice, is not deep enough. You will end up wetting the surrounding areas if you on the tap with a slightly stronger water flow.
The room is quiet but due to paper-thin walls and close proximity of the rooms, it could get very noisy. I heard quite a number of banging sounds from people packing their luggage upstairs or beside (I cant tell), and conversations of people out in the corridors or returning to their rooms. I tried to sleep later on a Sunday morning, but was woken up by 8am or so by an incessant flow of conversations and activities outside the corridor, or above.
Nonetheless, the sleep throughout the night was peaceful and quiet, so I think there's no problem if you can put up with a little noise in the day or sometimes early morning or late at night.
The breakfast is very limited as mentioned by another reviewer. There are a variety of breads, some cereals, and some ham or salami. That's it. I would have expected more variety.
Also, to me, the hotel did not come cheap, though I think in Annecy (which is rather touristy), it's difficult to get any cheaper. I was surprised to read that someone paid 263 euros for 4 days. I paid almost 200 euros for 2 nights. I wouldnt consider the hotel value-for-money, but I think my stay was good.
Cleanliness:
I would consider the room generally clean but I found stains on the carpet near the doors to the terrace, and also coffee mug stains on one of the bedside tables. When I checked in and was entering the room, the cleaning lady was still inside there doing the finishing touches. Hence, I think it was not completed but I would say the whole room is clean and neat.
Service:
The service was variable. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a shoulder length, red hair lady. She was bespectacled and was friendly. Luckily, she was also the same person whom saw to my check-out, because she was the only one whom I think is friendly and has good service. During my 2 nights stay, I saw a couple of other ladies whom did not do the usual greeting of Bonjour or Bonsoir. On the 2nd day, I was starting to feel sick and wanted to see a doctor. I called the reception, and asked if she speaks English. She said no. So I asked her in French if there's a doctor in the hotel. She said no. I asked her if there's any clinic nearby where I can go to. She said she do not know. And that was it. No sense of customer service to ensure that the guest staying in the hotel is well. I ended up taking some medicine I brought and tried to sleep my sickness off. I am less than impressed with the service.
Safety:
I generally found the area to be rather safe with no problems, even as a single female traveller. Probably I did not have a car with me. Also, there are quite a number of Turkish cafes/ bistros in the area where you can get kebabs and burgers at a cheaper rate than the restaurants, and there can be many men hanging out in such bistros. Again, it was on the main road, and I did not find much problem.
I recommend this hotel for short stays for its good location and generally comfortable, clean, and nice room.
