Auberge la Chocolatière

The food was very good, and the staff were all friendly. They even accommodated one person in our party who has gluten intolerance. The place combines a hotel and a bed and breakfast, with most private rooms and the cafe/restaurant in the main building, plus two rooms in the house next door. A couple of pubs, shops, and a lake with a park are within walking distance. We really enjoyed our stay!

The location may be good, but we felt unwelcome, ignored, and overcharged. Hospitality comes down to how guests are treated, and this stay left us feeling that way. The village lost power on the day we arrived, which wasn't the hotel's fault. Still, the owners showed no empathy or leadership. They didn't check on guests or offer help, and when we came back from dinner the hotel was dark, with no lights, flashlights, candles, or message. No one was there. As my father put it, “If I were the owner, I’d stay until every guest was back safely and help however I could.” The power was still out the next morning. Again, that wasn't their fault, but there was no communication or goodwill. The “included” breakfast was one pastry or porridge and a small cup of filter coffee. My boyfriend asked to swap in hot chocolate, they agreed, then charged full price for it. I asked for a croissant and porridge too, half-joking about the lack of a shower, and was charged an extra $18. They had also pushed for cash or debit payment through Booking.com and over the phone. We first agreed, but changed our minds after what happened. We understood the outage was beyond their control and just expected a small gesture, such as dropping the surprise breakfast charges. Instead, they seemed focused on collecting every cent, with no interest in fairness or hospitality. What could have been a minor inconvenience made the place feel purely transactional, which doesn't belong in hospitality.

Felix was helpful at check-in and had a good sense of humor. The morning staff were efficient with breakfast and checkout. Our renovated room in this quaint older hotel was on the back of the third floor, up a flight of stairs, and it was quiet overnight. The breakfast room can get a bit noisy, but you can eat outside facing the river and town.

The room was small but fine, and the breakfast and location were good. The whole place had a weird vibe, though, with extras for everything. Even the coffee before breakfast cost extra, and before checkout they insisted we bring our cups back to reception. At checkout, the innkeeper had an 18% minimum gratuity set on the card reader for the whole stay. I've seen that at restaurants, never at an inn. If they think the accommodation and service are that exceptional, it should be included in the room price upfront.