Auberge Communale de Carouge

The front desk and breakfast staff were kind and capable, and the hotel and room had a bit of charm. Breakfast was good. But the stay felt unsettling, and we ended up leaving. There were several problems in the room. The side of the bed was stained, the bedding had other unpleasant issues, and the bathroom bin was full and hadn't been emptied. One outlet was broken, apparently with a lamp plug stuck in it, and the broken lamp was still on the dresser. That left us with just one working outlet. We found all this around 9pm, when no desk staff were there. It was summer and the room was hot and stuffy. There was a fan, but we had to leave the windows open for air, which let mosquitoes in because there were no screens. We could clearly hear people walking on the floor above, the corridor smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, and there were drain flies. On the garden side, restaurant closing noise went on until 11:30pm. When desk staff returned in the morning, we asked to cancel, but still had to pay for the next night. I understand that's the policy in many situations, though it was a surprise after such a bad stay. The place wasn't expensive, but we moved down the street for the same price and were much more comfortable. Parking was closer and cheaper, and there were no drain flies there, unlike the many we had here.

Carouge is a lively area full of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants, and the hotel has a tram stop right outside. Geneva's trams are excellent, so getting around was easy. The staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast was a good continental spread with plenty of variety, including boiled eggs. One thing to keep in mind is that you may need to shut the windows, or ask for a room at the back.

Fabio was a lovely, helpful host, and the rooms were kept spotless. Breakfast was excellent, with eggs, pastries and fruit. We loved being in such a lively part of Geneva on our first visit. There's a local market nearby, plenty of charming restaurants, and a tram stop right in front of the auberge.

The rooms are pretty basic, but we liked them more than the standard rooms at the big Geneva hotels because they have some personality. The owners are kind, and the place itself is nice. Breakfast is simple, though the quality is good.