Mercure Angouleme Hotel de France

The hotel has lovely views and is ideally placed for exploring the old part of the city. We were greeted warmly by the receptionists, and our suite was amazing, even if we're not used to staying in suites. Breakfast was extensive and very good, and dinner was exceptional. Sadly, on both occasions, the staff made us feel like we were in the way.

The underground private parking was handy, though both it and the hotel felt a bit pricey. The hotel is right in the middle of town, with pleasant staff and clean, comfortable rooms.

The room was spacious, with a desk, a small sofa, and large windows looking onto the garden courtyard. The bed was comfortable enough, and I appreciated having extra pillows. The location is hard to beat: in the old town across from Les Halles and the lively restaurant district, and only steps from the impressive Hotel de Ville and cathedral. Front desk staff were wonderful, and having enclosed underground parking on site was great. The bathroom felt dated. There was a shower over the tub, no heated towel rail, and only hooks for towels, with two inconveniently placed inside the shower. The toilet was at the other end of the room, with no sink nearby, so washing hands meant walking across the room even though there was space for a small sink. The furnishings and decor were nice, but everything looked worn. Housekeeping was really poor. There was dust on the floor when we arrived, especially in the closet, where the dust dirtied the bottoms of my pants. Daily cleaning was mediocre, and things like water glasses often weren't replaced. The breakfast buffet was average, and some pastries were stale during our four-night stay. Staff were rarely around at breakfast, so there was no one to help when, for example, the coffee machine gave us trouble. It was an average stay, and I expect better at a Mercure.

We were on level 3, where Manon the housekeeper was fantastic. She's lovely, caring, and helpful, with excellent rapport with guests. I was very impressed and told the Reception team how good she is. Excellent commendation.