Mercure Annecy Centre

I spent one night at the Mercure Hotel in Annecy. The location was great, and the room was spacious, comfortable, and nicely decorated. Still, I expected a bit more from a four-star hotel. There weren’t any toiletries or a minibar, just complimentary instant coffee in the room. It was a pleasant stay, but the amenities could be better. I didn’t have breakfast, so I can’t comment on it.

The main problem was parking, which could have been handled much better. The website mentioned an “arrangement” with the people responsible for public parking in Annecy, so when we booked, we wrongly assumed parking wouldn’t be an issue. It didn’t explain what to do if the garages were full, or warn that parking could be difficult during the annual lake festival. Guests should be told this when booking so they can plan ahead or consider a hotel outside downtown Annecy. Better still, it would be great to have the option to reserve a space in the nearest garage. We arrived around 7 pm on August 2 after a drive of more than six hours. With so many people in town for the festival, we couldn’t find space in public lots or on nearby streets. Staff explained the situation at reception. We asked if we could be sent to another hotel, but were told it was too late to get a refund for our reserved room at the Annecy-centre Mercure hotel. In the end, we drove around until we found a place on the street and parked illegally about 2 km away.

The next day, I decided to stay, and they moved me to room 204, which was beautiful. That was a completely different experience from room 206, where I was put despite booking a spacious, quiet, spotlessly clean non-smoking room. I don’t know what I did to upset the receptionist. Room 206 was the smallest in the hotel, and both the room and bathroom looked nothing like the photos. It reeked of cigarettes, and there was a cup full of cigarette butts from the previous guest on the balcony, even though I’d specifically asked for a non-smoking room. I checked in in the middle of the night and asked for somewhere quiet, but there was no soundproofing at all. I could hear the neighbors talking and laughing, heels on the floor, and people shouting in the street. The room was so cramped I could barely use the bathroom properly. I was absolutely appalled.

The staff were welcoming, and our room was clean and comfortable. It’s a five-minute walk from the train station and about eleven minutes on foot to Les Jardins de l'Europe, a nice lakeside walking spot with swans, ducks, and great views. I’d stay here again. Breakfast was great, though the seating area felt cramped. I liked having the toilet separate from the shower and sink, but closing the door to the small toilet space was a little difficult. It was fine for me at 6 feet and 195 pounds, though someone larger might struggle.