Novotel Annecy Centre

The hotel is very central, but you feel every train coming in and out of the station as the whole building shakes. We also had a blocked sink. The hotel said twice that they'd fix it, but it stayed blocked. On New Year's Eve, about 20 of us were outside in minus 6-degree weather, unable to get in. The code and cards didn't work, nobody answered the phone, and nobody opened the door for ten minutes. People inside just turned away, so we went around and knocked hard on a window. They gestured for us to be quiet, which was super rude. Sebastien and Remi from the bar were very rude too, and Borga, who was responsible for the door, said it was no problem. Nobody apologized, not a word. I've never encountered people as rude and indifferent as at Novotel Annecy. It's a really nice town, but stay away from Novotel. Any other hotel must be better.

For Muslim travellers, there are a couple of halal food options just a few minutes' walk around the block. The hotel is also close to a shopping mall with big stores like Monoprix, Sephora, and Zara. It's right by the main train and bus station, so day trips are easy, and the beautiful old town is about a 10-minute walk away. Our room faced the mountains and sat just above the tracks, but passing trains weren't too loud and were quite acceptable. The room was spacious for two adults and two children. We first had a sofa bed, then they added another bed for our younger child. It wasn't necessary, but was a nice touch. Cleanliness was decent, though not exceptional, even by my fairly particular standards. I didn't like having the toilet and bathroom separate. Everything else was okay, though the 4 pm check-in felt late and isn't the norm everywhere.

We found nail clippings in the room, and it was dusty. The hotel sits right over the tracks, so trains can be heard and the building sometimes rumbles. On the plus side, the room had good Rituals soaps and shampoos. It's a decent hotel in a good location, with rooms large enough for a couple or a couple with a child. Breakfast was okay, though the selection was limited.

We've been holding our large professional meetings at Novotel for years, usually with 75 people, and the venue works perfectly. The amphitheatre feels professional, and the meeting rooms have everything we need. The team is always very flexible about our group's needs and wishes, and they go the extra mile. The dinners are high quality, the aperitif selection is tasty, and there's even a photo booth. The staff are very friendly, and we enjoy having our events here.