Fasthotel Artenay Orléans Nord

For 70 euro you get beds, a toilet and towels, and it's close to the a10. Beyond that, it was a rough stay: everything was plastic in what felt like a shipping container, and we could hear the neighbours on both sides. The fluorescent lighting was wonderfully romantic, and the heating ran automatically all night, turning the room into a free sauna. At least you'll be awake very early and can get a head start on the next day.

The service was good, and the room was decent, though not very big. A family room can sleep four, but it's really only comfortable for sleeping, and the price reflects the size. We did find various insects in the room. Check-in and returning the key were also a bit of a mystery outside office hours.

Ariane was an absolute angel when I arrived on 23rd December. I was travelling from Spain to the UK after a terrible journey, and my bank had cancelled my card through no fault of my own. It seemed to be an error connected to how french petrol stations process UK bank card PIN payments, so I had neither cash nor a working card. Ariane went above and beyond: she arranged a PayPal payment from a family member, filled my car with petrol, and gave me cash for the rest of the journey. I can't thank her enough. What an amazing young lady, a true oasis of humanity. The hotel itself is clean, the rooms are ample, and it's right alongside the motorway. Thank you, Fast Hotel, and thank you, Ariane.

We stopped here on our way home. It's clean, affordable and right by the motorway. Make sure to book breakfast ahead, since they only prepare what people order.