Campanile Macon Sud - Chaintre

We've stayed at Macon each year on our way south for our summer holiday, and we've tried all the hotels at this little junction over the past few years. This one's our clear favourite. The rooms are comfortable and clean, with air conditioning, which was ideal in today's 40-degree heat. It also works well for travelling with older children: not every hotel allows four to share when that's technically three adults and a child. The breakfast buffet has a great choice of fruit, pastries, cereal and cheeses, and the staff are incredibly friendly. We'll definitely choose this hotel again.

The rooms were clean, and the staff were welcoming when they were there. But the hotel feels spooky, and it's quite expensive for what's offered. There's no staff after 21:30, the rooms are noisy because there's basically no sound insulation, and the air conditioning can't be adjusted. I could hear sounds in the hallway all the time. There aren't any good restaurants nearby.

After our car broke down, our insurance company arranged two nights here. The hotel gave our family of four adjoining rooms, which was a big help. The desk staff were incredibly hospitable. They let us use the dining area and made a few phone calls for us, since I speak French very poorly. A huge supermarket and shopping centre are an easy walk away, so you can find just about anything you need.

There are plenty of restaurants nearby for an overnight stay, though they're low quality. The beds could be more comfortable, but the hot showers made up for that. Towels could be bigger, and otherwise we had no issues. Good for a quick stop.