Hôtel du Golf de l'Ailette, The Originals Relais

What keeps us coming back on long drives through France is how welcome the children are. When we first stayed, our youngest needed a high chair and our oldest was a fussy toddler, and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. Now it's a regular stop for us, and the kids love it as much as we do. We see plenty of other families each time, so we're clearly not the only ones. The hotel is a family favourite for these stopovers. The food is delicious, the views are incredible, the setting is beautiful, and the rooms are very comfortable.

The lake, fields and nearby villages make this hotel's setting feel special. We always enjoy staying here, the rooms are very comfortable, and the restaurant food is excellent. Already looking forward to coming back!

We stayed in both rooms on our outbound and inbound journeys. They were a good size, well equipped, with lovely views and modern bathrooms. The main-room decor might be ready for a refresh, but the bigger letdown was the carpet: in both rooms it looked grubby and shabby, which kept me from rating the stay higher. Most of the staff were pleasant and helpful, especially in the restaurant.

Our room was lovely, with a terrace right by the lake, a great bathroom and a comfortable bed. Breakfast was good, though the tea was too weak. Dinner was tasty but a bit pricey, and service in the restaurant and at reception was excellent. The hotel itself was lovely overall. The drinks were very expensive, and the barman was rude, surly and unwelcoming.