Le Cheval Blanc, Cognac Centre

The front desk staff were warm and quick to help, and for the price it was a good deal. Still, after coming all the way from the USA, I’d hoped for a room with more charm. It felt very basic and quite small, though the bed was good and the essentials were there.

We’d only planned to stay one night, then realized we’d booked the wrong date. The receptionist switched it for us right away, no fuss at all. The colorful, clean room had nice furniture, and the flower-filled garden behind the hotel was beautiful.

For a hotel rated two stars, this could easily pass for three. The little place was lovely and spotless, breakfast had both hot and cold choices, and the woman at reception was helpful and spoke English, which was great for those of us who don’t speak French.

A small room, but neatly laid out and decorated. The shower gave a steady supply of warm water, and the internet was impressively fast at around 70 Mbits, about ten times faster than at most hotels. Staff were friendly and helped me find parking. If you’re staying in Cognac on a budget and just want a hotel to cover the basics well, this does the job: clean room, shower, and internet.