Zenitude Swiss Apparthotel Ferney Voltaire

The beds were comfortable, though quite narrow, and there’s a big TV and a hair dryer. The rooms are basic but clean. The kitchen has a fair amount of equipment, but it’s small and not very comfortable to use.

I’d never stayed at a hotel that expected guests to take out all their own rubbish, and I didn’t know this was the rule. At checkout I had to carry a full bag outside the hotel and throw it away. There was still a little rubbish in the bin, and I refused to take that out too. I tried to negotiate with housekeeping, but she wouldn’t budge when I asked her to take it. I even asked for the deposit back over the rubbish, with no luck. In the end I walked out without listening to her calls and asked the hotel to deduct 20 € from my deposit for the small amount left in the bin. This is housekeeping’s job.

The room was in decent shape and tidy, with clean linens, working appliances, hot enough water, and no dusty surfaces. There was a scratch on the fridge and a stain on the bathtub, though I think the stain could come off with a bit more effort. The room was large, and there’s a big supermarket nearby as well as a bus stop with direct buses to the airport and the city. We booked an apartment at almost the last minute, so given the average rating we were prepared for some problems. Before arriving, we’d read the one-star reviews on Google Maps and braced ourselves for an adventure. A few things about the hotel are worth knowing: Google Maps shows it as a four-star hotel, but Booking and the signboard don’t. Maybe that was the case ten years ago. They put a 200 euro hold on your card, which is released a few hours after checkout if you’ve left everything in order. You’re asked to clean the kitchen and dishes before leaving. That wasn’t an issue for us since there’s a dishwasher and a cloth. The strange part is being told to take all your rubbish out yourself. You have to carry it through the lobby and out the main doors to a bin, like at home. I think that’s the cleaner’s job.

The place smelled pretty bad, and my three-year-old started crying when we arrived. I felt awful. The elevator made terrible noises and didn’t feel safe. I hardly ever leave reviews, but this place deserves one. I recommend avoiding it.