Demeures de campagne Château de Fontainebleau – Mercure

It's a four-star hotel, but I'm giving it five. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the rooms were spacious and clean, if a bit spartan. It's very close to Fontainbleau Château, with the woods for bouldering not far away by foot or car. It may be pricey for dirt-bag climbers. We ate at the restaurant and really enjoyed the French food. Secure on-site parking was excellent for our van.

The staff were incredible, with such pleasant personalities, and breakfast was great. I really can't recommend them enough.

The reception staff did bring us two fans, but the rooms were still hotter than outside. There's a thermostat, but it doesn't do anything, and the fan has only two settings, off and low. They won't let guests adjust the AC to a comfortable temperature, apparently to save €2 on a €300-a-night room. Half the lights also had bare wires hanging out.

Getting to INSEAD was easy from the hotel's location. The room was spacious, spotless, and nicely decorated, with a very comfortable bed. Even the high-speed Wi-Fi and luxurious toiletries were better than I expected. The staff were welcoming and attentive throughout, and handled every request quickly and with care. Breakfast was amazing, and the food was fantastic. My recent stay at Mercure was exceptional from beginning to end.