Hôtel Restaurant l'Echo du Lac & Spa

The sisters who run the place were lovely and really helpful, and the prices were reasonable. We also enjoyed the breakfast, especially the fresh pastries. We had a very nice stay, and that spa is amazing, don't leave without trying it!

The food was the worst I've had so far. As soon as you walk in, there's a strong smell of food, and no air conditioning. The tomato sauce starter came from a tin, the fish was still icy in the middle, and the pasta was undercooked and hadn't even been cooked together with it. The salmon pâté starter put me off salmon for a year. At least they didn't drown the salad in dressing. The brasserie main course came with ready-made sauce and potato that tasted off and had been cooked in old oil. It smelled awful. After eating there, expect stomach pain and to be stuck in the toilet for 24 hours.

Parking was easy, with free public parking right across the street. I stayed for about three nights in October-November 2021 while traveling and hiking. The hotel isn't in the city center, but the location is nice. Breakfast was good, though more choices would have been welcome. I didn't try the restaurant, so I can't comment on it. Room prices were okay, and the rooms were clean but old, with regular keys instead of magnetic cards. Accessibility may be an issue for people with disabilities. There are a few ground-floor rooms, but not many. I didn't try the spa, so I don't know whether it's good or not. Check your bill carefully: I paid about €10 more than the amount shown on Booking, but only noticed afterward.

The staff were really friendly and spoke very good English, which helped with my very poor French. We visited outside the main season, so the restaurant was closed. It's a very nice hotel just outside Gerdermer, with great views of the lake.