Novotel Le Mans

We were ready for another day on the road after a lovely breakfast. The staff were friendly, and the hotel had all the usual comforts. We arrived late, but the bar was still open. Another great stay in a Novotel. We use these hotels as stopovers when driving to and from Spain, and they're ideal for us, especially since they're dog friendly.

It felt safe and was an easy place to pause on the way to southwest France. The location worked well for a stopover, the food was nice, and there was a little play area. The pool was freezing, though. With all our bags, the broken lift was a nuisance, but only a minor one.

Getting to the stadium was easy: the hotel is near a useful tram stop, and we only needed one change to watch Le Mans FC. We were on our way from Calais to Britanny and stayed overnight. A fun extra was that Le Mans' opponents were also using the hotel as their pre-match base. The room was clean and comfortable. The electric vehicle charger stopped after about 25 minutes, so we got barely enough charge for six kilometres. We also weren't keen on the unusual, small tea selection in the room. A plain black or green tea would've been welcome.

We spent two nights here while travelling through France with our teenagers, and it suited our needs well. I'd read some recent negative reviews, so I was pleasantly surprised: the decor is nice, it's spotlessly clean, the beds are extremely comfortable, and the shower has good pressure. I've stayed in Novotel hotels before, and this one met a good Novotel standard. The inside is in good shape, with wear mainly showing in the stairwell and some exterior paint. The breakfast buffet was high quality and offered lots of choice, and the restaurant had dinner options. I thought the stay was good value, though we'd booked about five months ahead. Wine at the bar cost more than in other parts of France, about what you'd pay in a major city. The pool is small but well kept, a nice oasis in a busy city. By car, it's easy to reach from the A10, and there's ample parking behind the hotel. It's beside a green area and also some high-rise apartments with graffiti. It seemed safe enough to walk around in a group. The tram to the city and old town is nearby, but it was closed for works over the summer. A bus ran instead, often enough, though it was quite crowded.