Hôtel Charlemagne

The young receptionist, a brunette with glasses, was especially kind and friendly. Sorry I didn’t catch your name. I also really enjoyed the excellent breakfast, and the room was comfortable. I had a great stay here.

The Wi-Fi worked quickly and reliably throughout our visit, and the hotel is only a few minutes from tram and metro lines. The neighborhood felt safe, though it’s an industrial area without nearby shops or restaurants, so it wasn’t convenient for a casual wander. The lobby and hallways were clean, and housekeeping was acceptable once we were there, but our room hadn’t been properly cleaned on arrival. The dishes and glasses were still dirty, including a cup with coffee stains and an odor. Comfort and the room itself were the biggest problems. The bed was uncomfortable, street noise came through, and the air conditioning didn’t work, so the room got too hot. There was no fridge, which would be especially impractical for guests with children or medication. The toilet was extremely cramped, separate from the washbasin and several meters away. There were no leisure facilities either, which was surprising for a four-star hotel. Our check-in was handled by an unfriendly, unhelpful receptionist who wouldn’t allow us to check in just 15 minutes early and gave us no basic information about the hotel. Checkout and later interactions with other staff were more professional, and requests such as getting a taxi were handled promptly. Even with those positives, the stay didn’t justify the price or meet what I’d expect from a four-star place. The comfort, consistency of service, and facilities fell well short. 2/5, not recommended.

There are plenty of places nearby, and it’s easy to get an Uber. Our room was clean and well maintained. The side facing the back of the hotel was quiet, although noise does carry through the walls.

Breakfast had a nice range of tasty choices, and the room was spotless and comfortable. The hotel is in a pleasant, quiet area that’s still close to everything. Staff were really friendly and quick to help with whatever we needed. My one small suggestion is a slightly bigger toilet, with the washbasin inside it. We enjoyed our stay and would definitely choose this hotel again if we come back to Lyon.