Hôtel Mercure Lyon Centre Plaza République

The air felt heavy and unhealthy in the room, which made the stay worse than unpleasant, though it didn't smell bad. The window wouldn't open, and it wasn't broken. Most rooms in this hotel apparently have windows that don't open. The room was so small there was just one tiny wardrobe, with no shelves for laundry or anything. The drain was blocked and the AC didn't work. The desk was tiny and the chairs were child-sized, probably because the room is so limited. The bed wasn't really a double either, just two singles with a big gap between them. Every toilet flush from rooms above made a loud, disruptive sound as it came down the drain. Never again. This felt more like a prison cell than a room.

We were in Lyon in early to mid December and got to see the grand spectacle of the Fête des Lumières. The bed was plush and comfortable, and the bathroom spotless. The bar offered free water refills. Most impressive, though, was the staff: after check-out they found an item I'd left in the room and got it back to me even after I'd left the country. Stellar service.

Kai was a great host at breakfast every day. I had a great stay, with shops and restaurants nearby and an amazing location that was quiet at the same time.

For my first work trip to Lyon, I booked a single room at a very high rate. Breakfast wasn't included, and the room I got was tiny. I'll have to rethink future visits to our Lyon office and maybe look for another hotel with a better rate and more services.