ibis Styles Montargis Arboria Hotel

I stay in hotels 40-50 nights a year and have never had such a bad experience. The shower on its hottest setting was only just warm enough to avoid getting cold, and the key card dock made a loud electrical buzzing noise whenever we used it, which was really annoying at bedtime. I booked three days and asked that morning to cancel the last one, but they wouldn't let me. Then I found food on my bill that I hadn't ordered. Staff refused to remove it. After 20 minutes going back and forth, I found the bill from the restaurant where I'd eaten at the same time. The manager said maybe I hadn't ordered the food after all and promised a refund and a new invoice. A day later, I still had no invoice.

The pool was lovely, the breakfast was included and really good, and the newly decorated reception area looked lovely too. Our family room was huge, with comfortable beds and a bath as well as a shower that could easily fit all three of us. We only stopped briefly on our way south. I would've given it a 10 if the restaurant hadn't been closed, which meant we had to get takeaway. The poolside setup was pretty basic as well. The access door was shut, so we had to go outside or through the restaurant to reach the toilet. There was no drinks service, and I had to get the children out of the pool to order. The drinks were very expensive, nearly €12 for three Cokes.

Friendly staff and a clean, well-kept hotel. The Wi-Fi had a strong signal and was fast enough, and breakfast was included. Nothing special, but perfectly fine. Parking was decent, with a few car chargers and more being installed. A convenient, clean place if you're mainly looking for somewhere near the motorway.

If you have to stay around here, make sure you have a car and book an Airbnb. This place is a last resort. Otherwise, bring plenty of clothes, or keep your stay very short.