Le Grand Hotel

We found lots of peaceful places to relax, and the area around the hotel was lovely for a walk. The casino is also an easy walk away. The restaurant food was delicious, and the main dining room still has its old-world charm. The Grand Hotel is an architectural gem, built over the thermal waters in Plombières-les-Bains at Emperor Napoleon III's request in 1857, and attached to the Napoleon baths. It was peak season and the hotel was understaffed, but everyone was kind and welcoming, especially given the extra effort of traveling with a pet. If you want a relaxing getaway, don't hesitate to visit this valley in Plombières-les-Bains, which was visited by Voltaire, Montaigne, and my favorite, Empress Josephine herself.

We had a delicious lunch at a remarkably low price. The setting was clean and chique, and the food stayed true to classic French cuisine. It seemed popular, so you'd be wise to make a reservation.

A lovely hotel with a nice ambiance, and not too fancy or too cheap. The beds are amazing.

The hotel's character, soul, and history are its only redeeming features. It feels like it's in decline, with a run-down building held together by makeshift repairs that badly needs major investment. The rooms are clean, and the bathroom is almost the only other positive. The bed felt like a military dorm mattress. The 36cm TV, which I'd forgotten even existed, sat on furniture with an empty refrigerator and not even a small bottle of water. All that for €126 a night is outrageous. At breakfast they tried to put us at the back of the restaurant, even though the room itself is superb, with huge windows and lovely morning light. They eventually set up a table for us, but made it very clear the waitresses wouldn't be happy about it. A table for two to reset by noon when it was already 9 a.m., apparently. I won't even get into the breakfast quality: the items were low-end, very low-end. The hotel's glorious past is all it has going for it. Its future looks much bleaker to me.