Novotel Mulhouse Bale Fribourg

The hotel had a few shortcomings, but the staff’s natural friendliness and willingness to help really lifted the stay. It’s dog-friendly, too. The team clearly liked our well-trained dog, who settled in as if he were at home and greeted them with a few short, friendly barks.

A handy place for a road-trip stop, with attentive staff and a good breakfast. The selection was a little smaller than at another four-star Novotel I stayed at a month earlier, though the coffee was good and they had nice teas from Kushmi. The family rooms seem to have older furnishings than the standard rooms. Pets are allowed, but we found dog kibble in our bedroom 😵‍💫.

The facilities and the staff were both poor. The worst part was that there was no lift or elevator. If you’re travelling with a group, this hotel really isn’t worth it.

After staying at several Novotels, I find they’re fairly similar in quality. They don’t really feel like a four- or five-star stay, but they do the job, and they’re still our preferred family stop when driving through France. This one has a lovely reception, bar, and restaurant area. It’s modern, clean, and well kept. The bedrooms, though, badly need updating, or at least a refresh. The beds are comfortable, and we liked that the sofa bed turns into bunk beds, which worked well for our slightly older kids. I was also glad there was a kettle in the room. That’s standard in England, but I haven’t always found one in Europe. We got in late, at 8:30 p.m., and waited a while to be checked in. Our four kids were noisy after the long drive from Calais, so I was surprised no one seemed to notice us. We went to the bar area to ask for help. From then on, the service was friendly and attentive. We skipped breakfast. I walked to the supermarket for pastries and fruit instead. With checkout at 11 a.m., the kids had time for a quick swim. I’d recommend it for a family stopover.