ACE Hôtel Lyon Vénissieux

We had a surprisingly spacious room with three single beds, which worked perfectly for me and my two children. The en suite bathroom was great, and breakfast was good, with a warm welcome from the staff member on duty. Online, the location looked like a very convenient stop on our journey from the UK to the south of France, and it was: just moments from the A7, with secure parking and several restaurants right opposite, including Leon, KFC, Buffalo Grill, and a lovely-looking bistro that happened to be closed that day. The staff were especially helpful after I stupidly left my laptop in the room. They emailed me as soon as they found it and kept it for two weeks until our return journey. That was incredibly helpful.

The soundproofing was mind-blowing. Even right beside the highway, I couldn't hear any traffic. The room was big and the bathroom was okay, and the location is hard to beat. I did miss having a bowl of mixed fruit at breakfast. They served whole fruit, mostly bananas and apples, and eating a whole piece of fruit on its own isn't much of a breakfast for me. There wasn't much other fruit to choose from either. Also, for a three-star hotel, I missed having a kettle in the room to boil water.

Reception staff were helpful and polite, and the Wi-Fi worked well. The rooms are simple, but fine for a one-night stay, with easy access from the highway if you're travelling.

There isn't much around the hotel beyond a few fast-food places, and the area feels quite run-down. For a quick stop, though, it hardly matters, especially since the A7 is just a few minutes away. The rooms are basic but roomy enough, clean, and air-conditioned. Most of all, the bed was super comfortable. Breakfast doesn't offer a huge selection, but it was surprisingly good for the price. It's amazing value compared with other hotels in the same price range. Dogs are welcome, the staff were friendly and helpful, and parking is free and covered. The garage was tall enough for cars with roof boxes and other higher vehicles.