Hôtel Les Nations The Originals Boutique VICHY

The breakfast buffet was well stocked, and I especially appreciated that they served it at 4 a.m. for guests like me racing in the Ironman 70.3 in Vichy. That was a thoughtful touch and made race day feel less pressured. The hotel is handy for the main sights and restaurants, and you can book the spa for private use. The rooms are clean and comfortable, though they could use a little updating.

The spa hotel is fantastic: book a room and you get a hot tub and sauna. There’s usually plenty of free parking nearby, and the rooms are very good, with small balconies. The lift is tiny, though, and it’s a shame about the derelict buildings around the hotel. Next time we’d choose a privilege room for its larger balcony, with two chairs looking out over the street and quiet square. Vichy is a great place to visit.

We were passing through and booked a family room for two adults and our children, aged 5 and 7. The room was lovely, and breakfast was an excellent buffet. Staff at reception were friendly, polite and helpful. Their list of restaurants and opening days came in handy since we were there on a Sunday. It’s good value and in a decent area, with plenty within walking distance for the kids.

A couple of temporary parking spaces right by the entrance made loading and unloading easy. The building has some history to it and sits well between the river and the city centre. Staff were kind and professional. When the air conditioning in our room failed, they called to let us know, offered a 10% discount and left a fan in the room. That made the stay manageable.