John H

Hi, all, <BR> <BR>I am trying to reserve 3 hotel rooms for two nights in early October in Talloires or elsewhere near Lake Annecy (ideally 4* in the FF900-1200 range, but would also look at very nice 3*), but have been running into some difficulties. Le Cottage Bise, my first choice, closes on October 1st. Les Pres du Lac "has no reservation policy": once you book a room, if they cannot resell it you are assessed a one-night per room cancellation penalty. <BR> <BR>What recommendations would any of you have? I have read good things here about the restaurant at L'Abbaye de Talloires, but how are the rooms there (the pictures on the web site make it look somewhat drab)? Have any of you at L'Hotel de l'Abbaye d'Annecy-le-Vieux, another 4* in Annecy-le-Vieux? Do any of you have nice 3* recommendations where you have stayed? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance for your help. <BR> <BR>John H.

Rex

Stayed at l'Abbaye in 1996. If there are better places to stay than this, they must belong to a very short list. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Julie

If it's good enough for Baby Doc, it should be good enough for you. We've stayed at L'Abbaye once or maybe twice (may only have eaten there on one occasion) It's much more intriguing than La Cottage where we've also stayed. It has high ceilings and a very medieval feel. Candle light dining. Rooms are quainter than the rest of the hotel but perfectly fine and fun. One of the more interesting facts of the recent history of the place is that the government of France comandeered the place as a sanctuary for Baby Doc Duvalier of Haiti when they agreed to harbor him in some kind of international deal to get him out of Haiti.

mimi taylor

Hi John , on our way back from Colmar, we are going to see if we can lunch at Pere Bise as my husband remembers it fondly when he was in the army stationed in Germany. But the "cottage" is now three buildings ..they have a nice web site. I am suggesting another place to you that the N.Y. Times gave rave notice. At the end of thepark in Veyrier-du-Lac is the Aubergede L'Eridanall rooms with terraces overlooking lake annecy. The food is highly rated. He has another place in Megeve but that is the fall winter season.

John H

Thanks for all of your replies -- very much appreciated. Looks like we will try to stay at L'Abbaye de Talloires. (The Auberge de L'Eridan looks great, but cheapest rooms are roughly $300). <BR> <BR>For those who stayed at L'Abbaye, do you recall if you had standard (A or B) or superior rooms (A or B)? (Standard B rooms run FF1050/night, Superior A rooms run FF1130 and Superior B rooms run FF1300). They all have lake views and private bath. <BR> <BR>Thanks. Any insights into the differences will be helpful. <BR> <BR>John H

Julie

Don't recall the class of room we had at L'Abbaye but this place was once in the Relais and Chateaux chain so none of the rooms can be bad. It's the ambiance of the place overall that sells it.