Hotel chains in France

Old Dec 13th, 2004, 09:03 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hotel chains in France

We'd like to get some opinions regarding the level of service between the Novotel and the Mercure chain of hotels. Which one, on average, offers more comfort and luxury? How do they compare to North America hotels networks in: room size, facilities, confort etc..

Thank you
jet29 is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 09:04 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Like Holiday Inns
PalQ is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 09:39 AM
  #3  
hsv
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PalQ's description just fits.

Both chains are operated by Accor Hotels and Mercure, I take it, is supposed to be a bit more upscale than Novotel. However, I have hardly ever been able to tell a difference. For the most part, they are indistinguishable, anonymous places to me, that in their non- descriptiveness even outperform Holiday Inns.
This is not to shy you away from them - they are clean and serve their purpose of offering a bed and being reliable. I would base my decision on whether to stay at a Mercure or a Novotel basically on the ratio of age of the property concerned and the rate they are asking.
hsv is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 09:48 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some Mercure hotels are clearly meant to be more upscale than others. If you look on the web site, you can see that some have a 2M classification (whatever that means), and some have a 3M classification. I think some may possibly have a 4M classification. I saw this when searching for Paris hotels. Whatever it is, I know this 2M, 3M, 4M classification is not the same as the French government hotel ratings.
WillTravel is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 10:12 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have stayed in dozens of Accor properties over the past few years and hold one of their Favorite Guest cards. The descriptions by PalQ and hsv above are simply not accurate.
The Mercure chain has the most variety in the Accor group (although there is variety within the high end Sofitel brand as well). Many Mercure hotels are older properties--many were also independent hotels acquired by Accor along the way. The Mercure Angers Centre in Angers, for example, is a modern, business style hotel attached to a conference center while the Mercure in central Bourges was built around a 17th century abbey--surely even a casual observer would be able to distinguish between the two! Mercure does have its own rating standard 2M, 3M and 4M. When we pick a Mercure, it's usually a 4M. The 2Ms tend to be quite basic. However, in general, most Mercures are in the 3* category, some 2*. I have not come across any 4* Mercures, but they are probably out there.
Novotels are a different story. The are designed to offer a certain uniformity in decor and amenities. They appeal to a lot of business travelers (especially those in the IT business) or leisure travelers who want something similar from hotel to hotel. Many Novotels are purpose built by Accor; those that are acquired along the way are refitted to Novotel style and standards. Ibis is similar in that way--it is better to compare Ibis to Novotel than Mercure to Novotel. Novotels are a more upscale version of the Ibis hotels. The comparison with Mercure is harder to make, given the variety within the Mercure brand. Some Mercures will be nicer than Novotels; some won't. Others will be about equal. Our own experience with Accor hotels in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Austria and the U.S. is that the UK non-Sofitels are the shabbiest within the Accor group--that is, an Ibis or Novotel in the UK is less attractive than an Ibis or Novotel in continental Europe. The Sofitel in London is up to the usual Sofitel standards, fortunately.
Accor recently acquired a substantial stake in the Dorint hotel chain and Dorint hotels are in the process of being rebranded. The higher end Dorints (like the 5* Dorint in Baden-Baden) is being rebranded under the Sofitel mark (you will find these hotels flying both Dorint and Sofitel flags); the less upscale properties are for the most part being folded into the Mercure brand (for example, the Dorint in downtown Aachen is considered a Mercure).
The variety within the Sofitel brand can also be quite striking--I can't imagine anyone mistaking the Sofitel Chicago for the Sofitel Le Parc in Paris.
BTilke is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 10:54 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BTike: Which US hotels are Novotel and Mercure most similar to?
PalQ is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 10:58 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Novotels would be most similar to any of a variety of U.S. hotel chains that offer consistent style and amenities across the country--Hampton Inns, for example (but the decor in a Novotel is nothing like that of a Hampton Inn, only the consistency within the brand).
It's possible to make a case that Mercures are more like Best Westerns, because BWs have a lot of variety within the brand. But BW hotels are individually owned franchises, whereas Mercures are all owned by Accor. So a Europe/US comparison is harder to make with Mercure.
BTilke is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 11:07 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It kind of sounds like the OP is expecting "comfort and luxury" and that Novotel/Mercure don't often provide rooms at that level (more like decent/clean/generic). Perhaps OP needs to move up the Accor chain..?
Maybe if OP describes the American chains they are satisfied with, then BTilke or someone could suggest a corresponding French chain?
Travelnut is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2004, 11:11 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,839
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I haven't stayed at any but have seen a lot and was going to say that I didn't think they were all alike, so thkn Btilke's explanation is more accurate. I thought there were some 4* Novotels actually, that were not standardized modern things (one luxury chateau hotel near Auvers-sur-Oise I thought was owned by Novotel although maybe not using Novotel in its hotel name).

I've seen a variety of Mercures, also, and some they build new and are typical modern chain type things, but they also buy up older smaller properties in cities and renovate them. I've seen 2* hotels like that, but after renovation I think they may qualify for 3* hotels. However, they are not newly built and thus they can't be totally standardized and are nothing at all like Holiday Inns in the US.

I think there are 4* Mercures in Aix (the Roi Rene) and Lyon, among other places.
Christina is online now  
Old Dec 16th, 2004, 01:37 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you all for your comments.

We like the Mercure chain and facilities and will probably make reservation for Carcassonne; and Novotel in Amboise. We are still looking for a place to stay in Arles.

jet29
jet29 is offline  
Old Dec 16th, 2004, 02:20 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We stayed at the Novotel in Amboise in June. It was fine, the rooms are adequately sized with the usual amenities (and air conditioning), but it does get a lot of tour groups (mostly European special interest groups--for example, when we were there, there was a tour group of art-loving Italians and another group of German history buffs--they were fun to have around and to chat with in the bar). Pay the 10 euro extra for a chateau view room, it's worth it. The hotel restaurant is not bad, their cheese platter is very good. Note, it's not right IN Amboise, but you can walk to the main sights if you're pretty fit. The pool is fairly small, but usable. More people seemed to be drinking wine around the pool than actually going into it. Helpful staff, but because of the tour groups, it can be hectic at checkin and check out, depending on when you arrive and leave. Don't be surprised to see some canine guests as well...Accor hotels are very pet friendly.
BTilke is offline  
Old Dec 16th, 2004, 02:27 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Forgot to add, the Novotel is near the mini Chateau parc and the park with the Pagoda attractin (which we thought was overpriced). The mini chateau park is a little goofy, but actually a good guide to the chateaux of the Loire. It's got replicas of dozens of them with good descriptions. So if you're tossing coins over which chateaux to visit beside the "majors" (Chambord and Chenonceau), it can be helpful in narrowing down your choices. The back roads are very nice for driving. Montresor is not far and we highly, highly recommend visiting there. One of the prettiest villages in France, a photo op at every corner, an interesting chateau with very welcoming staff and off the usual tourist path (except with Poland--the owners have Polish connections and the chateau is very popular with Polish visitors to the Loire). Montresor was one of the highlights of our summer trip to the Loire Valley and Berry.
BTilke is offline  
Old Dec 17th, 2004, 04:48 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BTilke: "an Ibis or Novotel in the UK is less attractive than an Ibis or Novotel in continental Europe". Not always true in my experience : most of the Ibis hotel rooms I've had in the UK have been quite comfortable, large & nicely decorated (except Cardiff which was quite basic but with an exciting pod-style bathroom ) : the most basic I've stayed in was in Brussels.
caroline_edinburgh is offline  
Old Dec 17th, 2004, 07:06 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,370
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
Generalities obviously don't apply to chains with hundreds of properties, so of course here goes -

The business orientation of Novotels seems to draw them to peripheral locations surrounded by busy streets you can't cross. Think Courtyards by Marriott in office park areas.

Ibises can be airport-area overnighters, or superbly located in historic areas, even if the buildings are new. (Edinburgh and Annecy are excellent examples of the above.) Inexpensive, not fancy, but selected carefully they can be excellent value. I can't think of a US equivalent - maybe Best Western in terms of variety, but BW is a marketing franchise whereas Ibis is a corporate brand, I believe.

Agree that pigeonholing Mercure doesn't work, because of the brand's use of old as well as new buildings, with star ratings that are less consistent than the others. (Never below 2 1/2 I think, never above 4.) The Best Western (Europe) affiliations offer a similar level of variety and mixtures of properties. A bit less consistent, though.

All the Sofitels we've looked at were too pricey and/or soulless-looking to attract our scarce Euros. Hilton-esque meaning the full range of Hilton-ness, from luxe to crummy.
Gardyloo is offline  
Old Dec 17th, 2004, 01:04 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry, Gardyloo, you are off the mark on your characterizations of Sofitels. I've arguably stayed in more Accor hotels than almost anyone of this board (from the no star Formule 1 to 5 star Sofitels and Dorint/Sofitels) and can assure you that the Sofitels are NOT "soulless, Hiltoneque" places. Have you tried the Sofitels in the 8th or 16th arrondissements of Paris? Partied at the bar in the Sofitel at Chicago Water Tower? Dished gossip with the front desk manager at the Sofitel Vienna? I have actually stayed at (rather than just given them a cursory look) at over a dozen Sofitels in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, UK and the U.S. and NONE of them qualified as crummy. Please tell me which are the "crummy" Sofitels.
Also, many Novotels ARE in the center of town...for example, one of the Novotels in Brussels is a stone's throw from the Grand'Place. You can't get more central than that! Novotels are often twinned with Ibises by design so they often share similar locations.
BTilke is offline  
Old Dec 17th, 2004, 03:43 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,370
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
Your experience with them obviously is greater than ours, so I'll retract my comments as not based on a big enough sample. I wasn't characterising any of the Sofitels as crummy, only that a couple we looked at reminded me of some Hiltons that had seen way better days. Sorry for any flippant/harsh comments.
Gardyloo is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
patandhank
Europe
12
May 6th, 2008 09:36 AM
PalenQ
Europe
8
Mar 10th, 2008 11:12 AM
WillTravel
Europe
15
Feb 27th, 2004 07:16 PM
sakis
Europe
14
Jan 16th, 2003 02:23 PM
Phil
Europe
8
Jan 3rd, 2003 03:49 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -