Le Chatel

“Friendly, welcoming and comfortable.”

From the moment we arrived until the moment we left we were treated in a friendly and courteous way. Our room was spotlessly clean with a comfortable bed and a large bathroom. We had a splendid dinner and a great breakfast. Excellent value for money.

“Hotel et restaurant acceptables”

An average hotel whose performance is in line with its price. I would have appreciated more variety for breakfast : i.e. different types of cheese, fruit, dried fruit etc. Over 5 days the items offered were always the same.

“Very good value”

This modestly priced hotel has been very recently renovated. The room was spacious with a fine view over the park opposite , and an extremely comfortable bed with quality bed linen. The whole place was spotlessly clean and the managers very observant of Covid hygiene measures. Breakfast was gene... more

This modestly priced hotel has been very recently renovated. The room was spacious with a fine view over the park opposite , and an extremely comfortable bed with quality bed linen. The whole place was spotlessly clean and the managers very observant of Covid hygiene measures. Breakfast was generous and the hotel staff pleasant and helpful. Excellent value hotel.

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“It depends what you're looking for”

Our group tends to decide on an attraction and destination then go look for accommodation. Our choice of Le Chatel in Royat near Clermont Ferrand was determined largely because it was relatively close to our target destination which was the panoramic train depot at Puy de Dome. We were there fo... more

Our group tends to decide on an attraction and destination then go look for accommodation. Our choice of Le Chatel in Royat near Clermont Ferrand was determined largely because it was relatively close to our target destination which was the panoramic train depot at Puy de Dome. We were there for 2 nights only and were looking for a clean, reasonably priced accommodation. Le Chatel is rated as a 2* accommodation which is basic. I seriously doubt that I would have found it using only a paper map. It is a four story hotel built on a very long, very steep roadway. We circled it twice with some degree of difficulty looking for a place to park so that we could offload our luggage. Luckily someone pulled out of a roadside spot just as we needed it on the second go round but there was a time limit. The actual free parking for the hotel is in a ravine across the road. I am unsure how our driving partner got there and later retrieved the car. Our greeting from the young lady at the reception desk was warm and affable. With some mutual struggles with the others' language, we were able to get ourselves mutually understood and checked in. Clermont Ferrand does not see the English speaking tourist traffic that other sites in France do so finding an English speaker is rarer. I was grateful for their patience with mon pauvre francais. The two person elevator once again required that we send one guest up to the accommodation floor to receive the luggage sent separately by the other. Our room was on the third floor at the back of the building and looked out level with the pavement of a narrow street that runs behind the hotel about 15 feet distant. While the door boasted the modernity of electronic key card locks, it was very heavy. I had to return to the desk to get a key for the room safe. We have travelled enough in Europe and the middle east to know that we should expect to find cozy, intimately sized rooms. This one redefined small. We could not open 2 suitcases at the same time. I had to shower my 210 pound bulk with the stall door open. On the positive side, the room was scrupulously clean, the double bed comfortable with good quality sheeting, the towels sufficient and more than adequate, as well as abundant and quickly hot water. There was a hairdryer. The staff was very friendly, hospitable and accommodating, always eager to please. We found that there were few eateries in the neighbourhood. We did find a small boulangerie and grocery a block away so we could stock up for our picnic lunch. We ate dinner in the hotel restaurant on the second night. We found the offerings quickly and attractively presented, of generous portion, tasty and freshly prepared all at a very reasonable cost yielding good value for Euros spent. If you are looking for clean, quiet inexpensive accommodation in the area, Le Chatel is a satisfactory choice.

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