Hotel Mercure - Blois France
During a driving tour of the Loire Valley we selected the town of Blois as one of our three base stations from which to take day trips exploring the region’s Chateaux. We stayed at the Hotel Mercure Blois Centre in a “Duplex Privilege Room with a double bed, sofa and balcony overlooking Quai Saint Jean.” This room appeared intriguing when I was searching the internet during the planning period of this trip however the reality of the room and the hotel fell short of my expectations. The balcony apparently had not been cleaned or maintained in a very long time therefore the thought of occupying it even for a brief period was never considered. Even if the balcony had been inviting the view of the heavily traveled road (Quai Saint Jean) was not.
The room is actually located on two different levels with the sitting area and bathroom located on the main level and the bed located on a lofted area which is accessed by a very narrow steep stairway. This room layout may sound appealingly exotic to some and maybe even romantic to others but it is neither. What it is is ergonomically challenged. Additionally the bed was uncomfortably hard and the two of us suffered through sleepless nights during our stay.
The bar is located on the second floor of the hotel and is situated against one of the four walls that define a rather large conference area that was empty except for two folding tables that were haphazardly arranged near the center of the room at the time of our visit. The configuration of this space totally precluded the possibility of a cheery ambiance. However, the bartender and for that matter all the staff that we encountered during our stay were pleasant, helpful and professional.
On a positive note the hotel had secure parking that was covered and the fee for this service was reasonable. The location of the hotel was also a positive in that it was only a short walk to a number of pleasant restaurants and outdoor cafes in addition to being close to the Blois Chateau. This hotel was definitely a mixed experience.
The room is actually located on two different levels with the sitting area and bathroom located on the main level and the bed located on a lofted area which is accessed by a very narrow steep stairway. This room layout may sound appealingly exotic to some and maybe even romantic to others but it is neither. What it is is ergonomically challenged. Additionally the bed was uncomfortably hard and the two of us suffered through sleepless nights during our stay.
The bar is located on the second floor of the hotel and is situated against one of the four walls that define a rather large conference area that was empty except for two folding tables that were haphazardly arranged near the center of the room at the time of our visit. The configuration of this space totally precluded the possibility of a cheery ambiance. However, the bartender and for that matter all the staff that we encountered during our stay were pleasant, helpful and professional.
On a positive note the hotel had secure parking that was covered and the fee for this service was reasonable. The location of the hotel was also a positive in that it was only a short walk to a number of pleasant restaurants and outdoor cafes in addition to being close to the Blois Chateau. This hotel was definitely a mixed experience.