Our trip to Bourg-en-Bresse was a delightful accident. We were flying in a light aircraft through France and were due to stay in Annecy but weather prevented us and we ended up in this delightful little town.
We had no problems whatsoever in booking into the hotel and were greeted by a very friendly and helpful receptionist.
It is a very tiny lift but there is a lift nevertheless. My room was large and overlooked the square outside the hotel. It was as others have suggested a little pungent when I first opened the door, possibly a smokers smell, but an opening of the windows soon put paid to the smell. The bed was incredibly comfortable and as I am known as the "princess and the pea" that is a huge compliment. It was also great to find a bath so many hotels on the Continent I encounter have gone down the route of shower only.
We didn't eat at the restaurant attached to the hotel but found a super place just beyond the theatre which had great tasting food at highly competitive prices called Le ZinG.

As an aside we also had an amazing meal at the little airfield which would put many a 5star restaurant in the shade.

It did get a little noisy in the night at one point, the hotel is after all right in the middle of the town but all in all I would happily stay here again and recommend it to others

The title of this review may lead you to believe that our stay here was excellent - er, no. If ever there was a lesson in how not to provide basic customer service, this was it.

I booked, using my debit cards details, through the hotel website (www.grand-hoteldefrance.com) and received a prompt confirmation email. Excellent, I thought. On arrival, the astonishingly dismissive receptionist hotly maintained that the email I was showing her was not sent from the hotel, therefore my confirmed price and indeed full reservation was not confirmed. A double room was to become a twin (something my girlfriend and I were "thrilled" about), the 75 euros room rate was to become 101 euros.

I requested to speak to the manager, Madame Florence Labaquere (this name was written at the base of the confirmation email, sent from infos@grand-hoteldefrance.com - which apparently didn't come from the hotel - hmmmm) - a request which was flatly denied by the charming receptionist in the manner of an exasperated cider drinker swatting at a particularly persistent wasp.

I've lived in France for many years and although not fluent, my French is able to politely ask for information in a formal and correct way. I asked our friend behind the counter for process details to check whether or not my bank card would be debited, as due to there being no double rooms available, we would be staying elsewhere. She then ignored me entirely, in a way that frankly defies all analogies and description.

My girlfriend and I then decided to leave at that point, as the receptionist had clearly weighed up her options and plumped for a total disregard of her customers and indeed her immediate environment and duties. We ended up staying in the Kyriad, basic but lovely. Staff with smiles - it felt good.

Take it from me - do NOT book through this hotel's website. A stay might be enjoyable, but I would seriously distrust their reservation processes and indeed the astounding receptionist.

This visit represented a first in all my years of international travel. The adjacent restaurant, while not owned by hotel - belongs in a class of of it's own when it comes to indolence. I add the restaurant because they do work very closely and the hotel does strongly promote it. So, after the front desk makes a reservation - we show up at the appointed hour only to be told that they've RUN OUT OF FOOD. We stayed at this dump of a hotel specifically to dine at the place and they tell us with a straight face that they're done for the night, at 9pm. So much for the restaurant. The hotel is a smelly affair that features dirty, thread bare carpets and all the charm of a tired, worn-out hovel. If you're heading west, do yourself a favor and head on to Macon. Oh yes, the next restaurant that the hotel sent us to offerred a plate of the "famous" Bresse chicken that was dry, tough and covered with a glob of "white" sauce complete with sad, stewed tomato - for $40usd. I couldn't get out of the hotel and city fast enough.

We stopped at this hotel overnight, en route from Italy to northern France. The staff were very warm and helpful and spoke English with us. Our room was located toward the rear of the hotel, and it was comfortable and very quiet. The hotel has secure parking at a small extra cost, however there is also a large publiccar park just outside the main entrance. The hotel is located in the centre of town, close to restaurants and bars. All in all, it is a very good choice when contemplating a stay in Bourg-en-Bresse.