Our family spent 3 days at this hotel last month. We booked 4 air-conditioned rooms through Chateaux & Hotels De France on-line. When we arrived (in the midst of a heat wave), we were placed in non air-conditioned rooms. After hauling our luggage back to the reception area, we were assigned 3 foul smelling air-conditioned rooms. Initially, I thought they were smoking rooms, but the hallways and the rooms had terrible musty odors. We spoke limited French, and we gathered these were the best accomodations that could be offered to us. We paid for a single, double standard, double deluxe and double standard douche, and yet all 4 rooms were exactly the same in size ,odor and excessive heat. Our first night, after returning from dinner, we returned to the rooms and they were cool. It had been a long day, and at least we would get a good night's sleep. Little did we know that the air-conditioning was turned off at 2300. Each room had a small window, and with poor ventilation and a heat wave in progress, it was a long, hot night. Despite out complaints to the receptionist, the air-conditioning was turned off the other 2 nights at 2300 as well. During one of our days at the hotel, a family member returned to the hotel around 1300 to rest from the heat. When he asked why the air -conditioning was not on during the hottest part of the day, he was told "you should be ouside enjoying the weather, and not in your room". The staff member seemed clueless about the negative effects of elevated temperature on one's health. Apparently, the rooms are cooled down during the evening hours only. I did not see any place in the Le Manoir advertising that air-conditioning was provided on a limited basis, regardless of the weather conditions. I should mention that the rooms were rather small and the decor was dark.
Le Manoir has a lovely indoor pool, designed with one glass side, so there was ample lighting. The sauna was delightful, but unfortunately, the hot tub and jacuzzi worked only 1 day. I reported the problem twice to the front desk clerk (who did speak English), but it was never repaired. We ate at the hotel restaurant for dinner 1 evening. The ambience and food were wonderful.
The grounds of the hotel were landscaped very nicely. When we checked in, the sign said this was a quiet hotel. Most of the guests were reading, and indeed, this was a tranquil setting. I mention this, as I did not read this in the on-line information, and if your family includes young children, this might be problematic. It's unfortunate that our memories of Le Manoir will be focused on hot, smelly rooms and insensitve staff members.

We went by train ( March Easter 05)from Lyon to Aix-les-Bains- situated on a lovely lake. I had rung the tourist office who suggested the Hotel le Manoir- ( very comfortable traditional )which is set in a garden and through which it is a 2 minute walk to the new Thermes Chevally where you can bathe in the hot thermal waters. This is convenient as you want to go back to your room after to rest. They are lots of jets in the two swimming pools and also you can book private treatments. There is a Thermes Nationaux which I gather is more for cures/sick people.
Also we found that a bus goes 45 minutes up to a small ski resort and it was possible to ski until the end of March! Bathing in the hot thermes after is great.
Food is very good but expensive everywhere, since the euro. It is worth booking the hotel in house dining as there are lots of stairs and hills in Aix- down to the centre of the town. I think there is lots to do in the Summer, i,e sailing on the lake etc.

Rooms were basic (over-powerful shower flooded the bathroom) and the room was dark, but lovely sunny terrace you could lie on, swimming pool, steam room, spa pool, and - best of all - the top-rate restaurant (the best bit - it's a restaurant with an hotel). Lovely place to be, very peacefull but only a short walk (5 mins?) from the centre of aix-les-bains. We'll be back!