We were booked on a very early morning flight from Bordeaux to Amsterdam, connecting back to the US. Only a few days in advance, we decided to cancel a hotel reservation in downtown Bordeaux and stay close to the airport to make the early flight more easily. Did some research online and found the Quality Suites Merignac.

After a long day of driving, this hotel was a welcome oasis. We were quickly renewed and glad to be there. It's an airport hotel, geared to travelers and business people, so don't expect views and a charming location. BUT, it turned out to be one of the best airport hotels I've ever stayed in, and there have been many.

Perfectly clean. Very comfortable bed, pillows, quilts. Nice room layout, with a small but completely equipped kitchen, CD player, DVD player, nice leather couch - everything you could want. And very comfortable

The restaurant was closed by the time we got settled, but the kitchen put together a beautiful plate of bread, fruit and cheese for our room, which was just perfect.

The reception staff was fluent in English, and the kitchen staff fluent enough to work with my limited French. Everyone was ultra-friendly. In the morning we got our wake-up call (both an automated one which we dialed in on the phone, and a personal one from the desk), and we got to the Bordeaux airport (less than 5 minutes from the hotel) at 5:00 on the dot when it opened. The shuttle bus driver was extremely friendly and helpful, even without English, and would not accept even a small tip for the ride and lifting out super-heavy bags.

A few small minuses:

There were about 12 French and English-language web sites where you could book this hotel;, but being unfamiliar with them, I opted for the hotel's own site. The room rate was very reasonable for the quality provided (lowest rate is on the Internet). One problem was that the hotel web site would not provide instant confirmation, but promised to confirm by email within 24 hours, which it did (in about 12 hours). Still, I prefer to KNOW that I have a room, instead of waiting.

Internet access in the hotel is very expensive (although cheaper for a terminal in the lobby) so we passed on that, and also declined the breakfast buffet (16 Euros per person!!) and just had coffee.

After such a long travel day, we wanted to unwind with an English-language video from the rental machine in the lobby but it was not working. Not a big deal - we're not such spoiled Americans that we expect English videos in French hgotels, but they were there, just not accessible. Flipping stations on French TV can be great fun, and English-language CNN and BBC are everywhere.

I'm writing this just because, as one other reviewer mentioned, it was a very welcome surprise, at a time when we needed a comfortable break and a nice headstart on another long day of travel. I noticed that a lot of people catch this 6:20 flight from Bordeaux to Amsterdam, and may be looking for a place to stay the night before. This is it: great rooms, friendly, helpful staff, and a very good rate.

We stayed at this hotel before taking a flight out from Bordeaux airport. We originally booked it as it seemed to be well rated on here but not too expensive.

We booked online at a rate of 80 Euros. The room was excellent, clean and well provided. Big TV and leather couch with a DVD player, though we hadn't any films with us! There was an automatic machine downstairs where it seemed you could rent one. We didn't as we got back late from a night out.

The pool was a bit small and simple but manageable, though it is basically out the front in the car park! The staff were good and helpful especially as they had initially charged the wrong rate, but once we showed our booking confirmation they changed it immediately. They also supplied local maps and advice on where to eat and were generally great!

The only downside was the room was a little warm, but you can open the windows so it's fine!

Would recommend to anyone for a good place to stay near the airport!

After 4 nights in Margaux, we needed a hotel close to the airport for a 6:20AM flight to Amsterdam and then on to Minneapolis. We stayed the night of May 15, 2007.

First, we only found 1 review before making the reservations so a little concerned. But we were only staying 1 night and took a chance. Good move. We dropped our car rental at the airport and then had a quick hotel shuttle pick-up. The staff spoke good English and had a welcoming, helpful attitude. The lobby was contemporary, open, clean.

The room was again contemporary, clean, and surprising large for this category of hotel. Behind a door is a mini kitchen with microwave, cooktop, dishes, and even a dishwasher, none of which we used. But a surprise how much was there. Bathroom and shower were clean and modern. Decent sized closet.

One problem, it was a rainy, cold night, but the room was quite warm. The central air didn't seem to work, the fan ran, but no cool air. (Too cold outside?) We opened a window and that quickly cooled the room. Very little noise, even with the window open. Fairly comfortable bed.

We previously read that there was no airport shuttle until 6:30 AM, but this was wrong. In the evening we asked the front desk for a 5:00 AM taxi but we were told they would shuttle us. And they did! Wake up call at 4:00 AM was on time. The breakfast buffet off the lobby was surprisingly large: cereal, juices. coffee, rolls, fruit, and more.

We ate dinner at the more casual restaurant of the 2 adjoining the hotel. Reasonably good, but not great food.

Overall, the 2 couples in our group agreed we would stay again and recommend it for its category, and for its approximately 1 mile location from the airport.

Spent the night before a very early flight. The hotel is new and nicely designed in a modern, boutique-hotel type style. Flat screen TV and surround sound. Modern fixtures, nice wood paneling - I didn't feel as if I was in a typical cheap hotel. If Quality Hotels is doing this in all their facilities, I may become a fan.

I was concerned about getting my wake-up call and having the taxi called and ready as requested, as the hotel shuttle doesn't run until 6AM. No problems with either service. The hotel desk on our request also called our restaurant in Bordeaux to let them know we would be late for our reservation.