Mercure Poitiers Centre Hotel

Pleasant

Very good

Good

Liked: The location
Disliked: The air conditioning unit

Exceptional

Superb

Comfortable church conversion right in...

Liked: The hotel is in a converted church which provides attractive and unusual details in the bedrooms (mine had some slim, elegant columns). The dining room is vast, set in the area where the nave would have been. It provided good room service. There is a separate, pleasant, breakfast room. The hotel is right in the centre of the old town, close to several of the mediaeval architectural beauties and not far from the railway station. If you have come to see the Mediaeval buildings, check on what is fully open beforhand; some, such as the famous Romanesque church, are undergoing restoration.
Disliked: My room was perfectly comfortable, and I love the uniqueness a conversion like this provides; a fresh coat of paint would make it even more enjoyable.

Good location, lovely old church,...

Liked: The location and friendliness of all staff. The hotel was beautiful and well placed in Poitiers. Near shops, train station, good range of restaurants and bars.
Disliked: During s period of heatwave all over Europe including France. Daily temperatures of 40°C ++ the air conditioning in the bed room was limited by the hotel to a minimum of 22°C and the fan speed was not adjustable. I can only assume this was a cost cutting measure. Also the hotel breakfast area was excruciatingly hot and the tiny fan pointed at the tables was completely ineffective. The hotel (a former church) had ibvious Air Con ducts all through walls and breakfast and reception areas, but in my view it was not being used properly or willingly adjusted to make the hotel comfortable. Why!? This hotel was not cheap and as such I would expect the ability for customers to be able to stay in a cool and adjustable environment. I know it was possible to ask re this, or "complain", but as a non French speaker I was reluctant and frankly i don't see why I should have had to!? The hotel was hot uncomfortable and frankly it shouldn't have been.

Exceptional

Lovely weekend break

Liked: Really interesting building in a fantastic location. Our room was very pleasant and well equipped. The restaurant is superb and at lunchtime, an absolute bargain for the quality. And, unusually for France, very vegetarian friendly. Worth mentioning in particular are the staff. The welcome was superb - we arrived early and the receptionist went to see if there as a room ready we could have, which there was. And in the restaurant too, the service was exemplary.I would definitely return. Oh, and Poitiers is beautiful, compact city to walk around.
Disliked: The hotel doesn't have parking but we parked in QPark Cordelier, which is about a 5 minute walk away and very easy to find. And, booking ahead, on the QPark website, it only cost €15,00 for 24 hours. So, all in all, not an issue at all.