Grand Hotel des Terreaux - Lyon, France 

Booked the hotel via Federal Hotels, with a very good rate (20% off). The hotel is located downtown Lyon, very close to Place des Terreaux, in a very scenic area, and close to most landmarks. There is public parking nearby (parking in the streets is not easy). It seems the hotel was recently renovated, as the room, reception and public areas look very nice. We really liked the attention to details in the deco, the room had and airco unit, which was already turned on when we arrived (not common in France). Decoration is realy nice, and there's even a small pool in the basement of the building (old stones, staircase and elements from the original construction have been well preserved). Staff was very friendly and helpfull, breakfast is worth the price, with a good variety of local specialities and bread. Unlike other midrange priced French hotels, the breakfast is served in a nice dinning room (next to the underground pool), decorated with draperies. There are very good restaurants not far from the hotel (the city really lives up to its reputation with very nice places to eat), but also in the old town. We liked Le Summertime (2, Rue Verdi), close to the Opera. We would highly recommed the hotel, and will certainly come back.

As with the last reviewer, I too was a female traveling alone, at least for the first night. It was the beginning of almost two weeks in France, meeting with my husband the next day. I also, could barely get through the door with my suitcase, as the desk clerk just sat and watched me. Again after checking in I had to wrestle the suitcase up a few steps just to get to the elevator. When I arrived at my room, it was at the end of a dark, hot hallway. I opened the door to find a tiny room with an oscillating fan sitting at the end of the bed, which like the previous reviewers room, opened onto the airshaft. At least my room was airconditioned. It did have a nice large bathroom with a tub, which was amazingly clean. It was also a smoking room. I had requested a non smoking when I made the reservation. Front desk said they couldn't help me until the next day. The bed was comfortable enough and I am very picky about my bed. The next day I was moved into a non-smoking room. It was a bit larger, and nicer, although it had a smaller bathroom with only a shower, and it still faced into the airshaft. As far as security goes, I felt pretty safe in the area. I did quite a bit of walking in the area, and felt safe except for one group of bums that seemed to be hanging out on a corner a couple of blocks away. I quickly figured it out, and adjusted my routes. The only thing that bothered me was with the hotel itself. As I mentioned I was alone the first night, and my husband was joining me the next evening. I did mention this to the desk clerk when I checked in, however, I found it disturbing that when my husband showed up at the hotel the next evening, they just gave him the room number and sent him up to my room. I also found it a little disturbing that while I was in my room, which had already been cleaned, the maid just walked in without knocking or anything. She didn't have anything in her hands, like towels or anything, and she quickly excused herself and ran out. I never figured out why she was there. it just kind of made me a little uneasy, especially since there are no safes in the rooms, only at the front desk. All in all, it's an okay hotel. Not great, and not worth what it costs, but I really haven't seen a lot of hotels in Europe that are worth what they cost. The beds are comfortable, its clean, and the location is good.