La Ruche

It opened our eyes to how busy the Seine River is asa major trading route, and how attractive the Seine Valley is. The hotel was an ideal place to get to Giverny easily and we enjoyed 2 full days in Giverny, including a visit to Monet's garden and house. The château de Roche ***on was a most interesting piece of history in the Seine Valley.

A very different hotel as it’s part of a patisserie and bakery but that makes it all the more interesting. Superb views over the Seine river and not far from Monet’s garden. Don’t expect 5* luxury but it’s great value for money.

The rooms and property were *mostly* as described. However, the only way to access the building and rooms are with a QR code that is supposed to be sent 24 hours prior to check in. Unless you book directly with the hotel, you will not receive the QR code. (The property manager told us there is nothing they can do about this.) We ended up waiting nearly 4 hours for a QR code after arrival, which resulted in us missing the nearby chateau we had planned to visit. I booked 2 rooms at this property for our family of 4 because of it's proximity to some of the sights outside of Paris that we planned to visit, but one of the most important reasons I chose this property was the fact that it had air conditioning. Unfortunately, the air conditioner in both of our rooms was blowing hot air, regardless of what we set it on. We had to shut it off and sleep with the windows open, resulting in full access to our rooms from the outside. There was no security whatsoever with the windows open,which made for a very unsettling night's sleep. (I could have climbed out my window, walked to the room next door, and climbed right into their window.) Staff was friendly and felt genuinely bad about the mixup with the QR code. The food in the restaurant downstairs was mediocre at best. Would not stay here again.

The good stuff. -My room was clean and very comfortable. -The outlook from the restaurant is lovely. -We had a good meal of pizza and salad in the attached restaurant. -Some of the staff were very warm and attentive. -The on site bakery is a treat. -Plenty of free parking on site. The less good stuff. -The hotel is right next to a busy road and train line. My road-side room wasn’t hugely soundproofed so I was disturbed a few times in the night. -We had trouble accessing the hotel with out QR codes. -Reception is aside the restaurant kitchen, so the first thing that greets you is the smell of cooking food. -When we went to our car to retrieve luggage members of staff and their friends were in a group smoking at the front door. -My parents room was next to the reception and also they had drinkers right outside their bedroom window literally cm’s from where they slept. -Some untidiness in places (shabby entrance, footprint stains on hallway carpets, bags of laundry stacked in the hallway, a radiator had fallen off of its bracket). Recommendations if considering staying. -Book a river-side room (I think they are more expensive) -Make sure to check in before 8pm, the restaurant closes and I couldn’t guarantee there are any staff to help with QR code check in. Ultimately it was a good example of how online presentation doesn’t tell the full picture. The hotel has a lot of positive attributes. But it feels in need of a conscientious manager who can sharpen the edges and just tidy the whole place up. Not to mention a better check in process.

Bed was comfortable. Room was overlooking the Seine River. It was basic and clean. Tea and coffee in the room. Thank you to the staff for making us feel very welcome 🤗. 5* to the waitress who surprised me with an amazing chocolate mousse cake for my birthday. Breakfast was delicious. The bread is out of this world. Freshly baked on the premises. It would have been 5* rating but the evening meal of fish let it down. It tasted like old frozen fish reheated.

I had a Late arrival at 23:30. As there is no a 24 hours front Desk at this hotel, they sent my by email a QR code to open my room that didn’t work. No recepcion Desk, neither emergency phone to ask for help … I was alone at the hotel 1st floor corridor with no chance to communicate with someone from La Ruche. Finally a collegue of mine, there in France, helped me to find a solution in order to not sleep at the hotel corridor that night.

Great spot by the river but can’t sit outside because of the wasps. Staff are great and helpful. Wifi really patchy. I had a pizza at the restaurant which was very nice and perfect as I was too tired to drive elsewhere. On-site boulangeries is amazing.

Basic hotel with qr codes to open your door. Nothing nearby except the bakery attached to the hotel. The dinner and drinks closes at 8pm. Clean rooms but very noisy from door downstairs all night which kept me awake. Bathroom recently refurbished