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In France, in the center of the city of Niort, there is a hotel called France Hotel. It was bought some years ago by a couple who, before that, had worked at the five-star George V hotel on Paris' Champs-Elysees on one side street. Hotel France's host Farid had always dreamed of having his own hotel, but with an inner courtyard. He searched for them online, found one and found himself suddenly standing at Niort train station ready to negotiate the purchase of a hotel. Farid and his wife Delphine now run a cozy hotel. Each room is decorated differently in its own style, combining retro style with modern elements. An example is a bedside shelf made of an old, polished dark steel toolbox.
I tend to drink a cup of green tea in the mornings, but the decor in my room included a glass mug. I don't think it's fun to drink hot tea out of a glass mug, so I borrowed a ceramic mug from one of our group's other rooms. Since the cup was an essential part of the interior decoration of that specific room, I wrote a note to the cleaner of my room and explained the matter. The cleaner could have acknowledged my note with just an OK, but instead she returned the borrowed cup to the right room and brought a very beautiful, big ceramic tea mug into my room and took the glass mug as she went. I was really taken by this concern.
Breakfast is served at the table in this hotel and can be obtained by asking for what you want from their selection. Not only croissant and jam, but yogurts and bread can be found, as well as fruit. Farid and Delphine want to reduce waste and therefore work with breakfast like this.
When we left, everyone's room had a handwritten note IN FINNISH: “Thank you”. (Kiitos) The note in my room was French, and it says, “Thank you! Dear Mrs Immonen, we will miss you very much”. When have you ever received a message like that from a hotel, especially one that was handwritten and meant only for you? In a 2-star-hotel? I'm going to Niort in October 2024 to see my daughter, her husband and our fifth grandchild (born 23.3.23, 5 minutes after midnight). Farid and Delphine have asked me to have a drink with them. I've only used their hotel once, and I feel like I have friends in Niort.
For trips to Niort and it's surroundings, contact me at leena.immonen@saaritours.fi. I'll guide you in English - let's meet at Paris airport and take the train together. Niort works perfect for really small groups - 4-6 people.
