I've stayed at a number of French and German hotels in recent years. You would think that the French would have mastered the art of hospitality by now. Sorry to rant, but here are some scattered observations:

1. French hotels are way overpriced. The independent German hotels in relatively small cities are impeccably clean and offer value that the US can't touch. Modern design, courteous staff, etc. Food is surprisingly good (good, German, and food in the same sentence? Whudda thunk?), and the beer is.....well, German.

2. French hotel rooms are closet size. 13" TV? And what happened to the good late night TV?

3. Do they have a law against shower curtains in France? (I think there is a law against serving more than one ice cube in a glass).

4. Or a law against newer-than-20-years mattresses?

5. Formula 24: a French customer said this is a great hotel chain if you want to be awaken by screams of "encore, encore" in the middle of the night.

Am I off base? Or do I need to start staying exclusively at Sofitels?

But the Sofitel chain is French.

True, but their AMS Airport location rocks!

I think the problem with most French hotels is that you either get the college dorm model IBIS or the independently run dump. If you don't want to spend over 150 Euros/night, that is.

This is so american.... Don�t get me wrong, I share a lot of the points you mentioned, but I don�t know anybody who likes tons of ice in their drinks. nor a noisy icemaker on the same floor...

I think German hotels are simply an astounding deal, and so make other countries look bad in comparison. Compare price and quality of French hotels to London or Rome hotels.

If you understand French there is good late night TV. Moreso if they have cable or satellite.

When I'm being cheap, I generally stay at Holiday Inn's in France to get points. They are pretty good for the most part and some of them even upgrade Platinum members. When I have the bucks I'll stay at a Sofitel. They are very good for the most part.

OTOH, German hotels can be quite expensive, especially for US chains. Maritim is OK if you have a corporate discount. And the food is as good as the hotel, whether French or German. The restaurants at the Sofitels are very good. I just had a very, very, very fine meal at Les Etioles at the Sheraton CDG. This has to be the finest in-airport restaurant in the world. True it was over �100 per person, but well worth it. But the cheaper hotels have cheaper food. Same in Germany.

I don't know where you stayed, but I have the feeling you are not very good at hotel searching.

My better half and I often travel around France and always find very nice places in the � 60.- to 80.- range, except in Paris of course, but even there, no problem in finding good hotels in the � 100.- range.
French and Europeans in general like to recognize what they drink and therefore do not drown their drinks in ice.... But if you just ask for "beaucoup de glace, s'il vous plait" you'll get all you want at no extra charge.

Instead of worrying about the TV size, why don't you go out and enjoy yourself or make love in your room?
In the US the TV's might be larger everywhere, but the quality of the picture has remained at 60's standards.
Why don't you learn to take a bath? Relax, open the pores, play with little ducks... You are in France, man.
What are you getting in the US for the price of Formula1 in France? Cutthroat surroundings, pre WWII mattresses, trucklike sounding AC and mini televisions with the wire antenna on top of it and a whole population of cockroaches to boot
My advice to you: Next time you get to France, if ever, do a little homework, ask people on FT and your trip will be different.
Bon voyage

I stayed in an Ibis in Paris a few years ago and thought it was very pleasant.

Edited to add: I strongly believe that a hotel is a place to sleep and wash in. If I'm travelling for leisure, unless its a resort hotel then I want to be out and about enjoying my time away. Although if it's business travel then I want something with a bit of comfort and since I'm not paying for it, thats the price for sending me away from home.

Formule 1, Ibis, Sofitel...we've mentioned all brands of the well-known company apart from the most useful one:

Mercure. Decent deals to be had as long as you book online! That's where I stay if I've got no time/will for research...
Last year I went to one in Lyon...Got a top-floor room on the corner with incredible views all over the city for �65! Granted it was during a weekend (IIRC Sun to Mon), the rate didn't include breakfast (even better because I ended up munching croissants in a tiny local caf�) and they wouldn't give me any miles (they only do at more expensive rates, at least for OK+ members), but still was fantastic value.
A word of warning, some of the hotels are not in the city centre because they're primarily designed for people travelling by car so are closer to the motorways etc...but they're always denoted "suburb" on the website so you've only got yourself to blame if you mess up!

It can all be summed up in one word: CHEAP!

From what I've seen, euro hoteliers are cheap, and the french are the cheapest of all.

Large TVs cost more. So do shower curtains. So do nice high pressure shower nozzles instead of those crappy handheld models. Even ice costs more. And new mattresses? Are you dreaming?

The one thing I love about traveling in the US is that you don't get nickel and dimed for most things, except for parking, resort fees and perhaps internet access at the high end properties. Even the crappiest motel 6 is nicer than many properties you'll find in France, because it comes with a king bed, 27" cable tv and a clean bathroom with plenty of counter space and a high pressure hot shower.

Tonight's quiz: who does the Motel 6 chain belong to?

I do, but of course, I am an American. After many years of travel to Europe I have officially given up trying to get a lot of ice in my drinks. I know now it just isn't going to happen - period!

ACCOR
2 rue de la Mare Neuve
91000 Evry
FRANCE

ROFLMAO

Which is hyghly recommended for health� In France, slogan is "make love not war "