Campanile Pontarlier

Definitely not a good experience: truly overpriced for the quality. We spent 150 euros for a "family room" (two kids and one dad), the room was clean, but worn and really cramped, you can barely move around. Worst of all, the mattress of the double bed was absolutely unacceptable (hundreds of couples must have had very hot nights on it). The breakfast was OK but overpriced (the breakfast lady was very friendly, I must say). Worst of all: the owners did not care at all that there was snow on the parking, the entrance, etc., and the cars, could barely drive in/out. We know it's Pontarlier, and that there can be snow, yes, of course: but the basic duty of a hotel manager is to keep its entrance and carpark clean. Just cross the border to Switzerland and you'll see the guys shoveling like mad in the early morning hours. Here they did nothing. Poor France.

This is a really poor hotel. The first room we were given - for two people - had no door on the bathroom/toilet. We were given an adjacent room, but had to move all our stuff, as we had unpacked somewhat before we found the door missing. The rooms are small and lack comfort. Double beds are so close to the wall on one side, that it is difficult to get in and out of bed. The water wouldn't stay in the bath, no matter what we did with the plug, and the shower screen was broken. The exterior of the hotel is downright scruffy. There was no evening meal in the restaurant - because it was the weekend. This was not indicated on the website. Breakfast was an absolute scrum. There were nowhere near enough staff so tables were not being cleared, and the buffet was not replenished. Breakfast staff doubled up on reception, so the phone went unanswered, and clients had to wait to sort problems with bills. It was frankly a disgrace. The evening receptionist was pleasant and welcoming, but most of the problems were outside her control. Avoid this hotel.