[Sept. 2025] We stayed at Hotel Vaubecour in Lyon, France.
As usual, we chose this hotel on Booking.com based on its location, reputation, and price, but when we got there, it only had two stars.
This might be our first time staying in a two-star hotel.
My husband and I exchanged glances as we took the tiny elevator to the second floor of the large building.
We opened the hotel door timidly, but it turned out to be a very nice hotel.
It was late, almost 10 p.m., but it seemed the hotel attendant was waiting for us, even though he wasn’t supposed to be there.
He was very nice.
We expected the room to be small.
Whether it’s Paris or London, reasonably priced hotels in big cities are always as small as prison cells.
The double bed was also small, which wasn’t a problem for my husband and I since we’re petite, but I think larger Scandinavians would probably be squeezed out.
However, the room was very practical, and, as is often the case in small hotels, every nook and cranny had been cleverly utilized.
The other hotel staff we encountered thereafter were also very likable.
When we checked out, they gave us a bookmark with a picture of a nearby bridge, saying, “It was drawn by one of our staff members.”
On our first day, to satisfy our hunger, a staff peeked out the window and told us, “That restaurant is usually open late.”
Unfortunately, since it was a Sunday evening, the kitchen was already closed when we got there, so we couldn’t get in.
So we ended up grabbing a humble sushi pack to go on our first night.
We decided to enjoy Lyon’s gourmet cuisine the next day.
Actually, this hotel apparently offers breakfast if you request it, but we opted for Paul in the neighbourhood.
When we lived in London, we often went to Paul, where it was customary to eat palmiers, so the next morning we enjoyed a nostalgic palmier.
However, while I used to be able to eat an entire one in one go, I was surprised to find that I couldn’t finish it this time.
The hotel was in a great location, and after breakfast, a short walk brought us to the Saône River.
It was a lovely clear day, and the early autumn trees and surrounding buildings were reflected in the river, creating a truly beautiful view.
A little further ahead, we could see a red suspension bridge.
We’ll go there later.
