By Carl Dombek
For our recent trip to see the D-Day sites in Normandy, we chose the town of Bayeux as our base and the Hôtel Le Lion d'Or as our lodging. After all, if it was General Eisenhower’s favorite hotel in Bayeux, it must be pretty nice.
Indeed it was.
Located at 71 Rue Saint-Jean the Hôtel Le Lion d'Or has 34 rooms and suites along with a lounge and on-site restaurant, La Table du Lion. This four-star hotel also has a limited number of parking spaces that are best for smaller cars. Being in the heart of an old city, space is at a premium and many times hotel staff had to move guests’ cars so other guests could get theirs out or in.
Given the location, it’s no surprise that the rooms are on the smaller side. The hotel offers double, triple and suite rooms ranging from 25 to 40 square meters. Rooms are nicely decorated and generally well appointed with in-room safe, iron and board, hair dryer, high-end amenities, robes, a carafe of water with glasses and a Dyson Cool Tower fan, which is important because the hotel does not have air conditioning. Being only 10 kilometers from the sea, A/C is not usually necessary but there are those few summer days when it would be welcome.
For our recent trip to see the D-Day sites in Normandy, we chose the town of Bayeux as our base and the Hôtel Le Lion d'Or as our lodging. After all, if it was General Eisenhower’s favorite hotel in Bayeux, it must be pretty nice.
Indeed it was.
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| Hotel exterior, up a cobblestone drive |
Located at 71 Rue Saint-Jean the Hôtel Le Lion d'Or has 34 rooms and suites along with a lounge and on-site restaurant, La Table du Lion. This four-star hotel also has a limited number of parking spaces that are best for smaller cars. Being in the heart of an old city, space is at a premium and many times hotel staff had to move guests’ cars so other guests could get theirs out or in.
Given the location, it’s no surprise that the rooms are on the smaller side. The hotel offers double, triple and suite rooms ranging from 25 to 40 square meters. Rooms are nicely decorated and generally well appointed with in-room safe, iron and board, hair dryer, high-end amenities, robes, a carafe of water with glasses and a Dyson Cool Tower fan, which is important because the hotel does not have air conditioning. Being only 10 kilometers from the sea, A/C is not usually necessary but there are those few summer days when it would be welcome.
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| Double guest room |
We were greeted warmly when we arrived and checked in efficiently. The hotel has no elevator (aka “lift”) but they do have staff members who carted our luggage up two flights of stairs for us and three flights for our daughter and grandson.
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| Efficient bath |
The Hôtel Le Lion d'Or is a five-minute walk to the Bayeux Tapestry museum where visitors can view the 70-meter-long embroidery that tells the story of the Battle of Hastings and the ascension of William, Duke of Normandy to William the Conqueror in 1066.
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| Bayeux tapestry; Photo credit France.fr |
The hotel is right at the edge of a pedestrian zone which has a number of shops, stores, bistros and restaurants within easy walking distance. There were so many that seemed charming that we never did experience the hotel restaurant. We did, however, enjoy beverages in the Lounge Bar. The walls are lined with photographs of notable individuals who have stayed at the hotel over the years, including Generals De Gaulle and Eisenhower, Prince Charles and Lord Mountbatten, Jacque Chirac, Ernest Hemingway and Tom Hanks, among others.
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| Bayeux pedestrian zone |
Service was excellent with every staff member we encountered, from front desk personnel to servers to housekeepers, offering a “Bonjour!” as we passed in the hall, lobby or on the patio, and asking if there was anything we needed.
Perhaps the most impressive display of excellent service, however, came after we had checked out. We had picked up an advertising post card that was of no consequence and left it on the desk instead of putting it in the trash. The front desk called my cell phone to ask whether it was something we’d left by accident and, if so, where they should forward it. In all my years of traveling, I have NEVER had another hotel proactively call me about an item left behind.
We found the rates very reasonable, the location convenient, and the service top-flight. The only considerations are the tight parking situation and the lack of air conditioning. If neither of these is a deal-breaker I’m confident that, like General Eisenhower (and us), you will find the Hôtel Le Lion d'Or absolutely delightful!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek unless otherwise noted
Click on photos to view larger images
Perhaps the most impressive display of excellent service, however, came after we had checked out. We had picked up an advertising post card that was of no consequence and left it on the desk instead of putting it in the trash. The front desk called my cell phone to ask whether it was something we’d left by accident and, if so, where they should forward it. In all my years of traveling, I have NEVER had another hotel proactively call me about an item left behind.
We found the rates very reasonable, the location convenient, and the service top-flight. The only considerations are the tight parking situation and the lack of air conditioning. If neither of these is a deal-breaker I’m confident that, like General Eisenhower (and us), you will find the Hôtel Le Lion d'Or absolutely delightful!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek unless otherwise noted
Click on photos to view larger images
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