HotelChatter || Are French Hotels in Disrepair?

We don't know where the figures come from, or even whether they're reliable, and we're inclined to think the writer was simply venting his or her spleen after a bad experience.

France is the world's number one tourist destination, topping all lists for its number of visitors. Perhaps surprisingly, the statistics concerning the country's hotels do not comply with the country's popularity as it has been recently revealed that one quarter of France's 18.000 hotels are in disrepair , 24% of hotel customers complain about the rude and incompetent service and 38% of hotel restaurant customers add to the number of complaints.

While rude service from staff was the #1 complaint (of course it is since staffers are grossly underpaid), guests were also grossed out by "poor levels of hygiene and unpleasant odors emanating from French hotel kitchens and bathroom facilities." Don't forget loud noises and scuff marks on the walls of hotels. And a joyeux noel to you too!

However, we don't believe these stats are entirely accurate or representative. For a start, the story doesn't take into account the proliferation of luxury and new boutique and design hotels in France that are anything but shabby and poorly staffed.

But okay, we'll admit that this is the view of French hotels that has been bandied about since people first started staying at hotels.

A big problem here is simply cultural difference. American, Canadian and Australian visitors are used to quite a different sort of smiley have-a-nice-day service. That concept just doesn't (or didn't, until now) exist on the continent. Waiters and hotel staff are people, generally French people, and don't feel they should grovel to customers or smile falsely if they don't feel like smiling. Managers in other countries who staff their hotels with immigrant Filipinos and Mexicans can pay them a minimum wage and still instruct them to grovel and smile.

Another problem is one of expectation - if you expect French hotels to be poor, you'll find as many problems as you can, just to feed your expectation. So look for the positive.

And if you want to play safe, just do your research - check out our recent Paris Hotel Guide and our picks of the best and worst Hotels in France.

And then write back and give us your tips.

[Photo: AVZ]

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