Hôtel Ivan Vautier, Caen: very good service

For my new stopover in Caen on this trip, I decided to sleep in this hotel, which I’d been wanting to stay in for a very long time.

Booking

I booked the hotel 3 weeks before my arrival. I had wanted to stay at this hotel for a long time and had looked for several ways of booking. I don’t like using Booking-type platforms, which charge large commissions to hoteliers: so I decided to use the booking form and was able to confirm my reservation after a few easy interactions with reception.

Arrival

My father dropped me off in front of the hotel the evening before my stay, at around 8.30pm.

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When I arrived, the reception was deserted and I used the bell to call the receptionist who proceeded with the (very) short check-in formalities. The receptionist was adorable, and gave me an upgrade to a superior room. I confirmed breakfast the next morning.

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Room

My room, 11A, was located on the 1st floor of the hotel.

Accessible by elevator or stairs, it adjoins one of the hotel’s Junior Suites.

The entrance leaded directly into the single room. To the left was a large closet, housing a well-stocked minibar, and extending into a rather small desk with a courtesy tray, espresso machine and kettle.

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The king-size bed was very comfortable, though perhaps lacking a few pillows to complement the decorative cushions.

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The bed was extended by a small sofa, perfect for an evening of TV before bedtime. A DVD player was available, with a selection of films on loan from reception.

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To the side was a table where you could dine or nibble on one of the room-service dishes.

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Finally, there was a bathroom with a walk-in shower, equipped with quality amenities. I regretted the lack of toiletries completion with shampoo and conditioner.

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The toilet was separate from the bathroom.

To finish, a video tour:

Hotel facilities

The hotel was equipped with a spa, available on reservation from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering treatments by appointment. Access to the spa is charged to hotel guests.

Catering

The property is a hotel-restaurant, awarded one Michelin star and two Gault-Millau toques. It is one of the few Michelin-starred restaurants in the Lower Normandy capital.

Room service is also available 24 hours a day.

Room Service

A few minutes after arriving in my room, I callked reception (trying 0, then 9) to order a snack while watching TV.

I ordered a plate of Normandy cheeses, which was very hearty and excellent, with bread to die for and exceptional butter.

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Breakfast service

I had breakfast in the hotel restaurant on the morning of my stay. Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 10:30 every day.

It’s served in the hotel’s main restaurant, the one with a Michelin star.

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The buffet was fairly basic, but this is understandable given the small number of rooms available in the hotel.

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Nevertheless, the products were of good quality.

Service

Service in the hotel was absolutely adorable, with the receptionist and waiters always with a big smile. The charm of independent hotels.

Departure

Departure formalities were quick and easy. I paid for all services in one go.

Bottom Line

An excellent stay, but we’ll be back to try out the Michelin-starred restaurant!

Itinerary

As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:

#TypePost
1DiaryShort week-end in France
2LoungeAmerican Airlines Admirals Club, Boston Logan (unreported)
3FlightAmerican Airlines Domestic First, Boston Logan – New-York JFK, Embraer 175 (unreported)
4LoungeAmerican Airlines & British Airways Chelsea Lounge, New-York JFK T8 (unreported)
5FlightBritish Airways First Suite, New-York JFK – London Heathrow, Boeing 777-300ER
6LoungeBritish Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow T5
7FlightBritish Airways Club Europe, London Heathrow – Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Airbus A320
8HotelIntercontinental Paris Le Grand
9LoungeGrand Voyageur Lounge, Paris Est
10TrainTGV InOui First Class, Paris Est – Nancy
11RestaurantL’impromptu, Nancy
12TrainTGV InOui Second Class, Nancy – Paris Est
13TrainSNCF TER Nomad First Class, Paris Saint-Lazare – Caen
14HotelIvan Vautier, Caen
15FlightAir France Economy (operated by HOP), Caen Carpiquet – Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Embraer E170
16LoungeConfluence lounge, Lyon Saint-Exupéry
17FlightAir France Business, Lyon Saint-Exupéry – Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Airbus A321
18HotelHoliday Inn Express, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Roissypôle
19LoungeExtime Lounge, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle 2BD
20FlightBritish Airways Club Europe, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle – London Heathrow, Airbus A320
21LoungeBritish Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow
22FlightBritish Airways Club World Suite, London Heathrow – New-York JFK, Boeing 777-300ER
23LoungeAmerican Airlines & British Airways Chelsea Lounge, New-York JFK T8 (unreported)
24FlightAmerican Airlines Domestic First, New-York JFK – Boston Logan, Embraer 175 (not reported)
Today’s itinerary
Olivier Delestre-Levai
Olivier Delestre-Levai
Olivier has been into airline blogging since 2010. First a major contributor to the FlyerTalk forum, he created the FlyerPlan website in July 2012, and writes articles with a major echo among airline specialists. He now co-runs the TravelGuys blog with Bertrand, focusing on travel experience and loyalty programs.
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