Odalys City Apartment Hotel Colmar Centre

I don't have anything bad to say about this hotel but at the same time, nothing was particularly outstanding or memorable. It's a pretty standard hotel. It's rated a 4-star hotel by the French tourism board but it felt more like a 3-star hotel (but who am I to disagree with the ranking system). Check-in was fast and the employee at the front desk was friendly. When I checked out, there was nobody at the front desk. I waited around for a few minutes but nobody came back to the desk and there were no employees to be found. So, I just left my key on the computer at the desk. One highlight of this hotel is its proximity to the city center; it's only about a 7-minute walk. Dogs are allowed here for an additional fee.

The hotel is just a short walk from the old town. Parking is available nearby, or you can reserve a space through the hotel. Our room was lovely, featuring a balcony, a large bathroom, and a kitchenette. While the breakfast was good, it was often difficult to get the staff to refill the plates and cups or to clean the tables. Additionally, the Wi-Fi in the room was very unstable. It would also be nice if the cleaning staff were friendlier. However, we can still recommend the hotel!

While the overall quality of the hotel was good, I believe the behaviour of one particular receptionist significantly affected both the guest experience and the hotel’s reputation. I would strongly encourage hotel management to take this matter seriously in order to avoid similar negative impressions in the future. - We stayed for two nights. On the first night, I discovered that the wall-mounted hairdryer in our room was broken and could not be used. I went to the front desk and politely asked in English whether a handheld replacement might be available. - At reception, there were two women present. The older of the two (approximately in her fifties, with short hair) responded in an abrupt and unnecessarily rude tone, saying, “I do not understand what you are saying!” - The question I asked—whether a replacement hairdryer was available—is a basic and straightforward request that anyone working in a hotel should be able to understand. If she truly could not comprehend such a simple question, that in itself raises concerns about her suitability for a guest-facing role. However, it appeared that her reaction may have been influenced by assumptions based on my appearance—perhaps she did not believe I was a native English speaker or from an English-speaking country. This was especially disappointing, given the number of international guests staying at the hotel that day. - Regardless of the reason, such outdated and unprofessional behaviour is unacceptable, especially from someone in a front-of-house hospitality role. - When I calmly repeated the same question, the receptionist suddenly seemed to understand and snapped back in a harsh tone, “We do not have such a thing!” She then asked which room I was referring to, prompting me to point towards the corner room visible from the front desk and say, “That corner room,” as it was the only room that could be seen from that position. Nevertheless, the receptionist responded in an unnecessarily aggressive manner, saying, “There are many rooms over there!”—a reaction that felt both disproportionate and needlessly hostile. Only then did I clarify, “Yes, Room 11,” to be precise. However, since our room was clearly identifiable from the front desk and no other room matched the description, her dismissive and confrontational attitude seemed entirely uncalled for. - Later, two receptionists—the younger one and the older woman I had spoken with earlier—came to our room. They confirmed that the wall-mounted hairdryer was indeed broken and said it would be repaired the following day. However, neither of them offered a proper apology for the inconvenience. The younger woman did quietly say “sorry,” but it was barely audible and felt more like an afterthought than a sincere expression of regret. - I fully understand that working at a hotel front desk can be demanding and that staff must deal with many kinds of guest requests. However, it is troubling when a staff member reacts to a minor issue with hostility or unwillingness to help. - The younger receptionist appeared genuinely uncomfortable and embarrassed by the situation, which made me feel sympathetic towards her. It did not seem appropriate for the older receptionist to be acting in a supervisory or mentoring role, given her tone and attitude. - This situation could have been resolved easily with a basic level of courtesy and professionalism. Had it been handled differently, our impression of the hotel would have been entirely more positive.