LES SYLPHES

We stayed at the Pavillon de Lys for a three-day trip to the Chateaux country and I never saw a place I'd have rather stayed. First of all, Amboise is charming and walkable so you can see the town's sites and go out to eat without a car, avoiding the sprawling outskirts that mar Tours, Orleans and even Blois. The hotel is beautiful and perfectly located property, just minutes walking to the two main castles and to the riverfront. The decor might be a wee prissy for some, but it's an attractive place. Our room was large and super comfortable with a view of the castle. We didn't hear a beep of noise all night. The downstairs has cosy couches and a roaring fireplace in winter. The parking is onsite (you do need to navigate some narrow streets but it's perfectly manageable). Beware that this a charming old hotel. It has no elevator. There are no fridges or coffee machines in the room. The floors creak a bit. That's part of the charm. As for the breakfast, it's decent but not extraordinary by French standards (fruit, jogurt, croissant, baguette, jam, hard boiled eggs). If you are planning to eat a big linch, then I'd save the money and go to a cafe. But we found that it enough to keep us going pretty much to dinner with a small snack in the afternoon.

We absolutely loved our stay here. It's a small and charming hotel in the heart of Amboise. We stayed on the top floor of the main building and had a wonderful view from our bathroom! Each morning we watched hot air balloons go by :) The room was very comfortable, the staff were kind and helpful, and the location was fantastic. Keep in mind that it's a small building and there is no elevator. A few notes that may be helpful to others: 1) The parking area is through a gravel area. If you have luggage on wheels, I highly recommend you stop near the front door and unload your luggage before parking your car because it's impossible to really drag luggage on wheels through the gravel (you'd need to carry them). 2) Rent a small car! The entrance/exit is on the corner of two one-way streets and is quite narrow to enter and exit through and also to make a sharp turn in either direction when exiting. Having a smaller car will be easier to navigate. 3) They lock the main gate at night for security and there is a small door you can exit and enter through by foot but we couldn't figure out how to exit through there (we had the code to enter from the outside but couldn't figure out how to open it from the inside to leave). They ended up opening the main gate for the cars and we walked through that in the early morning but if you need to leave very early (for example for a hot air balloon tour) before the main gate is typically unlocked you'd need to check with the staff to make sure you're able to exit early enough with your vehicle.

This quaint, old style fashioned hotel is extremely well located, close to the main attractions of Amboise and near several restaurants, cafés, patisseries, boulangeries, etc. It offers large rooms (in its Superior accommodation level) and even a view of the famous Amboise castle.|The breakfast is a bit weak and it is self-serve.|The hotel is in a very quiet area, although the floor makes noise due to the age of the building.|Warning: no elevator, so be able to carry your luggage.

There are certainly positives to this hotel. The room was large, the bed was comfortable, the front desk welcome was fine. The location is great- short walks to a wide variety of restaurants, and the two main attractions in town (Chateau Royal d'Amboise and Le Château du Clos Lucé). And the parking is a real plus. But one gets the impression that their 4 star rating is based solely on certain checklist criteria.||One of our reasons for choosing this hotel is laundry service. After inquiring, I was told "I'm sorry, but the laundry contractor closed down, so we cannot offer this service." I suspect it was due to it being low season, but why doesn't a 4 star hotel find an alternative other than a self-service laundry facility 4 blocks away?||We received a call every day during our 4 night stay to inquire about breakfast. We tried it on the first day, and found it wanting. Two cheeses, two types of cold meat, a small assortment of pastries and breads, cold cereal, some juice and jams- no hot dishes. The coffee did not taste good. So we subsequently walked a block for an equivalent, but better tasting breakfast.||There was a second bed in our room, but on it was a sign warning us not to put our luggage on it, or else be faced with a 25 euro charge. There was a sign prohibiting "picnics" in the room. This is not normal for a 2 star hotel, much less a 4 star hotel. ||In our room were six very tall drapes which were difficult to close- there were no draw cords and the drape rings did not slide easily over the rods. Because our room had a little table outside, people would stroll by, so it was a daily chore to close them. The room attendant opened them every day. Difficult to close drapes is also not indicative of a 4 star hotel.||As for water pressure, it was fine the first two days (although there was a slow leak in the toilet), but the last two days it was weak. Still enough to shower, but the inconsistency was concerning. ||Also, every day our toiletries would be moved f

What a charming stay. Our room was lovely, quaint, and impeccably clean. The bed was cozy, bathroom was modern, and the flower-lined courtyard was the perfect place to sip wine after a full day of chateaux touring. The staff was welcoming and our room was cleaned and refreshed every day. The location was a 2 minute walk to the heart of the town, close to open air restaurants, the riverwalk, and the Chateau Amboise. The perfect stay in Amboise. Merci beaucoup!

This is a wonderful place located in the heart of Amboise. We had a terrace and view of the Amboise chateau. The room was a suite as we were traveling with our grandson and very accommodating with a nice conveniences. The service was excellent as was the breakfast. They have parking onsite (a life saver). We walked to the center with many restaurants and shops. This was literally around the corner. We came back for lunch after check out and they let us park at no charge. I would book there again if we are lucky enough to return.

When I saw the exterior photo, I thought the hotel would be in the country, but its location is perfect for exploring this beautiful town, with lots of stores and restaurants nearby. The staff are warm, attentive and accommodating…we must mention Olivier, who treated us as if we were friends or family come to visit this exquisitely decorated house. The room was gigantic, with huge bathroom (both shower and claw foot tub), and a separate dressing room with cozy sofa for reading. Two issues: we didn’t know there was a room safe until we discovered it several days into our stay, although you feel that you don’t need it here. The other thing is that I need a flat pillow ( I should travel with my own). I didn’t ask for one….

Wonderful stay, gorgeous room, everything you’d want in a classic French hotel, great parking , wonderful breakfast and so close to chateau and de Vinci house, restaurants and bars