Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Appart Hotel Eugénie Louhans, France!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into the swirling pool of luxury that is Appart Hotel Eugénie Louhans, France! Seriously, I just spent a week there, and my brain is still buzzing from the sheer… stuff. Let's break this bad boy down, shall we? And yes, I am going to rant a bit. It's just the way I roll.
Accessibility: (A Mixed Bag, But Promising!)
Okay, so accessibility is SUPER important. I gotta be honest, it seemed pretty good. Elevator? Check. (Praise the heavens!) They've got facilities for disabled guests, which is HUGE. But… and this is where the maybe creeps in… I didn't see any specific details on the website beyond that. Like, are the rooms truly wheelchair-friendly? Are the bathrooms kitted out properly? That's something you'd need to follow up on before booking if that's a deal breaker. They SAY they are accessible, but verify, verify, verify! Don't just take my word for it.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges This one I would like it more specific information from the hotel itself.
Wheelchair accessible See above. Ask questions!
Internet Access: (Bless Those Wi-Fi Gods!)
Alright, let's talk about the holy grail of modern existence: Internet. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Cue angels singing.) It worked. It was fast. I could stream Netflix in bed while eating my weight in croissants. That, my friends, is what I call living. They also have Internet [LAN] if you're a dinosaur (kidding!), and Internet service (duh!). Wi-Fi in public areas too, so you can Instagram your perfectly-plated French onion soup like the rest of us.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: (Spa Day Nirvana!)
Okay, this is where Eugénie Louhans REALLY shines. Seriously, I'm still dreaming about the Spa.
- Body scrub: Yes, please!
- Body wrap: Double yes!
- Fitness Center: I meant to use it, but the spa… well, priorities, people!
- Foot bath: Ahhh, bliss.
- Gym/fitness: See Fitness Center
- Massage: Oh. My. God. I had the most incredible massage. I genuinely think my tension evaporated. If I had one criticism it would probably be the fact that it was too good. I am now forever ruined.
- Pool with view: Yes! It was divine, overlooking the gardens. Sipping a cocktail, watching the sun go down… chef's kiss.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: They have ALL of it. I spent so much time in that sauna, I think I’ve officially become part-lizard.
The whole experience was just… decadent. It felt like a movie. I was ready to come out of my room from a spa day in nothing but a silk robe and slippers, looking effortlessly fantastic, that I imagined myself during the spa day.
Cleanliness and Safety: (They Take This Seriously, Thank Goodness!)
This is HUGE these days. And Eugénie Louhans is on it. Big time.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Tick.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Tick.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. Literally everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Excellent.
- Hygiene certification: Apparently, they have it.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yay for safety!
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They're trying. It's France ;).
- Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization between stays, and room sanitization opt-out available These are major pluses.
- Safe dining setup and sanitized kitchen and tableware items: This is also great.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Good. Super important.
- Sterilizing equipment: Got it.
It felt safe. I think they genuinely care about your health. It was a relief.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (Food, Glorious Food!)
Okay, let's talk about the most important thing in my life: FOOD.
- A la carte in restaurant and buffet in restaurant. Yes, please.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, and international cuisine in restaurant: (Surprising, but welcome!)
- Bar, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Snack bar: They've got you covered.
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service: The breakfast was heavenly, although the croissant quality does tend to vary (classic France). But the amount of options was insane. The selection of cheese alone… I nearly wept. The bacon perfectly crisp and the coffee was strong(I drink a lot of coffee.)
- Happy hour: Always a good thing.
- Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: For you, the salad eater.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Good for the herbivores!
- Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: More options, the better.
I was not a fan of the desserts in the restaurant, nothing special. Services and Conveniences: (They Think of Everything… Almost.)
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential during the summer
- Air conditioning: Essential everywhere, in my opinion.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Concierge: Standard luxury.
- Cash withdrawal, Contactless check-in/out: Great for ease.
- Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping: The usual suspects.
- Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop: All good things!
- Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display: If you're there for business, they've got you covered.
- Safety deposit boxes, Seminars: For the more serious guests.
- Shrine: Interesting.
- Smoking area: Sigh…
- Terrace: Always lovely.
- Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: All the work stuff.
They REALLY try. Like, seriously. But…
- Cashless payment service: This is new and great.
- Essential condiments: What is this? I'm so confused!
- Essential condiments: I still do not get it.
- Pets allowed unavailable: No pets? Aww, man!
For the Kids: (A Kid-Friendly Paradise?)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Seems good to go for families!
Access: (The Nitty-Gritty)
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: Safety, safety, safety.
- Couple's room, Exterior corridor: Romantic options!
- Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour]: Reassuring.
- Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: All the essentials.
Getting Around: (Practicalities)
- Airport transfer: Yes!
- Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Plenty of options for getting around.
Available in all rooms: (The Details!)
- Additional toilet, Alarm clock, Bathtubs, Bathroom phone, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: The bedrooms were incredible, and well-appointed. The beds were truly enormous and comfortable. The coffee maker was a lifesaver. The view from my window… sigh.
ARE YOU READY TO BOOK???
Okay, so here's the deal. **Appart Hotel Eugénie Lou
Jeju Island's Hidden Gem: Uncover the Magic of Jejue Meomulda!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this itinerary is less "smooth sailing" and more "slightly-off-kilter dinghy tackling a rogue wave." We're talking Appart Hotel Eugenie Louhans, France, and let's be honest, planning this was basically me saying, "Ooh, France! Let's see what happens!" So, here we go…
PRE-TRIP CHAOS (aka "My Brain is a Cluttered Dresser Drawer")
- Logistics? What Logistics? Okay, fine. I vaguely recall booking the Appart Hotel Eugenie. Apparently, it's in Louhans. Had to Google "Louhans. Is that, y'know… in France?" Answer: Yes. Good.
- Packing Fiasco: My suitcase is a black hole of mismatched socks, three pairs of potentially-too-tight jeans (optimism is key!), and a book about medieval tapestries (because, you know, chic). I'm pretty sure I forgot something vital, like a toothbrush. Or actual shoes. Fingers crossed.
- Language Anxiety: My French extends to "Bonjour" and "Croissant." I'm anticipating a lot of flailing arms and bewildered facial expressions. Pray for me.
- Anecdote Fragment: My (French) grandmother, bless her heart, always said "Parlez vous francais?" with the most withering look. I have a feeling she'd be mortified at my current level.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND INITIAL PANIC (aka "France, You Are Beautiful, I’m Terrified")
- Morning: Fly into who-knows-where. Dijon, maybe? The flight was a blur of airplane movies and a crying baby who, honestly, was feeling exactly how I felt.
- Afternoon: Arrive at Appart Hotel Eugenie. It looks… charming! Like, picture-postcard charming. The lobby is small, but the person behind the desk has incredibly kind eyes - thank god. I fumble through some very broken French to check in. Success! Mostly. I think.
- Hotel Room Revelation: The room is… cozy. Think “charming postage stamp.” But the balcony! Oh my god, the balcony! Tiny table, two chairs, and a view of… something French! I feel a surge of pure, unadulterated joy. For like, five glorious minutes.
- Evening: The Search for Sustenance (and Maybe a Crisis) Oh, the town is adorable. Tiny shops, cobblestone streets, the whole shebang. Finding dinner, however, is another story. The menu is completely in French. I point at a picture of something promising. It arrives. It's… delicious. I literally moaned. Like, out loud. To my surprise, my next-door neighbor in the restaurant does the same. We both laugh. I'M MAKING FRIENDS! Then, I spilled red wine on my white blouse. The horror! I felt the blood drain from my face! My newfound friend looked at me, smiled sweetly, then just handed me a napkin. "C'est la vie," she shrugged. I'm going to be fine. More laughs. More wine. A great night.
- Quirky Observation: Every single dog I passed today seemed to have a better handle on the language than I do. They're probably judging me. Rightly so.
DAY 2: EXPLORATION AND (ACCIDENTAL) ART APPRECIATION (aka "Where's My Phrasebook?!")
- Morning: Breakfast! Crushed it. The croissants were perfection: flaky, buttery, the stuff of dreams. Then a walk around Louhans. I stumbled upon a market! So many things! Cheeses I didn’t recognize, breads I could only dream of, and a farmer selling something I think was a very, very large cabbage. It was overwhelmingly charming. I bought a baguette just because.
- Afternoon: I "accidentally" wandered into a small art gallery. (Pretty sure the "accident" was me getting lost, again.) Gorgeous pieces, really. But the gallery owner kept talking… in French. I nodded and smiled a lot. I felt like a kid in a zoo - all wide eyes and silent wonder. I think I understood maybe 5% of what she said, but she didn't seem to mind. It was… magical, actually. It made me think about just how beauty could be.
- Evening: The (Attempted) French Cooking Class: Okay. This was ambitious. I found a cooking class. I thought "Hey, French cooking! I got this!" (Note: I don't got this). It was hilarious chaos. I swear, I spent more time trying to translate the chef's instructions than actually cooking. I burnt the onions. The other students were sweet, though, and helped me rescue the disaster. We ate like kings and I realized I was having the time of my life.
- Emotional Reaction: The feeling of being completely out of my comfort zone, yet somehow succeeding… it was exhilarating! And the food! My god, the food!
- Messier Structure: I also think I may have slightly offended the local baker by butchering the word "pain" (bread). Oops.
DAY 3: THE GREAT OUTDOORS (AND THE GREAT LOST-NESS) (aka "I'm Officially a Tourist")
- Morning: Decided to hike! Headed out of Louhans, following a map that may or may not have been upside down at some point. The scenery was stunning. Rolling hills, vineyards, little villages that looked straight out of a fairytale. I felt like I could actually breathe out here.
- Afternoon: I got lost in the woods. Okay. Not entirely lost. More… disoriented. Panic set in. My phone died. I started to realize if I don't get out of those woods, the sun will setting and I was never going to get to my hotel. Then a little old lady on a bicycle appeared, gave me a look that clearly said, "You poor thing," and pointed me in the right direction.
- Evening: Dinner and Reflection: Successfully returned to the hotel. After a shower, I decided to treat myself to dinner somewhere nice. I ordered something… I'm not sure what it was, but it was fantastic. This trip, despite the hiccups, the language barriers, and the near-starvations, has been wonderful. I think I'm finally relaxing.
- Rambles: You know, sometimes I wonder if maybe I'm not meant to be a super-organized traveler. So much more fun when you just go with the flow, say yes to everything, embrace the utter chaos of the trip. Maybe, just maybe, that's where the real adventures are.
DAY 4: FAREWELL (AND A PROMISE TO RETURN) (aka "Au Revoir, France! Until Next Time, You Magnificent Beast!")
- Morning: A final croissant (because obviously), a final wander through Louhans, another attempt to communicate with the incredibly patient shopkeepers, and a deep breath.
- Afternoon: Packing Okay, this time, I’m really trying to pack properly. I still forgot my shoes… but hey, whatever.
- Departure: I'm leaving France, and the memories of the trip will come with me. I have loved France, even with all its imperfections. It's beautiful, delicious, and slightly terrifying in the best possible way. And frankly, I can't wait to come back.
- Emotional Reaction: A bittersweet mix of relief (the trip is over!) and a pang of sadness (I have to leave France!). I already miss those croissants.
Post-Trip Note: I'm pretty sure I gained five pounds. Worth it. 10/10 would get lost and confuse "pain" again.
Phuket Paradise Found: Dang Sea Beach Resort Awaits!
Appart Hotel Eugénie Louhans: What You REALLY Need to Know (Because the Brochure is Lying... Probably)
So, this "Unbelievable Luxury" thing... Is it actually believable?
Okay, let's be honest. The brochure? It's got that perfectly-lit, airbrushed vibe that screams "Photoshop." And while Eugénie Louhans *does* have charm, it doesn't exactly scream "billionaire's playground." So, the "luxury" is... nuanced. Think comfortable, well-appointed, and definitely a step up from a dodgy hostel. But diamonds and caviar? Nah. More like a really, really nice cheese plate and a perfectly chilled bottle of Bourgogne. Which, honestly, is sometimes even better, right? I mean, I was expecting a tiny, *teeny* balcony to be honest, I saw only ONE picture and went "Oh, that's the one, that's the one with the cute little balcony...". Well, let's just say my first impressions were... well, *not* entirely accurate. But I did come to realize that a big room and a sofa will make for a good place to sleep so I took it, and I'm not regretting it.
What are the rooms REALLY like? Like, *seriously* real-world honest?
Okay, rooms. They're good. Really good. I mean, they're clean. *Seriously* clean. And that, in my book, is a HUGE win. Shower pressure? Surprisingly decent. Enough hot water for a loooong soak after a day trekking through the local market (which, by the way, is amazing, but more on that later). The decor? It's not going to set your soul on fire, but it’s tasteful, modern, and practical. Think neutral tones, nice bedding, and enough space to actually *move around*. Which, after some of the shoebox hotel rooms I've endured, is a luxury in itself. One thing though... the lighting. It's a bit, shall we say, *dim*? Like, ideal for a romantic evening, maybe not so ideal for trying to apply your makeup without looking like a clown. But hey, a minor quibble!
That breakfast... Is it worth waking up for? Are the croissants *really* buttery?
*Oh, the croissant thing.* Okay, so let me preface this by saying I am *very* serious about croissants. They are a fundamental part of the human experience, especially when you're in France. And yes. YES! The croissants at Eugénie Louhans? They're buttery. They're flaky. They're the kind of croissant that makes you forget all your worries, at least until you've devoured the whole thing in approximately 2.5 seconds. The rest of the breakfast is pretty standard – good coffee, some fresh fruit, maybe a bit of local cheese. But honestly, it's all about the croissant. I may or may not have had three. Don't judge me! (Okay, judge me, I don't care)
What about location? Is Louhans actually worth visiting?
Louhans. It's *charming*. Proper, old-fashioned French charming. Think cobblestone streets, a beautiful market (seriously, the market!), and a general air of "life happening at a slower pace." The hotel is smack-dab in the center, so you're basically steps away from everything. And everything includes some AMAZING restaurants. (I'm talking, like, Michelin-guide-worthy amazing. My wallet didn't appreciate it *quite* as much.) It's a good base for exploring Burgundy, too. I ended up going to a vineyard I *never* would have known existed if I'd just stayed in Paris. The locals? Friendly and laid-back. However, be prepared that almost nobody speaks English. Which is okay, because, you know, Google Translate. Also, make sure to check the market times because I almost missed this amazing thing.
Is there a gym/pool/spa? Because sometimes, you just need to sweat/float/get pampered, am I right?
Nope. No gym. No pool. No spa. This is not that kind of place. This is a place where you walk around, you eat good food, and you relax in a comfortable room. If you're a gym rat, you'll have to channel your inner Rocky Balboa and go for a run around the town (the scenery is lovely, though!). If you need a pool, you're out of luck; I'm very sure I saw none. As for the spa, well, maybe bring your own face mask. Or, better yet, embrace the slower pace of life and just… chill. The biggest luxury here is the lack of pressure to do *anything*. And honestly, sometimes that's all you really need.
Okay, so the market... You mentioned the market. What's the deal with the market?!
Oh. The market. Okay, buckle up. The market is *the thing*. It's the heart and soul of Louhans. I'm talking about the *biggest* market in France. Not just some little farmers market, it's HUGE, it spills out onto the entire city, it just gets bigger and bigger. The colors, the smells, the chatter... it's sensory overload in the best possible way. Fresh produce overflowing, artisanal cheeses that will make you weep with joy, charcuterie that'll give you a meat coma of happiness (seriously, the saucisson sec...). Go hungry. Go early. Go prepared to spend all your money. Because seriously, you *will*. Try the local Bresse chicken; it's legendary. And don't be afraid to try everything! Even if you don't speak French, just point, smile, and say "bonjour" (and maybe "merci" later). You'll have an amazing time. It's a complete assault on your senses, and I loved every single minute of it. Seriously, I'm dreaming of the market right now.
Any major downsides? Anything that REALLY annoyed you?
Okay, so the dim lighting, I mentioned that. But that's just a minor inconvenience. The real thing? Parking. Finding parking can be a nightmare, especially during market day. The hotel *does* have some parking, but it's limited, and it's first-come, first-served. I ended up circling the block about five times before finally finding a spot a little further away. So, be prepared to walk a bit, or, even better, leave your car parked and explore on foot. I also experienced that the elevators were a bit slow, like, *really* slow. But hey, you're on vacation, the world should accommodate for the fact that you want a little bit of time to relax, no? Otherwise, seriously, no major complaints. Which says a lot!
Would you go back? Be honest!
Smart Traveller Inns
Appart Hotel Eugenie Louhans France
Appart Hotel Eugenie Louhans France
