The Grand Century — Hotel in La Roche-sur-Yon

This was our 2nd trip to Puy du Fou, our favorite theme park in the world, and first time staying at Le Grand Siecle. |Pros: |1. Stunning setting and buildings, especially since it was cold and foggy outside and there were hardly any people around.|2. Room: clean, very basic. Nice shower with good water pressure and temperature. TV hidden behind the glass had a lot of channels and was easy to watch. |3. Restaurant buffet was absolutely top-notch and the dishes were delicious. Staff and servers were very friendly and kind (not to mention, young). The bar was also very nice to have a drink in before dinner, and the bartender was also very nice.|4. Service: Front desk receptionists were very nice and helpful. Room staff surprised us by turning on the room heater and placing chocolates on the pillows to welcome us back to the room after we walked for 25 minutes in the cold rain. |Cons:|1. As others have said, the location of this hotel is quite far from the park. It was an easy 15 minute walk to our room from the back gate without stopping, but at a very brisk pace. I imagine that my parents (in their 70s) would be tired by the time they got to the park, and it would easily take them 30 minutes. There is a shuttle that passes by, but at the end of October, it passed by a little too infrequently to want to wait for it in the cold and drizzle. The hotel is too far away to return to the room during the day. If proximity to the park is an issue, best to choose La Villa Gallo-Romaine or Le Logis de Lescure, which are right next to the back entrance.|2. Room: So basic, that there is no Kleenex, water, small fridge, coffee maker, tea, or any kind of drink. Fortunately, we brought everything, but there is no way to keep drinks cold without a fridge. Towels were thin and hard (bring your own), and toiletry products very basic, which was not an issue for us because we always bring our own. The toilet in the room is quite low, for those with mobility issues. The WC in the reception area is normal. We appreciated the theming but would have preferred a normal toilet in the room. |3. Because the TV is behind glass, it is not so easy to change the channel. Also, there are no international channels at all, only French channels, so don't expect any English-language channels.|4. For some reason, you can't get all of your timed breakfast buffet tickets at check-in, only one day at a time. The second day, we had to go to reception again to get the ticket for the third day. This was not a problem at the end of October when there weren't many guests around and there were no lines for anything, but I imagine it could be a problem when it's crowded during the summer.|**All in all, we found the grounds of Le Grand Siecle to be absolutely magnificent and the restaurant La Table des Ambassadeurs to be excellent, so much better than La Mijoterie du Roy Henry in the park (an experience not to be repeated after the first time). Although we appreciated what they were trying to do with this hotel with the theming, there are numerous aspects of the room that could be improved upon. However, every aspect of the service at this hotel was exceptional and literally everyone we encountered was gracious and friendly, even to an Asian-American guy who speaks French with an...

The hotel is located just outside the main park boundaries, with convenient car access and ample parking. The theming is impressively well executed, and the staff members are consistently polite and welcoming.

However, despite its appealing design, this hotel does not meet the standards typically expected of a four-star establishment, especially at a price point of around €300 per night.

The primary disappointment lies in the rooms themselves. For the advertised category and rate, they are lacking in several basic amenities one would expect from a hotel of this standing:

The bed is extremely firm and uncomfortable No facial tissues provided No extra pillows Only one small towel per person (two total) No washcloths No bath mat or towel for the bathroom floor No mini-fridge No alarm clock No iron or ironing board The toilet paper is of very poor quality Check-in is quite late (after 4:30 PM), and check-out is rather early (before 11:00 AM) Impossible to bring the AC under 22C

While the immersive theming and courteous staff create a unique atmosphere, the lack of comfort and amenities makes it difficult to justify the cost. Guests expecting traditional four-star hotel service and features may find themselves...

We had a one night package with two days in the Puy du Fou theme park. we arrived around 9.00 am, parked and went to reception. Got all meal vouchers etc. but had to return after 4.00 pm for room key. Brilliant day in the park, returned around 6. 00 pm. Room was a big surprise - quite large with a lovely shower room and separate loo. Air conditioned. Bed was incredible - very 'chateau' style. Large flat screen TV. Had a drink in the bar and then dinner in the restaurant. Everything was themed, even the staff dressed in Louis XIV-era costumes. Room was on the ground floor and incredibly quiet. The only minor moan is that it's quite a long walk to the park, although there is a shuttle. Overall very impressed. The attention to detail...