I am grateful to the Tripadvisor reviewer who recommended this hotel to me via one of the forums. We normally drive from London to Nice in one hit - but this year fancied an overnight stay on the way home. Macon is around halfway and La Huchette was a cracking choice of hotel.

It's a bit shabby chic but the owners were delightful (and clearly hard-working and attentive). The hotel is a little 1970's in parts but spotless and well looked after with lovely lounge areas and a pool.

Dinner was lovely (without being spectacular) and we had a really pleasant stay (the room has air conditioning and the bed was large and comfy.

The only alternative to this would be a quick stop-over in an Ibis or similar - but the price is about the same (I guess at an Ibis you'd possibly eat more cheaply.

Anyway - whenever we stop-over on the way down south or on the way back home - this'll get my vote every time. Nice place - nice people.

The English-speaking staff at La Huchette were very helpful including ironing my shirt. It is nicely located off the main motorway due south. Our superior room was spacious. the building is located on the main road, which despite the hedge, you can can still hear some of the traffic. Not really an issue in the dead of the night though.

As we pulled up to La Huchette in our car the hotel looked beautiful and very much the 4 star that it is rated. Unfortunately this is where my compliments for this hotel come to a halt. The hotel is run by a family and this means that the reception desk was hardly ever manned and you had to wonder around the place looking for the management if you needed anything as no one was ever around. I ended up having to ask their daughter most of my questions (she was around 10 years old). The rooms were very dated and drab (circa 1970s flower wallpaper and carpet) and the bathroom was no better. Our rooms did not have any of the usual books and info you would get at a 4 star hotel.
The hotel advertises the fact that it has an outdoor swimming pool. It would have been nice if there was actually any water in it and it was functioning!! It was pretty hot when we visited and I was disappointed that there was no pool! The owners didnt seem too bothered by it.
We didn't eat at the hotel restaurant as it was pretty pricey, so we ended up going into town which is a 5 min drive and full of restaurants along the river.
I'm amazed at how this hotel has been awarded 4 stars. I have stayed at many hotels and this one definitely is rated a 3 star in my books. I do not believe the price the hotel charges for the rooms is reflective of what you actually get.

First the positive points:

The family running the hotel was very friendly and the food in the restaurant was excellent. The menu was also good value for money and the wine list was short but good.

If you're here in the winter or summer when the windows are closed, it's probably fine, but we were then in Spring with beautiful weather and for me the biggest problem is that I didn't sleep a wink because of the noise from the nearby national road (and I'm used to living in a city). There's a small row of trees separating the hotel grounds from the national road but it sounds like the motorcycles and trucks that drive by through the night are just outside.

The hotel is clean and well maintained, but a bit outdated. The design is old fashioned and you might be disappointed comparing it to other four star hotels. Wifi, duvets, arnd shower curtains, are a few of the modern amenities you won't find here.

The pool was drained when we were there, but is probably quite nice in the summer.
If you're here in the summer (or winter) this could be an ok choice but just be aware of what the pros and cons are.