Boscolo Lyon Hotel &Spa

We stayed at the Boscolo Lyon, which is marketed as a 5-star hotel. While there were positives, the experience did not consistently meet that standard. Pluses: The common areas were clean and well maintained, and the holiday décor was tasteful. Street parking was easy to find directly next to the hotel, which is a real advantage in Lyon. The staff were genuinely friendly and welcoming. Having booked with Amex Platinum, we were welcomed with a bottle of champagne, which was a nice touch. The bed was comfortable, the food overall was good, and the sauna was properly hot. Where it falls short: There was a moldy smell in the shower and a sewer odor coming from the sink. Housekeeping appeared familiar with the issue and came in to spray something, but the smell returned. The bathroom design offers very little privacy, with glass doors separating the shower and toilet, and the toilet area was cold due to a large window. Soundproofing is poor, with street noise clearly audible throughout the night. Operational issues were also noticeable. The restaurant reception desk was often unattended, the in-room app did not work for ordering food, and the spa ran out of proper towels. Most concerning, there was no soap in the restaurant bathroom—only lotion. I raised this with staff, but it was still not resolved the following evening. The minibar was described as complimentary, but contained only water and a few small candy bars, which felt misleading for a hotel at this level. Breakfast was fine, though the coffee was surprisingly poor for an Italian-branded property. Overall, the staff were kind and professional, but recurring odor issues, design flaws, and basic operational oversights prevent this hotel from delivering a true 5-star experience.