Hotel Belle Epoque in Beaune

Context. As I sit here at 13:00 in my next hotel room, 3 hours away, at a 4 star hotel room, I got a complimentary 2 hours ahead of the 15:00 indicated check in, I ponder at this hotel’s rude welcome. Let me explain. I took up a room the day before at their other establishment across the city and wished to stay 2 nights if possible in Beaune, otherwise I would continue my trip to my next destination, Nuits-Saint-George. I was told by an older lady there was no room available in that hotel but they had another hotel not too far away. She insisted I make up my mind quickly as rooms would no longer be available. I asked, since we were to move around 11:00 the next day, if it would be possible to have the room in the next hotel a bit earlier, around 13:00, just so would not be stranded for 4 hours in between, especially given the horrid heat of +30. I was told they would do their best. Since they gave us the first day the room ahead of time I felt comfortable to go ahead and skip Nuits-Saint-George and accept the offer. I figured they would do their best to make sure they would clean our room first in line. WRONG. What happened is the following day I arrived at given 13:15 and went to park my car in the first spot close to the reception while my spouse went in to see if the room was ready. That’s when the owner came out with an attitude of why are you here before 15:00, and asked me if I spoke French or English in a condescending tone, and said I was parked in the wrong place. Again, at this point I only wanted to know where everything stood, but instead I got an angry little bossy man who directed me to move my car right away as he stood there waiting I move my car to the back parking and told me to come back after 15:00. I proceeded to ask if the room would be potentially available maybe an hour before and got an excuse that the room was still occupied? It begs to question, knowing I was coming from his other hotel, and had signified this the day before, why he did not tell the occupants to leave the room at given time or at the very least 12:00 and ask his maid to put a small priority on my room, as I was led to believe by the older lady. At least, that’s what I would have done as a good hotel manager who cared about his clients. But he preferred to lecture me that the time would be 15:00, told me I was impolite to arrive before 15:00, even though as I said the old lady told me they would try, and left leaving with me no choice but to come back and waste a few hours wondering in the heat. He also could have said the room is not ready, but can I offer you something to refresh yourself or anything that resembles hospitality. But no, he preferred to lecture me.
On this trip, from Paris to Tallinn and back through the Alps, 8,000km, I have visited 38 hotels and only 1 other did not offer the complimentary room ahead of time, free of charge, and to be clear I did not visit 2 of their hotels. So complimentary early check in is a regular offering, not an impolite action. If 37 hotels out of 38 offer it and you are the only one who does not, you’re the impolite. Let it be said.
For a person who has 32 years of hotel experience and being head of the tourism board, and can’t help to think what they teach in schools? I know in Germany, Poland, the Baltics and the Alps they have the right stuff. Why does it get so poorly applied in this region? Maybe if the region’s wine reputation wasn’t so high, they would actually have to make an effort to be hospitable? But no, rudeness seems to be the desired choice. Or maybe it’s just this insolent person. I’d like to think it is the case, along with his staff, probably and mostly all family. As they say, it runs in the family.

As for the accommodations, No safe box, No fridge, No water or kettle in room. No tea or coffee. No elevators. Hard as rock bed. Noisy as the room is right above where breakfast is served and cars come in and out. Nothing really but an old stuffy room, yet clean.
By now, it’s pretty clear, I won’t be coming back, unless I become a masochist.
Au revoir.