Arum Hôtel, Orcines

A coaching inn on the volcano road

The Arum Hôtel is a Logis hotel in Orcines, on the old route de Limoges, the road that climbs from Clermont-Ferrand towards the Puy de Dôme and Vulcania. It occupies a former coaching inn, where horses were changed, with a characterful dining room and a vaulted room for breakfast. Behind there is a garden with a swing for the children. It is a simple hotel, at a simple hotel's price, well placed for getting around the whole chain without going into the city.

According to the tourist office it opens from 1 April to 1 November; the rest of the year, ask.

The rooms

There are 17 rooms, refurbished and soundproofed: doubles with a 140 cm bed, triples, family rooms for four with a 160 cm bed and two singles, and two duplexes for five people. All have a full bathroom, television, telephone, free wifi, safe and heating, and are non-smoking. For a supplement they set up an extra bed. The hotel is not adapted for people with reduced mobility.

The rate is for accommodation only. Breakfast is a buffet from 7:30 to 9:30 with pastries, bread, dairy, juice, homemade jams and local cheeses. According to the tourist office listing, the double costs €63 to €73, the triple €71 to €83, the quadruple €83 to €93 and the duplex €86 to €129.

Getting there and what is nearby

It is at 63 route de Limoges, in Orcines. It has private free parking and an enclosed garage for bikes. You arrive from 16:00 and leave the room before 11:00; reception is open from 7:30 to 11:30 and from 16:00 to 21:30. For dinner, the house works with a partner restaurant: ask when you book.

From the door you are a few minutes from the Panoramique des Dômes station, the Les Goules car park for the Puy de Pariou and L'Auberge de la Fontaine du Berger, on the same road.