Four of us are going to France for a bike tour later this year and we are at the hotel booking stage of preparation. Hotels haven't responded to our emails so far asking if each of us can store our bicycle in our room.
Should we expect this to be an issue when we arrive?
Incidentally, I have also found that making my bookings over the phone has almost always resulted in a cheaper price than I would have got using a booking service as well.
Why don't you simply telephone each hotel you are considering? Life is very much simpler when you actually discuss a question you have rather than an email exchange which might takes days to solve. On every tour I have done in the last twenty years, in France or elsewhere, I have called each hotel and got the answer to any questions I might have epecially regarding a safe place to keep my bike safe overnight.
Incidently, I have also found that making my bookings orver the phone has almost always resulted in a cheaper price than I would have got using a booking service as well.
Chain hotels like Kyriad, Campanile and Ibis usually allow you to take the bikes into your room.
Independents usually have a safe space (garage, locked yard, etc).
Some hotels will let you store in a room, others will have a separate room, a garage, an outhouse or suchlike to store in.
I've never found it to be a problem. It's a case of ask when you get there. There's always a solution and most hotels are usually very helpful.
France is a bike-friendly country. Personally, I'd be happy with storing the bike wherever the hotel suggests.
Some hotels will let you store in a room, others will have a separate room, a garage, an outhouse or suchlike to store in.
I've never found it to be a problem. It's a case of ask when you get there. There's always a solution and most hotels are usually very helpful.
None of us speak French.
My experience to be honest isn't very extensive - just a few hotels on a short tour (in Normandy) about 10 years ago.
But anyway, in the hotels we stayed in they always gave us a store room somewhere or a garage for the bikes. We never took them into our rooms. That's not to say bikes in rooms weren't allowed, because on arrival we just asked for somewhere secure to store the bikes and they provided somewhere.
The hotel I was in on holiday last week (in Savoie) allowed me to store my hired bike in a bike-specific garage in the hotel parking. You had to get a remote-control key from reception to open the doors.
I would say it will be an issue except at the chains listed above, especially if you don't speak French. Imho, "Non" is the French people's favourite word and they use it frequently and with enthusiasm.