Spa and Pool Hotels in Metz, Lorraine

Maison Heler Metz is a four-star Curio Collection hotel, and I recommend it to families who want comfort and help on hand at any hour. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, with private bathrooms and free WiFi. The restaurant serves French cuisine for lunch, dinner and high tea, with a family menu of warm dishes, pancakes, cheese, fruit and juice. A terrace, a fitness room, a bar, room service and a 24-hour front desk complete it, and pets are accepted.

La Citadelle suits families who want comfort and space in central Metz: rooms and suites are large, with individual air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The esplanade park next door is a pleasant place for children to run around, and the Arsenal concert hall and the Governor's Palace are close by. The bistronomic restaurant and the bar make dinner easy without leaving the hotel, and pets are welcome.

Domitys La Calliope in Metz has family rooms with a private bathroom, a balcony and a fully equipped kitchen, so a family can cook its own meals or eat at the traditional French restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The indoor swimming pool is the main draw for children and works in any weather. The garden and sun terrace add outdoor space, and parents can use the fitness room. Each unit has a TV and WiFi is free. Pets are accepted.

Best Western Plus Metz Technopole is a contemporary four-star hotel on the edge of an 18-hole golf course, 3 km from the historic city centre, and I find it a pleasant, quieter choice for families with a car. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed. The hotel has an outdoor pool, a fitness room, a restaurant and a bar with a terrace by the pool. Pets are welcome. Plan transport for visits to the old town.

Appart'hôtel Odalys City - Metz Centre occupies a former tobacco factory, a short walk from Saint-Vincent Church, and I find the industrial setting a distinctive base for families. Self-catering units come with kitchenettes and free WiFi, so simple meals are easy. Spa facilities are available on site, and pets are welcome. It is well placed for exploring the city centre of Metz on foot.

A children's playground and an outdoor heated pool give the Novotel Metz Centre an edge for families staying in the historic centre of Metz. Rooms are spacious, air-conditioned and en suite, with a flat-screen TV and a small living area. On-site parking helps those arriving by car, the Novotel Café serves food through the day and room service covers tired evenings. Parents can use the fitness centre.

This ibis budget is a straightforward choice for a family arriving by car: free private parking, air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and a buffet breakfast to start the day. The 24-hour reception is handy for late arrivals after a long drive, and the terrace gives a little outdoor space. Pets are accepted. It sits near the Metz Technopole, outside the historic centre, so plan to drive or take the bus into town.

A 17th-century building with 18th-century furnishings sets this hotel apart in Metz, and its riverside spot on the Moselle lets families walk into the historic centre. Four terraces give children room to stretch outside the bedroom. Rooms have a private bathroom, satellite TV and free WiFi, and the continental breakfast can be served in the room, handy with younger children. The 7.1 score points to a simple, character-led stay rather than polish.