Hotel Charlé

You can hear everything through the walls and floor, including people getting up. The room and bathroom are both tiny and dated. And breakfast isn’t a buffet. A very unpleasant woman brings good-quality bread and croissants, plus coffee, to your table. Want another coffee? They charge extra.

The building itself is amazing, but the dining room was cold. There weren’t many guests, so there didn’t seem to be much staff around. On arrival I had to call to get reception, then wait for the boss to turn up so I could book dinner. I rang the bar bell three times over 15 minutes before anyone served me.

It was midday in August, and signs in several languages said the bar and hotel were open. But the place felt like the Marie Celeste, with nobody anywhere in the building. I pressed the bells and waited by the switched-on check-in computers. No one came. A complete waste of time.

I stayed for four days in October 2014. The room had all the amenities and was comfortable, though a little tired. The people were friendly, and some spoke English. Breakfast had a good variety, and the set menu was good quality and great value. Otherwise, I’d have given it five stars.