Hôtel Le Chapeau Rouge

In apartment number 9, a door leading directly into room number 8 wouldn’t close, which felt like a serious security problem. The rooms were only mediocre in cleanliness, and I expected more for what I paid. They were freezing cold, with no way to adjust the temperature, and I woke up feeling as though I’d slept in a freezer. There was also a horrible smell as soon as I walked in. The whole experience was disgusting, and I’ll never return, not even under threat.

The room itself was clean and comfortable, and the hotel has a small car park. It’s an easy walk into the town centre. I’ve stayed in worse, but also in better places for the same money. The toilet and shower room was tiny, so tiny I banged my shins on the shower tray when sitting on the loo. Breakfast cost 7 Euros and was a joke: three hard rolls with just enough butter and jam, plain or fruit yoghurt, orange juice, a warmed supermarket pain au chocolat and coffee. The owner served me with a really dismissive attitude. It seemed like his parents must have made him run the business they’d just bought. I asked for milk with my coffee and didn’t get any. He looked like he’d make a big scene if I reminded him, so I drank it black. Le chef also made a big song and dance about collecting the 1 Euro local city tax in cash. I had none, so offered to pay by card, but was told no, cash only. I went into town to find an ATM, but on checkout morning le chef had already left for the day. The cleaning lady and I managed a whole mime performance about how I could pay my tax du sejours, with no happy ending. I wasn’t leaving a 10 Euro note for a 1 Euro charge, so Alençon missed out on my contribution to its upkeep.

The whole hotel smelled awful, like a mix of cat urine and a musty old people’s home. My room also had a door that wouldn’t lock, connecting it to the next room. I could hear the people talking in bed through the thin walls, and it was hard to sleep knowing my room wasn’t secured. I showed the manager the door in the morning, and he couldn’t have cared less.

The place was reasonably clean and breakfast was decent, but we’d have carried on to another town if we’d had time. We stopped in Alençon on our way to the ferry and were surprised by how few hotels there were. Our first choice was full and another place was closed, so this hotel or the Ibis were the only options. Fine for a pit stop if you’re desperate.