Hotel Altera Roma ( before Avignon Hôtel Monclar )

The location was great, and breakfast was good too. The older man serving breakfast was pleasant and very sweet. But the cleanliness and a serious problem with the male receptionist made this a very upsetting stay. When we first got to the room, it was dirty. The throw pillows and seat cushions were visibly stained and covered in dust, the towels and linen were very old, and there was only half a roll of toilet paper. It had been stamped to make it look new. The body wash bottle was half used by the previous guest. My friend and I are both 21 and were staying together. The receptionist was informative and helpful when we arrived. On the second day, though, he used my personal number to ask me out for drinks and food. He should not have obtained my private information through the business. He seemed at least 15 years older than me, and I felt very uncomfortable, so I didn't respond. Later that day he messaged me on WhatsApp to ask if I'd seen the first message, then asked whether my friend was free to go out with him. We felt extremely uncomfortable and unsafe. We were scared he might come into our room, so we used a portable door lock to sleep at night.

We stayed in rooftop room 11, which was cosy and comfortable, and had breakfast in the beautiful garden. There was a delicious selection of treats and coffee to start the day, and parking was available too. The host greeted us warmly when we arrived on June 10th, then brought out a map and talked us through Avignon's highlights, all within a short walk. We felt very lucky!

The owner is a retired professional diver, which was a fun surprise for us as a family of recreational divers. We had a great time talking about professional diving over breakfast. His son manages the hotel, and the owners and “crew” made us feel at home. It was run with diving precision, and the place was clean. The rooms were quiet, comfortable, and nicely decorated, just right for a good night's sleep after our trip from Paris. Breakfast was good for getting the day started, though not luxurious. The weather didn't invite us to eat outside, but breakfast outdoors is possible in the interior park. The entrance, tucked behind another building, doesn't give much away, but once inside there's a nice courtyard where you can also park. The location is handy for getting around. The hotel is right in front of the TGV station and just outside the city walls, with parking for those arriving by car. From there it's about a 10 minute walk to the main gate of Avignon's old city.

The staff were friendly and offered lots of suggestions for things to do nearby. A nice cold breakfast was included with the room. The location just outside the old city walls is great, and the parking lot is handy if you're driving. Avignon makes a good base for day trips around Provence. I'd stay here again if I had the chance to visit.