Campanile NATURE - Bayonne

The restaurant food was acceptable, though expensive, and the staff were friendly. But the hotel feels worn out and almost abandoned, and you can hear everything between rooms. The entrance is also poorly marked. It urgently needs renovating.

The location makes getting around easy: Bayonne centre is a few stops away on a conveniently close bus, Biarritz is a 10-minute drive, and northern Spain is another 10 minutes beyond that. The area itself isn't especially pretty, which fits with the affordable price, but access is excellent. The rooms are comfortable in a functional way, with AC, and stay quiet despite being near a fairly major road roundabout. They're not really places you'd want to hang around in. Breakfast is worth the extra cost, and the staff are pleasant and helpful.

I canceled a non-binding reservation after being told there would be no charge, but they still took hundreds of euros from my credit card. When I called to challenge it, I was laughed at and told there was nothing I could do. I found the whole thing deeply frustrating, and would warn anyone against giving this hotel their card details. I also looked through the one-star reviews and the hotel's responses. In my view, the replies are full of lies and never admit fault. Other people may judge for themselves, but I find it hard to believe all those reviewers are wrong. When I called, I felt threatened for raising the issue. Stay away.

We've been coming back regularly for five years. It's in a very convenient spot, and the restaurant has a good range of quality food. The staff are excellent and always make us feel welcome.