ibis Beaune Centre

The bar stays open late, and there’s plenty of parking. Breakfast has a nice spread, the rates are reasonable, and the property is a comfortable place to stay, not too far from the city centre. Guests can play the guitar in the lobby, which is a fun touch.

The location was super convenient, about an 8-minute walk to the centre, and the staff were nice and friendly. Parking was secure and free. Breakfast had a very good mix of options, and there were fun extras: a cute vintage-style arcade machine, table football, and a guitar you could play.

The one real plus was being close to old town Beaune. I was put in Room #100, which I’d avoid at all costs. It seems like a storage area was converted into a room, with one of the most convoluted floor plans I’ve ever dealt with. It’s beside the elevator and down a maintenance corridor, through four locked doors. It felt like the “Get Smart” intro. Both tiny rooms have slanted ceilings. If you’re 5’10” or taller, you have to bend over to use the other half of the room. I’m not kidding. It felt as if someone in the SALES DEPT saw a chance to turn storage into a revenue generator at the expense of unsuspecting tourists. I asked to move rooms, was initially laughed at, then politely told the hotel was full. There was no ventilation, and the windows were sealed shut. Pass!

During our last three weeks touring Europe, this was the worst hotel we stayed in. The room was about 12 x 12, with the bathroom and shower squeezed into a corner. The door hit the bed before it could open all the way, and there was room for just one suitcase on the single chair. When we ran out of toilet paper, the bartender, who also handled reservations, gave us one roll. I asked for a spare and was told no.