Appartment Les Suites Du Parc

It’s well placed, near the city centre and a large free car park. But we were there during a heatwave, and with no air conditioning, just a small fan, we had to sleep with the windows open. Trams braking and ringing their bells when they left, traffic, and drunk people passing by kept us awake for all four nights. The bathroom door also comes off its track every time it’s opened. And when the sofa bed is unfolded, it hits the walls and leaves no way to get from one side of the room to the other.

We booked the apartment six months ahead, spoke with the owner by phone before arrival about check-in, and still the owners switched us to a different apartment without telling us. We had chosen the Courbet apartment for its layout, but when we asked for it, we were told it was unavailable because other guests were already staying there. At night it was noisy, with homeless people on the bench below the windows and tram sirens waking us as early as 5:00 AM. Sorting the Booking.com reviews from lowest rating up will tell you plenty. We can’t recommend this place.

The location near Viotte train station was convenient, and the new 160cm bed was a plus. Still, I was meant to come back eight times before the end of the year, and now I’ll find somewhere else. I’ve spent countless nights in studios and apartments, but I’ve never had this many problems in one rental. The owner seems to take the rent without thinking about whether guests are comfortable. The stools were far too high for the table, so we had to eat standing up. The pots and pans were on a shelf too high for us to reach, and there was no way to lower it. A folding stool would only cost a few euros. The two-person studio had just one towel bar and no shampoo or shower gel. There were no instructions for the electric hob, which made using it a real hassle.

We slept like babies in the wide, comfortable double bed, and the apartment was spacious, well laid out, and generously furnished. There was plenty of pleasant lighting, and the kitchenette had everything we needed for cooking and breakfast: a fridge, two-burner hob, kettle, microwave, dishes, cutlery, pots, and pans. There were even Nescafé, tea bags, and a few spices, along with two tea towels, a sponge, and dish soap. We found a drying rack in the hallway, which came in handy since the washing machine worked. Our studio was called "Lumière." One window looked onto the quiet, leafy Parc de Glacis, with lovely birdsong, and the old town was a ten-minute walk away. The other faced Besançon-Viotte train station, which was pleasant and not noisy, though you could hear the trams clang melodically during the day. There’s a sushi restaurant next door that we didn’t try, and across the street diagonally is the bistro "Chez Julian," where I’d recommend lunch. The hosts were very friendly and helpful, and WhatsApp made communication quick and easy. The old building is pretty and quiet, with an elevator, though the entrance is a little narrow. The bathroom was spacious enough and perfectly fine. Two towels for two people over three nights felt a bit short, but they kindly brought us a third when we asked. There weren’t any hooks for washcloths and things, a small issue. We had a really pleasant long Pentecost weekend and felt at ease. It’s a fantastic, reasonably priced base for a few relaxing days exploring Besançon, definitely five stars and highly recommended.