Grand Hotel Francais

The location was the main reason we chose this hotel, and it really is in the historic center, within walking distance of lots of places of interest. The staff were very nice and helpful. Our room, 301, was fairly quiet, though people on lower floors seem to have had a different experience. The bathroom had two sinks and a fully enclosed shower with a proper glass door, which is unusual in France. There was plenty of storage with two closets and several drawers. Breakfast was good, with options that seemed to change each day. Still, it wasn't nearly as nice as we'd hoped, and we'd probably not stay here again. You have to leave your room key at reception whenever you go out and collect it when you return, supposedly for security. It's a silly, inconvenient rule. The refrigerators in the rooms are all disabled, which staff said was due to a green initiative, so they shouldn't be advertised as working in-room fridges. Room 301 needed some upkeep. The carpet was gross and should be replaced, the shower head didn't work properly, and routine maintenance would help. Our queen bed was two smaller beds pushed together, and both were quite stiff. The wall AC was too weak to cool the room evenly. The elevator only fits two people and is very slow, so expect to use the stairs a lot. Laundry is advertised, but the hotel doesn't do it itself. You have to leave clothes before 9am, except Sundays when the service isn't offered, and they come back the next day. The bathroom doors are transparent, so turning on the light at night can wake your partner. The bathroom walls are thin too, leaving basically no privacy when using the toilet.

The location is great, though you can't drive right to the hotel. The rooms are microscopic, and neither the heater nor the hair dryer worked. The toilet flush button kept falling off. This feels like a dismal imitation of a real hotel, so don't be taken in by “Grand Hotel” in the name. I don't see how it can be a three-star hotel, let alone be rated four. Fairy tales, I love them.

Breakfast is superb, and I say that as someone who's hard to please in the morning. The homemade granola, locally sourced baked goods, cheese and yoghurt, and freshly made quiches were all outstanding. The staff are courteous and friendly, the location is perfect for exploring, and I had a wonderful stay.

The room was fine, though ours faced the inner part of the building and was a little dark. The bathroom fixtures could use maintenance: the shaving mirror was loose, the shower heads were clogged with limescale, and the sink stopper was missing. Otherwise, this is a nice hotel, right in the center of Bordeaux on a quiet, safe street. Everything is within a 15 minute walk, and tram A is close by. The service was friendly, and there's a nice bar in the lobby.