Hotel De l'Opéra

Right in the heart of Bordeaux, this place is old and nearly rundown, though it's kept up. The rooms are small, but fine if you're just passing through or visiting. I wouldn't say it's a good fit for families or kids. The price is very reasonable, and breakfast is available if you want it. We ate out instead, with plenty of choices within a ten-minute walk.

The location is really good, and there is a lift. Those are about the only positives for me, along with the low price. The room smelled quite bad, and an old, smelly roof was our only view. There was also a water pump banging loudly all night, every night, which got irritating. The shower was the worst I've had in eight weeks travelling around Europe. It was tiny, I got caught in the curtain, and water leaked all over the floor. The bathroom had no window or fan. There was no fridge, kettle, or air conditioning, and the Wi-Fi was really poor and outdated.

For the price and location, it's not a bad option if all you need is somewhere central to sleep with your own toilet, sink, and shower. The room is small and minimal, and the Wi-Fi was absurdly slow, even slower than my international mobile connection.

It's a very secure hotel, even though it isn't staffed. We had two large double beds, and the place was clean, though it could use a refurbishment. There was no window or ventilation in the toilet. Still, for a cheap Bordeaux break, the price and location worked for us. I'd recommend it and stay again.