Novotel Bordeaux Centre-Ville

The room was too hot, and the air conditioning didn't cool it properly. We also found only two bath towels for two guests, plus one shared hand towel and a bath mat. A branded four-star hotel like Novotel should provide an individual towel set for each guest. Disappointing for a place at this level.

The weakest part of our stay was breakfast. The buffet had limited choice, and several items seemed stale or old. The quality, taste, and presentation fell short of what I'd expect from Novotel. On the plus side, the hotel was clean throughout. Our room was spotless on arrival, housekeeping was thorough each day, and the lobby and hallways were tidy. The room was quiet and comfortable, with good linens, and the staff were polite and professional. Check-in and checkout were easy, and they promptly helped arrange a taxi. There were some frustrating details in the room: just a couple of tea and coffee bags, two glasses for three people, no bottled water, and only one socket by the beds. Reception hadn't mentioned that we could refill water bottles downstairs. The toilet was apart from the wash area, which was awkward when we wanted water right away, and it had no ventilation or AC. Otherwise the layout worked well. The location was handy for exploring Bordeaux. It was about a 30-minute walk or 15-minute drive from Bordeaux Saint-Jean, in a safe, pleasant area, with Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’Eau, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey Berland all accessible. Shops and restaurants were nearby too. Despite the breakfast and bathroom issues, the hotel offered decent value for its location, cleanliness, and service, and would work for a short stay.

Louise, Kevin, Chiara, and the rest of the team were really responsive and helpful, which made my stay so pleasant. The lobby and bar felt cozy, and the hotel was clean and in a safe, convenient spot in Bordeaux. I'd recommend Novotel Centre to solo travelers.

The staff were excellent throughout, friendly, and spoke good English. The restaurant looked popular and very nice, though I didn't eat there. The hotel is handy for Tram Line A to the airport and buses to the railway station and harbour area. The city center is an easy walk away, and the hotel is quiet at night just beyond it. I stayed four nights. This Novotel was built in the 1980s; reception and restaurant have been fully refurbished, while the rooms seem to have had a lighter update, with painted original wall coverings and older bathroom fittings. My second-floor room picked up quite a bit of noise from above, through both the floor and bathroom and toilet plumbing. Sound insulation from neighboring rooms was better. Two doors between the bedroom and corridor helped block hallway and lift noise, and the double windows kept street sounds almost entirely out. The bathroom and toilet are separate, which is a nice idea, but the toilet room was tiny, the toilet wasn't securely fixed to the floor, and there was a lingering smell. The bathroom was arranged better, although the shower pressure was poor and the very deep basin put the taps awkwardly far away. The demisting mirror was a nice touch, and the water got plenty hot. The bed was okay. The fairly comfortable memory foam mattress felt cheap and held body heat. I'd expect a four-star hotel to have hybrid sprung mattresses. The pillows were an unusual shape but comfortable enough. Despite it being 24° during the day, the AC was switched off and only fresh-air ventilation was available. I saw a sign saying it was limited to 26° in summer, which is ridiculous. Guests should be able to control it, and the rooms need refurbishment and better beds.