L'etape- Bouc Bel Air - Gardanne- plan de campagne

The highway noise followed us through the night because the windows aren’t soundproof. At least breakfast didn’t make me sick, though it could’ve been better. That’s the one star. The room had clearly seen better days. The furniture was old and worn, and the paint looked as if it hadn’t been redone in years. There was just one electrical outlet, far from the bed. The bathroom was poor too. There were no towels, and the toilet hadn’t been flushed, with toilet paper and urine plainly visible. When I turned over the pillow, I found obvious black hairs all over the white pillowcase. Those housekeeping failures are unacceptable at any hotel. For the €82 I paid for one night, at least half the cost felt completely unjustified. This is one of the worst places I’ve stayed in my life. Avoid it if you can.

The restaurant is good value, especially the ‘Soirée Etape’ deal with its changing daily options. The food is straightforward but prepared with real flair, and the staff and management are tres sympa! It’s a good-value hotel for exploring the area or passing through, close to Aix and Marseille without the city traffic and prices. The road outside is very busy, but that shouldn’t be an issue if you’re in the annexe behind the pool.

The service was unfriendly, the rooms poor, and the shower bad. They acted as if asking for bath towels was ridiculous. It’s an old hotel with a “those were the days” feel, and lots of things haven’t been maintained. It sits right beside the D6, with noisy traffic. I’d never recommend it, even at half price :(

I booked for a week but left after just one night. All the catering staff were on holiday, so the restaurant was closed during my stay. I didn’t have a car, and it wasn’t close enough to any outside restaurant. Nobody notified me.