ibis budget Caen Centre Gare

The neighbourhood felt a bit spooky, and the hotel could use some renovation. Still, it’s conveniently close to the train station. The staff were very nice and helpful: they found me a quieter room when I asked, and let me leave my luggage after checkout.

The budget room itself was fine, but the location and people around the hotel made the stay unnerving. There were groups of men and boys hanging around, and the walk from the car park had plenty of characters along the way. Being right by the station meant we could take a tram into town, though the hotel wasn’t centrally located. We were travelling as a family with older teens, young adult men, and a senior woman. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable walking to or from the hotel alone as a woman, or even with another woman.

We had a very nice stay. The hygiene was pretty good, and there were plenty of towels. Breakfast was nice too. The only downside was that there were no shower curtains.

It’s what you’d expect from a budget place, and the room was clean. There aren’t tea or coffee facilities in the room, but you can get them in the foyer, where there’s also a reasonably priced vending machine and a microwave. The train station is just across the road, and Aldi and another supermarket are roughly a 10-minute walk away. With the window closed, it blocks evening noise pretty well. Wi-Fi is good, and there’s a pleasant area to sit by reception. Ask reception if you need extra pillows or a kettle. The staff are friendly, especially Lucas, who was helpful and polite and made everything easy.