Hotel Schtak

Virginie, the manager, was so friendly and welcoming, always happy to help with a smile, and made us feel at home. The hotel is right in central Cannes on Rue d’Antibes, at 55 Rue d’Antibes, so we could walk everywhere. Housekeeping cleaned the room and replaced the towels and bed linens every day, and everything was spotless. Breakfast was simple but tasty, with croissants, pain au chocolat, fresh baguette, jams, orange or apple juice, cappuccino, tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. A clean, simple place with warm service and good value. Definitely recommend Hotel Shitack – Cannes (3 stars).

The guy at reception was really trying, and the check-in and service there were at the right level. The room seemed only partly modernized, with a feel of the good old 80s underneath. At least it had air-conditioning, which earns it one star. Beyond that, it's hard to justify the stay. The bed has seen better days, the cold lighting is a minor issue, and sound insulation was nonexistent in room 14 on the 2nd floor. The windows look somewhat modern, but the hotel is on a busy downtown street with red light, so in summer you get loud music playlists. I asked a guy about the intercontinental breakfast because I wanted something to eat before catching an 8am flight. What I received matched the picture. I guess the tea and honey must count as intercontinental, but it wasn't worth an extra 17eur. This might do for a single emergency night if your flight is canceled, but I wouldn't risk a longer stay. To me, it's more like a 2 star hotel. There used to be a 2 star hotel Corona, according to old photos, which checks.

The reception staff were nice and helpful, but we couldn't leave early enough the next morning. Our one-night stay was very disappointing. The pictures on booking.com didn't match the room we got. We expected a small room that was clean, and perhaps noisy, as that's normal in France. The room looked as though it had been renovated a few years ago, but the work seemed poor. It smelled strongly musty and sweet, and the AC didn't cool even when switched on. We woke with itchy bites on our legs and hands the next morning, three close together, which looked typical of bedbugs. The itching lasted the whole next week. We didn't see other signs of bedbugs, but the lighting was so poor and the carpet so old and dirty, perhaps 20 years old, that it was hard to tell dirt from possible traces. Be aware that bedbugs may be present and book somewhere else.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and made us feel right at home. Great price, good access to all the important places, and a wonderful experience. We spotted a fused light bulb in our room when we checked in, so I'm giving it 4 stars, but at this price I can overlook that. Would love to come back. Many thanks to the staff.