Hôtel Solana, Niort Est

Our car broke down and we were stuck, which was a stressful situation. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and did their best to accommodate what we needed. The most friendly staff.

We arrived late after missing our booking because our travels had run behind. Earlier, just before midnight, we'd seen rooms at Hôtel Kyriad Niort Espace, but when we got there they said there was nothing available and spoke only French. I found it odd that hotel reception staff wouldn't speak English, especially in a country with so many foreign tourists. They suggested we try the hotel opposite, saying it had a 24-hour reception, which turned out to be a joke since reception there was only open for a few hours a day. We eventually found Solana Hotel, 300 meters away. I wouldn't normally have chosen it, since it's not a chain and I don't like surprises, but I would have been very wrong to pass it up. Some things are old-fashioned, but everything was clean and intact, and the price was affordable. Bruno was on the 24-hour front desk and was helpful and welcoming. He was happy to speak English, which was excellent, and he's a very pleasant person. The restaurant has been recently renovated and feels modern. Breakfast was fantastic, and the coffee was excellent. We'll definitely stop there again.

The reception ladies were so helpful, and the rooms are clean and modern. It's a great place to stop over, though it's out of town. There are free buses into Niort. We ended up here after our car broke down over the weekend, and on Sunday the hotel closes from 1 to 6, so we had to leave. They hadn't put out any chairs for us to sit on. A male staff member told me they couldn't leave chairs out because cars come and take them, which seemed odd. We had a starter at Poivre Rouge, which was okay, then went into the bowling alley when it opened. Later we ate at Buffalo Grill, where the burgers and chips were delicious. I'd give the hotel a better rating for the ladies, but having to leave on Sunday brings it down to three stars. I'd stay again, just not on a Sunday.

The staff were really pleasant. The rooms were nice and clean, and the bedding was lovely.