hotelF1 Le Havre - Gonfreville

The room was filthy and cramped, with a bed barely big enough for one and a bathroom with no soap or room to turn around. We couldn’t open a suitcase without stepping outside. Our neighbors’ dog barked all night, and through the paper thin walls we heard men shouting, running along the hallway, and slamming doors. Sleep was impossible. At reception, the older man was unfriendly and unhelpful. We politely asked for an extra blanket, which the listing says is available on request. He made a big scene, acted as if he couldn’t understand us even with a translation app, then tossed it at us like we’d asked for something outrageous. The Cabrio was a dirty shoebox, and we felt treated like a nuisance. One star is generous. I wouldn’t stay again even for free.

For a short, low budget trip to France, this worked well for me and my boyfriend. At €30 a night, we weren’t expecting luxury, and the free parking was a nice extra. There’s a big shopping center next door and plenty of places to eat. The room was very clean, and the bathrooms and toilets were mostly clean too. I liked the firm bed, though the pillow was too soft and we made do. The room did smell of cigarettes, but with the window open all the time it was fine. I’d recommend it to people who just need somewhere to sleep and don’t expect much comfort.

The room had a horrible smell as soon as we opened the door, like something or someone had died in there. We asked reception to move us to a room that smelled better, but the only available alternatives didn’t have en-suite bathrooms. In the end they gave us an air freshener, which didn’t help, and even with the window open all night the odor remained. The quick check-in and reasonably comfortable bed were positives, but they couldn’t make up for the smell. I’d have rated the hotel higher without that problem.

The location is the one good thing: there’s a great shop and a place to park a truck with a trailer, both about two minutes away. The rest has been awful. The neighbors are noisy every time, and there’s no privacy. Today a receptionist came to my room and opened the door without knocking. You can’t even lock it from the inside, so staying private isn’t possible. Why would a truck driver be expected to rest in a place like this instead of in the truck? There’s more I’d say about this special place, but Google moderation won’t allow it. ;-)