Appart'City Confort La Ciotat Cote Port

The apartment itself was decent, and the staff were friendly, but I didn’t feel the price was justified. The bathroom smelled of sewage throughout, the breakfast choices were limited, and they only cleaned once in my stay of more than a week. It also took me over an hour to get the espresso machine working. For that cost, I’d rather book an Airbnb at half the price.

The staff really made our stay pleasant. They handled all my questions and requests, including extra towels and an iron, and were fluent in English, which mattered since I don’t speak French. One evening I worried I’d run out of diapers, and a staff member, possibly Lucille, even checked her own supply for me. They didn’t have to go that far, but I appreciated it. A few things were less comfortable. We’ve stayed in many three-star hotels, and I wasn’t confident the beds had been properly cleaned or washed between guests. The pillows were yellowed and stained from use, so I asked for two more. There was no screen on the balcony door either, and with it open for fresh air, mosquitoes got in. My son and I ended up covered in bites. We paid over 400 euros, including parking, for four people and three nights. I’m unsure whether that was good value, especially when converted to Canadian dollars, though inflation may make it standard. For a three-star place, it’s probably best to expect what you paid for. The location is convenient, especially as a base for driving to nearby cities. It may not be a major tourist draw, but there’s enough to do for a day or two, including relaxing by the port. Parking needs planning. We arrived on Saturday during a concert at the port, so public parking was full. There is underground parking, but you need a code from check-in. I’d tell the hotel before arriving if you want to use it, because if you park outside and it’s full, you may be stuck.

At 6 a.m. I was still being bitten, after maybe three hours of sleep or rest and killing many more mosquitoes. By 11:30 p.m. I’d already killed ten, then counted eleven, twelve, and eventually seventeen. I joked that avoiding malaria would be a miracle. The welcome was warm and the port and shipyards are conveniently close, but I won’t stay here again. Avoid Room 403.

The manager was friendly, but that was the one bright spot. At €120 a night, this felt like staying in a hostel, and I couldn’t wait to leave. The room smelled bad, the bathroom reeked of sewage, everything badly needed renovating, and the towel was barely bigger than a postage stamp. The location and lack of other options seem to be the only reasons they can charge so much. It felt like daylight robbery. I’ll never return.