Hilton Garden Inn Le Havre France

The room was too warm to sleep in, and the thermostat didn’t work. Switching the system off made no difference because the hotel controls it, supposedly for the environment, according to a notice in the room. I found that notice insulting and felt bullied into accepting the hotel’s environmental policy at the expense of my own comfort and choice. It felt like a fascist hotel. They should show this policy before booking, not after guests arrive. It was 8 degrees outside, so we had to keep the window open. Some environmental policy that is. Around 9 on Sunday morning, the housekeeper knocked and insisted on cleaning. I said we were still in bed and relaxing, but she kept arguing, and I had to tell her to leave. It was my lazy Sunday on holiday, and the whole thing was totally unacceptable.

We could walk all over town from here, and the cruise terminal was especially close. We spent two nights before our cruise and walked to what we thought was the best bakery in town. Breakfast was included and okay. It’s a great spot.

The rooms were cosy, clean, and comfortable, with a balcony that had a table and sunbed in each one. We had a very comfortable stay, and the staff were friendly. The location was excellent too. There weren’t quite enough hangers in the bathroom for my taste. There was also a fire alarm late at night, which was stressful, though I don’t blame the hotel for it. I’m still giving it 5 stars.

The dinner was limited and a bit disappointing, though there’s a nice bar area and the staff are friendly. Our room had a pleasant balcony view and was adequate, but could use more storage. The bed was very comfortable, and the price seemed reasonable when we visited in mid September.