L'Hermitage Gantois, Autograph Collection

The historic building has a lot of character, and we were glad to use Marriott points for our two-night stay in May. The cold breakfast items were delicious, especially the fresh croissants, but the hot selection was very limited and not really hot. We had dinner at the bar one night; it was good, though very expensive for Lille, so we ate out the other night. We stayed in the back wing, where the floors sloped so sharply they felt almost unsafe. There were monitoring signs around, so it seemed people were keeping an eye on any changes. The team appeared to be doing what they could to maintain the old building, though it seems major repairs require an act of parliament. They'd cut the bed posts down so the bed was level, but the walk across the room felt like going down a hill, then up into the bathroom. The age of the place is understandable, but it took away from the experience. Lille Europe was about a 15-minute walk away, and there was also a metro line nearby. We got around entirely on foot and public transport, which was plentiful across the city.

I loved my one-night stay here and highly recommend it. The service and style were impressive from the red-carpet entrance through check-in and into the room, which felt distinctive and comfortable. Breakfast was the best I've had at a European hotel, and my black tea was a nice touch for this American. The Christmas market was about a 15-minute walk, though I took my time enjoying the scenery. I'd suggest the hotel get TVs that let you stream from a phone using Chromecast or screen mirroring.

The building keeps its original charm while working as a very modern hotel, and the staff made us feel welcome. A language barrier wasn't a problem at all. We came for a short Christmas break, and Lille Europe was a short walk away, making the trip from London St. Pancras easy. We had a rate that included breakfast, and I strongly recommend it. The food was outstanding, fine-dining quality, plentiful, with a great selection.

I'm not sure how the good reviews came about. Maybe my mum and I were discriminated against and given the worst room, but it was in a terrible state. The bathroom had cracked tiles, missing handles, no way to adjust the water, and only a pitiful trickle from the shower. The room smelled musty, with dirty stains, dust and cobwebs everywhere. It looked like we'd been put in an unrenovated room, if the other positive reviews are accurate. Service felt indifferent. The only warm person was the nice guy at checkout, when we were already leaving. The location was far from everything else and only just walkable.