Hôtel Beauséjour

The bathrooms were absurdly bad: they were private, but tiny, smelled musty, and the toilet wasn’t fixed to the floor, so it wobbled. Still, the beds were comfortable, and the aircon let us set the temperature. It’s cheap and cheerful, though getting up the long staircase is a workout. The location is close to everything, and €55 a night in the off season is a good deal for Marseilles. I gave it 4, but would probably say 3.5 if I could.

The staff weren’t especially friendly, which surprised me. The bathroom was also too small, although the rooms were clean and the beds comfortable. The location is hard to beat, and for what we paid it was great value. I’d definitely recommend it for a short stay in central Marseille.

We paid about 100 euros, and I regret it completely. The room looked nothing like the online photos and was awful. With three bags and a suitcase, we were told to climb four more flights to the fifth floor, with no lift or help. Inside, the floor had large visible cracks, and the planks by the window and before the bathroom door were rotten. The room smelled bad, especially the bathroom, and nothing seemed clean. It looked as if the bed had just been made and everything else left behind, with stains still visible on it. The one staff member’s service was terrible, and the room felt frightening. This was the worst hotel experience I’ve had, and it was far too expensive for what we got. I have pictures, and they show how different it was from the photos online. We want a refund.

We paid 140 euros a night, and for that price all you’re getting is the location. The beds were comfortable enough, but we couldn’t wait to leave after two nights. The place felt like motel quality, with tiny rooms and a bathroom where you couldn’t sit upright on the toilet. Shower water splashed everywhere outside the shower, and the floor in the room wasn’t level. There was no mirror, coffee, or tea. There’s no elevator: first you climb a long staircase from the street to reception, then three flights per floor. Getting to the third floor is a lot of stairs. Don’t count on staff to carry your suitcases down.