Schuman 2 - Le Bonheur de la Joliette

The location worked well for getting to the metro, though the neighborhood felt a little dodgy. The rooms were decent, but the place feels very old, and there was black mold around the shower and tub. Hard to see how it rates four stars.

The street noise made it difficult to get a peaceful night, even with the windows shut. Parking was another letdown: we paid noticeably more for the same length of time than at the Indigo parking by the NH Collection hotel just up the street, which was more convenient and better value. We also stayed at the NH across the road, and this hotel felt like a step down from it. I left the Best Western Hôtel La Joliette underwhelmed.

The pool and Hammam were better than I expected, especially since hotels at this price don’t often have them. The rooms are tiny, but we knew that going in. We had a great experience with the man in charge on the evenings of April 7 and 8, who was really helpful, despite the negative comments about staff. For a quiet room, pick room 4 on any floor, at the back, though the view won’t be much. If your expectations are reasonable, you may be pleasantly surprised.

The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, which made the hotel feel welcoming. It was clean and good value for money. The rooms ran a bit small, but that’s typical of these town buildings.