Hôtel Belaroïa

Getting into the heart of Montpellier took only a 10-15 minute walk, and the location worked well. The hotel parking was impossible to find, but there’s a multi-storey car park just across the street, so it didn’t end up being a problem. They were also lovely and very accommodating when my requests changed.

The room was quiet, clean, spacious, and comfortable, and the prices were very good for a hotel like this. Everyone we spoke to was welcoming, polite, and helpful. It was a real help that they could speak English. We were travelling by train, so being close to the station suited us, and two tram stops nearby made it easy to reach most tram lines.

At the Belaroïa bar on the first floor, I asked Kylian what beers were available. He took a full minute to walk me through the choices, and he was one of the kindest, most welcoming people I’ve spoken with. We ended up talking for two hours. Then Junior joined in and turned it into a party. That mix of personalities made for a one-of-a-kind experience, and I’d happily do it over a million times. Most of my trip I felt ignored by French people, so that southern hospitality was a big change.

The location is about as close as you can get to the train station, and I thought the quality was good for what I paid. The room was pleasant, with an okay view, though a higher floor or a different direction would probably be better. The bed was comfortable and came with one Tempur pillow and one regular one. The only awkward setup was having the toilet in one room and the hand-washing sink in another.