Radisson Blu Hotel, Montpellier

Getting around was easy. The historic centre is about a 10-minute walk away, and all the tram lines are reachable on foot in 5-7 minutes. The location is good, almost perfect if you’re not handicapped. There’s a parking lot and a garage, and a small outdoor pool area. This was our first stay, at what was recently rebranded from a Crown Plaza and doesn’t yet feel like a real Radisson Blue. We had a superior room with a nice city view. The interior isn’t new but is well maintained, the bed was very comfortable, and all the staff were friendly. The hotel is fully air conditioned, so you can’t open the windows. Even so, we enjoyed our stay, the outstanding breakfast, and delicious dishes at the restaurant. We’d come back!

The adjacent parking was very handy. The one small hassle is having to go outside to reach your car. It was a minor nuisance. We stayed here with the family at the beginning of the year. The rooms were okay, and the rate was really good. Getting two rooms, one for my wife and me and a connecting one for the teenagers, made it fantastic value for money. I’d definitely stay here again. It’s a super central hotel in Montpellier.

The worst part was the awful toilets throughout the hotel, which didn’t work properly. Downstairs, people couldn’t flush and left their poop, which was gross. In our room we had to hold the handle down and flush several times before it was clean. Staff knew about the toilet problems. They have water-saving shower heads, which felt hypocritical given the toilets. We also waited while one girl was busy on the phone, which was understandable, but the other two ignored us. On the fourth floor, where we stayed, it took 19 steps before the motion sensors turned on the lights. That’s not good if you’re travelling alone. The rooms smelled and felt like a motel, and the facade needs a good clean. Don’t let the bright reception fool you. We spent three weeks travelling in France, and this was by far the worst and most disappointing stay. We don’t recommend it. Never again!

The rooms are large, clean, and comfortable, and the service was friendly and good. It’s easy to find by car, though the car park is tight and a bit of a pain to get into. Place de la Comedie is a pleasant 5-10 minute walk away. There’s a nice pool, but very few sunbeds if you want to spend an hour by it.