Zenitude Hotel-Residences Nantes - La Beaujoire

It wasn’t a great stay. The place is in the middle of an industrial estate, with no welcome sign, and the staff weren’t helpful. Room extras were limited, and cold milk cost extra. The pool was tiny compared with the photos. Continental breakfast was €11.50, but the only milk they served was hot, which doesn’t work well with crunchy cereal. I don’t usually complain, but this wasn’t good.

For a stopover, it’s an okay place with a clean feel, though not luxurious. We arrived at 4.30pm and left at 9am the next morning, so our stay was very short. We were shocked to be asked for a 500 euro security deposit on top of the 200 euro bill, even though we weren’t having breakfast and spent most of our time asleep, with part of the evening out for a meal. I could understand a hold like that for a one or two week stay, but it felt extreme for less than 24 hours. The money wouldn’t be released until the apartment was inspected later that day, after we’d already left on our journey. Having 500 euros held by people we didn’t know made us uneasy, as they could claim we’d broken something. Thankfully the refund was confirmed by email the next day, but it took another three days to release. They say it can take up to seven days in some circumstances, and we were only in France for ten. We got breakfast elsewhere, so I can’t comment on the food. Reception is small and serves just one person at a time. The quiet back street has a few businesses around it, like an industrial park, so it isn’t pretty if you want a view.

The staff were helpful and spoke fluent English. The location wasn’t ideal for reaching larger markets, and our Uber Eats orders got lost on the way. Uber Eats took no responsibility and refused a refund. We stayed seven nights, arriving at 4 pm, and found the apartment didn’t look like the online photos. The kitchen was dirty, and the fridge and drawers smelled of rotten food. There were only two tea bags for making tea. We were also taken aback by the 500 euro security deposit on top of the bill for the seven-night stay. We were told it wouldn’t be released until the apartment was inspected later on checkout day. Since we had to leave on our journey before then, having that much money held by people we didn’t know made us uneasy. They could easily keep it and claim we’d broken something.

For the price, this place is amazing. We paid just over £110 for a night in a well equipped two-bedroom apartment that slept six comfortably. It was spacious, the beds were comfy, the linen was nice, the breakfast was lovely, and the staff were friendly. A couple of fans in the bedrooms would help, but I’d definitely recommend it. There’s a great Irish bar called the black shelter about a 10-minute walk up the road, with excellent food.