B&B HOTEL Narbonne (2)

The rooms are okay, but the heating is fixed at a certain temperature and can’t be turned up. I was told it was set to 19 degrees, but it felt much colder, especially with freezing weather outside. Luckily I had my own bedding for a later stop and used my duvet to stay warm. I don’t expect to pay for a hotel and have to bring my own bedding.

We saw two receptionists during our two-night stay, and both were friendly, helpful and welcoming. We hadn’t realized there was no lift. My husband and I are retired, and carrying a large suitcase up two flights was quite a task. It was chilly on the first night, so we used our dressing gowns to keep warm. On the second, the wind was up and the B&B sign right outside our room creaked and rattled most of the night. Other guests banging doors and a child crying at 1.30am added to the noise. Breakfast on the second morning was a big mistake. We got downstairs around 9.30am and found 12 people queuing. I felt sorry for the receptionist, who was clearly under pressure. There were no trays, coffee cups or teaspoons for yoghurt. My husband had to use a dessert spoon, and I used a tumbler for preserves with my croissant. There were no sausages, just bacon sitting in fat, and the scrambled eggs were cold. The coffee machine was out of order, and the orange juice had run out too. Guests kept asking for things. We’ve stayed at a few B&B hotels, and I’ve never seen breakfast in such a state. Very disappointing, and unfortunately we won’t return.

The woman working alone in the morning tried hard, and my comments aren’t a reflection on her. She was clearly struggling to keep standards up. We had paid for two breakfasts on our final morning, expecting the filling meal we were used to before a three-hour drive home. Instead, there were no trays, cups or teaspoons, the coffee and orange juice ran out, and the selection was much barer than the website photos. The eggs were only warm, there were a few pieces of bacon sitting in oil, and there were no sausages or heated bowl for them. The bread display in the photos was misleading too. With products missing, breakfast felt well overpriced and far below the B&B standard we’d experienced before. I felt we’d wasted the money. I’d expect extra staff when they know how many breakfasts are booked, rather than three cleaners on one floor. We’ll avoid this one later this year. It costs the same as Chartres, but the comparison ends there. To clarify after the hotel’s reply, missing products were the issue. The advert photos didn’t reflect what was unavailable during our visit, even at a 9am breakfast. It seemed like a serious staffing shortage, with one staff member and three cleaners on one floor. I hadn’t realized there was no lift. In our very late 60s, even getting to the first floor was an effort. The room was fine, though the bathroom was tighter than at our regular B&B in Chartres.

I was there at the beginning of January 2026, when it was 5/6 outside. The room only had air-conditioning, set at 19, and reception said we couldn’t turn it up. I don’t think I’ll stay here again. Funny enough, the reception area was toasty.