Petit Louvre

The room was far smaller and worse quality than the photos suggested. My single bed was squeezed between two walls in a room about 1.1 meters wide, with only a narrow passage to get to it. It smelled bad, the door was poor quality, and there were almost no amenities, just a small soap and tiny shower gel. The wine opener and hair dryer felt pointless in a room like this. At night, the nearby tram was noisy, I could hear people in the next room, and the elevator made an annoying sound too. Not recommended. The one plus is being on a main street, though it still takes an 8-minute walk to the metro. Even if it was good value next to other places, it wasn't cheap enough to justify a room like this.

I wouldn't recommend Résidence Petit Louvre unless you have no other option. The basic comforts just weren't there, and the staff's politeness didn't make up for the problems. There was no hot water for three days, and although the staff were kind, they couldn't offer any fix. My first impression was also poor because the room smelled bad when I arrived, though the smell faded after a couple of days. The fridge and A/C were extremely loud and couldn't be switched off, so getting proper sleep was basically impossible.

I liked staying here and felt at home. The location is handy for shops and sightseeing, and the price was good for a solo traveler. The room is tiny, a bit worn and has some dirty marks on the furniture, but it was cleaned well and laid out practically, with what you need. The kitchen has basic tools for simple cooking, though there's no ventilation, so cooking meat or fish might leave your bed smelling. The door makes a loud noise every time it opens, so earplugs could help. The sofa bed was comfortable and the A/C worked well. Both receptionists I met were welcoming, helpful, and spoke good English. They seem very busy and work hard, so it's best to tell them your check-in and check-out times. You can leave luggage at reception for free, but it's locked up and you need to ring the bell to get someone to open it. Sometimes nobody is there, and although they come down when called, it can take a little while if you're on a tight schedule. Leaving my bags before check-in was really helpful. After checkout, I used luggage storage at the station because I was taking the train to the airport after visiting a few cities, so I didn't need to return to the hotel.

We stayed comfortably for 7 nights and had a great time in Nice. The hotel's location is right by the city's main street, busy with people and shops, and the area felt very safe, as did the city generally. The street sometimes has a brief smell of urine, which the hotel can't really do anything about. This was one of the few affordable places we found for a holiday in Nice on a young person's budget, and the mixed reviews had us unsure what to expect. The photos and older reviews don't do it justice. Inside, it was clean and practical. The rooms are small, but fine if you can manage a tight space. The large sofa bed was comfortable, the A/C worked well, and the bathroom had what we needed. The kitchenette was useful and had cooking gear including pots, pans, plates, and cutlery. The window views weren't bad either. The staff were lovely and helpful, spoke good English, and said they work hard to keep prices affordable in the expensive French Riviera. It's not a five-star hotel, so you get what you pay for, but I wish I'd taken more photos to help others considering it.