Le Marquis de La Baume Hotel

The bed was exceptionally comfortable, with great sheets, and I got the best sleep I’ve had in a while. The room was quite large, with plenty of space to open our suitcases, and the staff were all very nice and helpful. I’m not sure how it rates four stars. The furnishings were basic and didn’t match, and the bathroom was also basic, with a few unfinished or unpainted patches. The shower head kept slipping out of its holder, though I found a way to secure it. It’s in a quiet part of the city centre, with a few restaurants around the corner. The street itself has no amenities, though there’s a laundromat a block away.

We only stayed one night, and it was awful. There’s no hotel parking, so we had to use a public lot, which was difficult with kids and luggage after travelling from another continent. The rooms looked dirty, breakfast was scarce, and the scrambled eggs were cold. Worst of all, the bathroom flooded with water every time we showered.

The staff were pleasant and went out of their way to help. They even helped me write a detailed text in French to arrange a taxi. Our standard room suited us perfectly, and breakfast starting at 7 a.m. meant we could get going early. It’s a very good little friendly hotel. The Arena is about a seven-minute walk away, with plenty of places to eat nearby. The bus and train stations are an easy, unhurried 15-minute walk, which covered everything I needed.

I chose this hotel for its beautiful staircase, which really is magnificent. There’s air-conditioning, and the Nexus soap, shampoo, and body lotion were very good. The staff were also very nice, and the location is okay, though the road can have some strange people around and didn’t feel very safe for a woman alone at night. The room was generally good, but the shower didn’t work properly. I was busy with work and didn’t report it, though showering wasn’t a good experience. The ceiling was damaged too, but nothing too serious. One night there was noise from the courtyard, possibly construction or heavy metal being moved. You could also clearly hear people talking loudly in the hall, which wasn’t great with inconsiderate guests.