Hôtel du Moulin, Niort

This is a decent-value, no-fuss place in a very central spot, with clean rooms, friendly staff, and dogs welcome. The slow-moving river outside wasn’t the source of the slightly stale smell in our room, and the very clean bathroom wasn’t either. Ventilating the room didn’t help, which is why I gave it three stars. There was also a lot of loud roadwork starting early while we were there, though that should only be temporary.

We were glad secure parking is now available, though the keypad is in a worrying spot. You have to lean across the barrier to read and enter the code, and the barrier rises fast, so someone could get seriously hurt. Inside, the Hotel du Moulin was comfortable and felt like a touch of home at an affordable price. It’s very central in Niort, and the riverside walk was relaxing. The en-suite rooms were tastefully laid out and clearly kept clean. After hours on the motorway, I loved the huge bathtub. Bubble bath would have been a nice extra, so we used shower gel to make bubbles. A flannel would have helped too, especially after traveling in hot weather when a good scrub is a must.

Breakfast was the best part, with lots of choices, including gluten-free items, and a great waiter. The actual hotel felt quite different from the photos, though. Our room was small and noisy, the shower temperature kept swinging wildly, and the reception desk wasn’t very welcoming.

The staff were nice and helpful, and it was well placed for walking into town. I was still disappointed that they couldn’t provide milk for the coffee in my room. I’d think plenty of people take milk in their coffee.