Hôtel Porte Mars Reims Gare Centre

The location is the strong point, right by the Roman gate and the entrance to the city center. Service, though, was really poor. The women working there, especially in the morning, were very unfriendly. They'd be in the back chatting instead of at the front desk. The rooms are dated and could use an update, at least a coat of paint, though the air conditioning worked well. Parking was a hassle. The lot next door was full every time we checked, despite what people say, so we left the car at the trai station for 13 eur a day. Breakfast wasn't good. Hot food was available only one morning and there was hardly any left. On Sunday, they hadn't prepared any hot food at all.

The staff were professional and friendly, and the central location made it easy to walk to the old town. The reception and breakfast room look like they've been renovated recently, and the guest room could really use the same attention. Room No. 14 smelled strongly of old cigarette smoke. The bathroom fittings were badly worn and covered in limescale, and the toilet had heavy deposits too, probably urine scale. The TV is tucked inside a cupboard and has to be pulled almost all the way out to see the screen. There are only French channels, with no international options, so even watching the news wasn't possible.

From outside, the hotel looks a bit rough, but inside it's been renovated nicely. Our room was on the small side, but clean and quiet. The front desk gentlemen, the woman handling breakfast, and especially the cleaning lady were all very friendly. The cleaning lady took the stairs to bring us the lift, with the biggest smile. Recommended!

It was a clean, modern-feeling place with a fairly spacious room and good value. The receptionist was pleasant, and breakfast service was good. We borrowed an umbrella when the rain was pouring. It's close to the train station in a nice area, and you can walk downtown. The facade was being worked on during our visit, but it wasn't disruptive.