Hôtel Astrid

We checked out early because the place was that bad. The only real positive was being close to the train station, so we could leave quickly. The room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, the mattress sagged in the middle, and the old pillows were flat. There wasn’t even a main light, just a lamp in the corner, and the bath had been kicked in. The whole place was run-down, and the staff didn’t seem to care. When we complained, we were told the manager wasn’t available and handed an email address. The hotel didn’t respond after several attempts to contact them. Hotels.com, where I booked, also tried to reach them about the complaint and couldn’t get through either. It felt like a place where people usually rent a room by the hour.

We still enjoyed Rouen, but the hotel was a disappointing place to stay. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you just need one night near the railway station. The reception staff were kind and helpful, and the location is about a 15-minute walk from the centre. But our room was dated and smelled stale. The bathroom and toilet together were very small, the toilet flushed poorly, and without a shower curtain water flooded the floor. The double bed was small, the elevator was broken, which made getting around with a baby difficult, and the walls did little to block noise. We could hear people talking and walking outside, and even the TV in another room. We’d booked two rooms for two nights, but one of them wasn’t cleaned the next day.

The staff were very welcoming, and it’s really convenient for the railway station. My stay was less comfortable because Room 26 had a very hard bed and plumbing that banged in the bedroom. Footpath renovation work right outside started at 8.00am and was noisy, though I know that wasn’t the hotel’s fault. The hotel itself felt a little tired.

The poor service and disappointment made me leave before my scheduled departure. There was often nobody at reception, and most of the time they wouldn’t answer when I called. I felt completely unattended. The rooms were supposed to be cleaned every day, but that didn’t happen. The cafeteria was always closed, too. I was very unhappy with the stay and wouldn’t want anyone else to go through the same unpleasant experience.