ibis Saint Malo La Madeleine

Prices shoot up on weekends 🤢🤢. This Ibis is generally up to standard. Access is good, though being in a commercial area means it isn't much of a dream at night, just practical. Staff attitudes ranged from very good to average, which was a pity.

It's easy to find, with a large shopping facility next door. The very popular Boulangerie is 50 yards away and has excellent food. Get breakfast and something to eat for the ferry there.

I had a very quiet room, and the hotel is comfortable, with a lovely patio where you can have a drink. The rooms follow the usual Ibis style, but they've been refurbished with a more modern look than at other Ibis hotels. Breakfast is great, though it can get messy when large groups are there. Groups are the main downside. The coach parking makes this a popular stop for them, and they can quickly take over the shared area at dinner and breakfast. That's not ideal when you're travelling alone and want some peace after work, or when you're a couple looking for a bit of privacy. It doesn't happen every day, though, so I just got away from the crowds when they were around. The location in a retail park is convenient, with a huge supermarket, bakery and various restaurants nearby. If you're on a budget, Carrefour is a short walk away, with ready meals and cooked dishes for a few euros. I don't know how they managed to grow a palm tree, but it gives the place a French Riviera feel.

We stayed for one night before our morning ferry. It's just off the motorway, with a 10-minute drive to the port, and sits in a large shopping centre. The hotel has its own car park. Staff were wonderful and helpful, and let us bring our own food into the bar area to eat with a glass of wine. The rooms were small but very clean and had everything we needed, including a comfortable bed and decent shower. Breakfast was great, with continental choices as well as bacon, sausage and eggs. We'll use it for our St Malo stopovers from now on.