hotelF1 Boulogne sur Mer

I understand this F1 is aimed at people on the move, and I’m fine with basic accommodation. This time, though, it felt like too much money for what I got. The showers and toilets were musty and not very good. Staff were polite, friendly, and helpful, but the owners need to put more back into the hotel before it gets really shabby. I left wishing I’d paid a bit more for a fresher room elsewhere.

It’s basically a bed for the night. The place has a bleak, empty feel, sitting on an industrial estate right beside the N42, with that view from the window. There’s no breakfast, and all the vending machines were out of order, although I did manage to get a coffee in the morning. The nearest restaurants are a drive away, on another lifeless commercial estate, and I thought they were all awful. For a decent evening meal you need to drive further. The staff were friendly and doing their best, and it was clean with the usual F1 level of comfort.

The rooms are basic, as you’d expect for the price, and the location is handy for the main road. But stale cigarette smoke seems to hang over the whole place, which was unpleasant. There was also a hole in the bed linen where someone had put out a cigarette.

The beds were comfortable, and both the room and linen were spotless. The toilet was the part I disliked. I think some of the space could have been made into a shower room with a toilet, or at least a toilet and sink. It’s a shame, but because of the toilet I won’t stay again.