Pavillon REGENT PETITE France By Stay Collection

The location and room view are excellent, and the spa, bar, and reputable restaurant have potential. The bed was comfortable, but the bathroom hadn’t been cleaned properly, and showering was awkward without a fixed shower head. The TV doesn’t connect to the internet, so streaming or casting isn’t possible. Service repeatedly missed the mark for a hotel advertising five stars. I arrived with two suitcases, but neither the doorman nor the other staff offered help or even greeted me. At check-in, we learned the restaurant was fully booked and room service had to be ordered by 5pm. Since check-in starts at 4pm, that cutoff seemed unreasonable. They called it standard, but hadn’t told us in advance. Luckily, we already had other dinner plans. Our room wasn’t cleaned on the second day. Later we were told we should have requested cleaning ahead of time, which seems highly unusual for a hotel claiming five-star service. The only time we saw housekeeping was at 12:05 on checkout day, waiting outside and wanting to turn the room over. At the bar on our last day, it took several tries to get the right drinks, including a 30-minute wait for one beer. These might sound minor, but they shouldn’t keep happening at a true five-star hotel. Spa access is limited to one hour-long slot each day and needs to be booked before arrival, which isn’t ideal for a city break. I do understand the spa is small, so limits are needed to control the number of guests. It’s pleasant enough as a base for a few nights in Strasbourg, but falls short of other European five-star hotels in many ways. I’m unlikely to stay again.

Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and the location was excellent, with a lovely view of the Christmas market. Our room was very clean, the bed was comfortable, and we had everything we wanted. I’d happily stay here again and recommend it.

We found a delightful Brasserie 116 nearby and didn’t eat at The Regent. Since we’d driven and were on a longer vacation, we used a nearby laundromat the first morning and walked around the quiet town while our laundry ran. Parking in the hotel’s outdoor lot worked perfectly. I was initially disappointed there wasn’t a room with a balcony available, but room 210 turned out to be amazing. Being on a corner, it had views in two directions over the canals in a perfect part of town. The windows opened all the way, so you could stand and look out as if on a balcony. The room was spacious, with a nice sitting area, and it was refreshed every morning and evening. The coffee and tea area was nice too. The whole experience at The Regent was wonderful, and I’d highly recommend it.

We were about a five-minute walk from Church of Saint Thomas and around ten minutes from Strasbourg Cathedral. The hotel sits by a canal, within walking distance of restaurants serving local cuisine and the beautiful sights near the city centre. Strasbourg’s Christmas markets were lovely, and it really does look beautiful lit up at Christmas. Colmar was another holiday treat, an easy 35-minute train ride away. The hotel was clean, spacious, and well appointed.