B&B HOTEL Bordeaux Sud

I use this place whenever I’m travelling from the UK to Spain or Portugal. It’s a great stop for a rest, and booking is easy even without planning ahead: you can use the machine when you arrive. Breakfast and lunch can be added just as simply. Once booked, you get a confirmation and a code to open the room.

The breakfast was just scrambled eggs warmed in a microwave, and for the price I can’t call this a two-star hotel. Our room wasn’t clean, there were flies in the bedroom, and only one set of towels for two people. It was noisy outside the bedroom too. We were told there was a problem with the water pump, so no luck with the water. Never again.

I’ve stayed here many times over the years. It’s clean, basic and a bit tired, which is about what you’d expect for the price. Make sure to book breakfast in advance. They only supply food based on booked demand now, so you can’t just decide in the morning.

We had supper at the picnic tables outside, which was much more comfortable than eating in the cramped room. The bed was comfortable, the room had an en-suite, pets are welcome, and it cost very little. We hadn’t realised when booking that it was motel-style, so there wasn’t much privacy. The road is very close and noisy, and the air conditioning wasn’t great either. It was a choice between opening the window and hearing traffic, or using the noisy A/C. We drive a hybrid, and the electric car plug-ins let us charge overnight for a reasonable price.