Hotel ibis Styles Niort Poitou Charentes

Handy spot for an overnight stop, just minutes from the motorway. The room had air conditioning, which made a huge difference on one of the hottest nights of the year and meant I slept well. It’s not the cheapest, but felt good value and convenient. We also got a discount at the restaurant next door, which had a good value menu with something for everyone. Well recommended.

The location is great and the staff are nice, but the stay was far too expensive for what it offered. After driving for 11 hours, I just wanted a good sleep. A loud, resonating machinery-like noise woke me at 4 a.m. and kept going until shortly before 6, when I finally got up. This was in Room 209. The internet also didn’t work in the room.

At €120, this place was a terrible deal. The rooms were dirty, with scrapes all over the walls. They’d run out of scrambled eggs, and when I asked, I was told to choose something else. I wanted eggs, but they wouldn’t make any for me. Customer service was zero. I’d never stay here again.

A basic but clean place for a quick overnight stop while driving through France on the toll road. It’s part of the service station, so you can stay on the toll road. There’s a bar, though I didn’t have breakfast. The receptionist assured me it was fine to leave some belongings in the car overnight, since it’s out in the countryside. Book online, as that costs less than turning up and paying.