This is the Ibis Budget located near to the city’s university and it was very keenly priced, just a little above £30 including breakfast. It’s opposite a Carrefour supermarket which pleased me, until I got there and discovered that it was a national holiday. France had once again arranged its calendar without consulting me which is entirely sub-optimal. Anyway, it’s a functional and budget Accor hotel with a shaded and seemingly functional pizza machine at the front. I’m waiting for my friend Richard to get one of those (as in get a pizza, not get an entire pizza vending machine), we nearly did in Germany, as he likes investing in side quests like seeing what pizza from a random kiosk is like.
The staff member at check-in only spoke a little English but with my little French we muddled through. She was keen to tell me that the hotel didn’t have air conditioning and I’d better note that it was exceptionally hot when I was there in mid-July. Anyway, I was very brave and I did mention that, but I think that that was lost in translation. The room was as cold as they could have made it with the shades drawn, but it was still hot.
The breakfast arrangement was basic, but my priority was the option of chilled drinks. They were clearly struggling with the heat to try and keep the food items cold, but they did as good a job as I think they could have done.
Fruit, bread, jam, some pretty inedible cheese, bread, croissant, orange juice and coffee. I wouldn’t note that it was exceptional, but this was a very cheap stay so I can’t say that I was disappointed.
Online feedback for the hotel is relatively high, although it’s evident some guests weren’t surprised and delighted by the lack of air conditioning. The team members were friendly, the room was clean and the breakfast was entirely adequate for the price, but I don’t think Richard would have been very impressed. It’s easy to get to the hotel as it’s right by the end of a tram line and I’d stay here again, although perhaps I might wait for the winter months so that the temperature is a little more optimal.