Four star quality at two star prices (Le Cheval Blanc Hotel (Nimes, France))

Member Name: bkecky

Product:	Le Cheval Blanc Hotel (Nimes, France)
Date:	31/08/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great location, cheap, spacious rooms

Disadvantages: Reception a bit dopey and English is not their strong point

This hotel was where my parents and I stayed when they came to visit me in Nimes and I had actually never really taken much notice of it before. From the outside it appeared to be well out of my budget so I ignored it. However the prices were so reasonable and for what we received it was really a surprise to all of us.

The hotel is located in the centre of Nimes, right across from the Roman arena. When we first got to the hotel and opened our window we were amazed at the view that we had recived for four days at £200! It really was spectacular and we would really have expected to pay a lot more for this kind of view.

The check-in was easy and took less than 10 minutes. The receptionist's English was minimal but enough to give you the information you needed. It was only when it came to complaints that it got more difficult. However more about that later.

The room itself was a modern take on traditional French style architechture. The room had two floor to ceiling windows with blinds that pulled down and floor to ceiling shutters that slid across so that it was very dark whenever you wanted to have an afternoon nap. There was also a small dining table and chairs and a kitchenette with a fridge, hob, microwave and kettle. It also came equipped with kitchen utensils, saucepans, crockery and cutlery. Note though that the fridge was a mini fridge, not a mini bar so it was not already stocked.

The room could sleep up to five people with a king size double bed, a single sofa bed and a double sofa bed. I slept on the sofa bed and it was really comfortable. We did have to pull it out ourselves though. The floors were wooden except for the tiled bathroom floor. The toilet and bathroom were also separate, which was useful for 3 of us. The high ceilings with old style beams made the room seem very spacious and the furniture was pleasantly minimalistic.

There was also a breakfast served for 10 euros although we didn't bother with this as a continental breakfast was not really our style. But on the one occassion when I was dying for a real expresso rather than granulated coffee that we had bought, my father went to get one ready to pay and they said that it was fine to just take the coffee even though we hadn't paid for breakfast.

Next door there was the Cheval Blanc Wine Bar, which we presumed due to the name was part of the hotel. However this was not the case as we asked to get our bill charged to the room and we were told the two were separate. However at least it is conveniently located and although the food is a little pricey, the bar is really very reasonable. It is almost like a little wine cavern with an outside seating area and very romantic lighting. I would definitely go and visit there again.

There were a few complaints such as that the plug didn't work and the door handle was loose. This was difficult to explain at reception and no one actually ever came to check on our complaint. However these were minor things that really didn't affect our stay. The only thing that really concerned me was that when we asked to leave our luggage until we could go to the airport they said to put them by the sofa (next to the door) and when we returned they hadn't been moved. Considering that the reception could not see who was coming in and out it worried me that my bags could actually have just been swiped without anyone realising.

The other good thing with Nimes being slightly expensive to go out and eat, it is only 5 minutes walk from the supermarket and convenience store. This meant that we could cook up our own meals every night. Check out was also midday, which gave us the sense of not being rushed. There is also security on at night, which made us feel a lot safer that not just anyone could walk into the hotel.

Overall this hotel really was fantastic value for money. So spacious, very clean and with all the facilities we required. The location is fantastic and if you do stay ask for a view of the arena because it is spectacular.

Summary: Definitely one of the better hotels in Nimes