Wendy H.
Yelp
We drove to the Hotel. We followed the GPS instructions and my mother read the details from the email. Our Satnav worked, but we missed, 3x the entrance to the car park associated with the Hotel. Because of the 1-way pedestrianised system this meant about 45 minutes slowly driving around the heart of Toulouse. A beautiful city, but I'd rather see it on foot. When we eventually found the crowded, underground, expensive (€26 for our 1 night) hotel car park entrance (on right hand side of road) we left our luggage in the trunk and went in search of the Hotel. About 500 yards away, up some stairs - the car park does not have a lift for the first floor.
Fabulous Hotel location.
The extremely pretty waif in 4 in heals at reception asked us to 'wait' when we asked for help getting our luggage from the car to the room. She disappeared for a few minutes. There was nowhere to sit in reception, My mother is 78 and was clearly tired and worried. I hugged her and joked that if the waif was going to help with our luggage, I hope she changed shoes. The waif returned in flat boots, asked us to follow her and strode out the hotel. Mum couldn't keep up with her pace, she didn't look over her shoulder to notice we were having trouble following her. I walked at mums pace and said it was ok, the waif would find us.
Is it possible to deliver a smile to cover frustration and irritation? That's what the smile that the waif delivered to us looked like as she waited for us to catch up.
Luckily I'd memorised the car parking place number. I told the Waif and she strode off in the wrong direction. Mum and I took the direct route to the car. We all arrived together. We had 4 bags, 3 airplane carry on size and one larger case for mums optional holiday clothing. At our last hotel the hotel porter had lifted all 4 bags at reception and walked with them to the hotel car which took us to our car in the car park. Here, the waif took my mothers large bag, I carried my own two bags and my mother carried her carry on. We followed the waif. Who strode out. We didn't tip her when we got to the room because she'd added to the stress rather than dispersing it with the empathy and care I'd expect from a hotel of this price. She was very pretty, her English was good.
The inside of this classic, historical hotel has been completely gutted in favour of a chic boutique look. Very classy chic boutique look. Emphasis on LOOK. Like the surly-smiling waif on reception. No porter.
Details that took the shine off the room included but, alas, were not limited to
1) Poorly lit corridors. The dim light, couple with my mothers failing eyesight made it difficult for her to find her way. She felt this was a fire risk and didn't understand the aesthetic of the darkness. Like a cinema
2) no tea bags, milk or kettle in the room. These things are essential for English comfort and were provided in all our previous French Hotels. There was a Nespresso machine. I gather this is classy. My mother and I don't drink coffee and have never used this type of machine.
3) opaque glass window between bathroom and main bedroom. When my mother, got up to per in the night, the light streamed into the room where I tried to sleep.
4) No waist height surface in the bathroom to place your washing on - the pretty basin stood alone
I'll try not to mention the other, pedantic, details that bothered us once this overall negative impression was set rolling, things like the drawer handle being upside down, and the skinny twin beds.
Breakfast? In the Bar by the entrance. Fabulously stylish seating for lounging on, not for sitting forward to eat from. TEA! Yes they had black tea, water was in a kettle that hadn't been boiled before being bought out. I turned on the kettle and sited as other guests filed by using the pre-warmed milk for their coffee. I felt gawky. The food was fine.
When leaving, I made 2 journeys to the car taking my bags, taking my mums bags. I didn't ask the hotel staff for help. They didn't have the insight or awareness to offer. I didn't fancy following the surly waif, the journey was more peaceful on my own and my mother could spend the time washing.
I highly recommend this hotel for someone young, without a car, interested in pretty, surly, staff (I suspect flirting would improve their service ability), who travels light, doesn't love old architecture, and isn't addicted to tea.
That's not me (52) or mum (78)