Hôtel Les Negociants in Valence

One of the worst hotel rooms we had… booked a superior room and asked for one facing the street. But what we got is a room facing the „back yard“. Roaring aircon of the restaurant kitchen (I guess) all day, all night. The only option for a quiet night sleep is to close the window and hope not to suffocate in the rather small room (less than 12 square meters).
When we asked the front desk personnel to change the room for one facing the street as we had asked in our booking (directly with the hotel) we were told that they were „fully booked with groups“. Are guest coming in groups the more valuable customers?
Bath floor made of plastic! Really worn, like everything in the bath room. Carpet floor not cleaned properly, no coffee maker, no water kettle, no mini bar or small fridge - nothing but a bed, a small table and a chair. Absolutely sub standard. Wonder what the standard rooms might look like…

My wife and I spent two nights at Hôtel Les Négociants in Valence, France, in early January 2024. Although we had originally reserved for three nights, we found ourselves checking out after just two nights. The photos have been included with this review to provide an idea of the condition of the rooms in this hotel. Fortunately, the hotel refunded us for the prepaid amount for the third night. Some of the issues we encountered during our stay at this hotel:
1) Lack of Hot Water: Initially, there was no hot water in the bathroom, necessitating a room change.
2) No Ventilation/Air Conditioning: The absence of proper ventilation in the bathroom and toilet, coupled with no air conditioning, has led us to keep the room windows open for extended periods, proving impractical during the peak winter season. This has resulted in condensation and persistent odours, particularly problematic when using the bathroom and toilet.
3) Inadequate Space: The room is exceptionally small with no wardrobe, leaving no space for unpacking or even leaving the suitcases open.
4) Limited Power Outlets: With only one power plug near the bathroom, We had to disconnect the TV and seek an extension from reception for charging devices.
5) Noise Insulation Issues: Poor noise insulation has made it challenging to sleep, as we can hear every activity from neighbouring rooms. With all these noises, we woke up in the middle of the night.
6) Lack of Basic Amenities: Essential services like laundry are not provided, and basic amenities such as a kettle and toiletries are lacking.
7) Unsafe Shower Area: The confined shower area, equipped with a curtain, presents a safety hazard as it tends to be slippery. Even with cautious showering, water consistently seeps into the carpeted section of the main room, owing to the absence of a bathroom door and limited space for proper water containment. To mitigate this, we had to improvise by using the bathmat as a makeshift barrier, followed by the inconvenience of squeezing it into the bathroom after each shower. Additionally, the lack of racks or hooks in the bathroom compounds the challenge, making it impractical to hang bath towels or clothes.
8) Room Conditions: The rooms appear worn out and desperately need upgrades.

Considering the gravity of these issues, We inquired with the hotel staff about the possibility of moving to a better room. Unfortunately, they mentioned that all their rooms have the same standard and that other rooms are even smaller. They seemed embarrassed to show us around, indicating their acknowledgment of the subpar conditions.

We believe the rooms in this hotel are only suitable for a one-night stay, a sentiment echoed by other travellers in their reviews. The only positive aspect of this hotel is its location, situated close to the train station and at the centre of Valence.

We regret paying 70 Euros per night for this hotel. Upon looking into alternative accommodations, We found that Airbnb offers better options at a more reasonable and cheaper price than this hotel.