As other reviewers have mentioned, this really isn't a hotel but rather a long-term residence. Expect to see retirees at breakfast in their bathrobes and slippers!

While the overall stay was satisfactory, there were many small inefficiencies that if improved, would make the experience better.

Our room had a strong chemical order when we entered, perhaps due to an effort to irradicate the smell of smoke. The room was supposed to be "no smoking" but there were ashtrays on the desk!

The furnishings were a bit spotty for a long-term residence. There was a breadboard but no knife, dishliquid but no sponge or towel for drying dishes. There was no ironing board or iron (but perhaps these were available in the laundry room – I didn't check). The shower was bare-bones, with absolutely no place to put your soap or shampoo except the floor itself.

The management was a bit disorganized, and clearly understaffed. One colleague was promised that the reception would be open until midnight, but the reception was forced to close at 9pm because the next shift called in sick. I ended up having to take the key for him, and then post a message on the door telling him to come up to my room to get his key, which he did at 11:45pm! (They said that they send everyone an email with the code for the safe in the entrance way that will contain their room key, but neither I nor my two colleagues received it.)

We were lucky that we managed to procure a hairdrier. Another colleague tried day after day and was told they had no more. "People steal them," they said, but when we borrowed ours, the made no record of the fact. No wonder they disappeared!

My wife went down to reception one day to ask for more shampoo and was told "Oh, we don't have that here. You have to ask the maintenance man." but offered no information about how he could be contacted.

Despite this, the bed was comfortable, the room was quiet and it was nearby the tram, as well as basic shopping. But bring your own hair drier, if you need one!

Air con was a treat for us by this point in our trip and all the space was fab. Very helpful and friendly staff who told us which tram to get and where from. Great location- 3 tram stops to main central part of the city. Very clean bathroom and kitchen was really useful.

One interrupted nights sleep due to other guests but overall very good. Out of hours access and free parking out the front were amongst the added extras making this place an ideal place to stay to see the city

As someone who likes to find accommodation at prices that are easy on the wallet, I figured that these 1-2 person studios, at a nightly rate of only €39 per unit, on Booking.com, might just fit the bill. The only extra was €1.10 per person, per night, tourist tax. No breakages deposit; late arrival fee; cleaning charge or minimum number of night restrictions were applicable. Also the cancellation policy could hardly be better.

However, we never saw what we had initially booked, as at check-in a most charming gentleman (whose name we don't have) totally surprised us by giving us an upgrade to a larger 2-3 person studio apartment. We think it was his "peace-offering" to us, because France had, controversially, denied Ireland its place in the current World Cup.

ACCOMMODATION
Our apartment was on the first floor. It had a nautical theme, with lots of blue and white. There was a faint smell of stale tobacco smoke in the carpeted sittingroom, but perhaps my asthma made me ultra-sensitive. The couch converted into an already-made double bed and we assume the extra armchair would have become a single bed. The kitchenette contained microwave, electric 2-ring hob; fridge; coffee maker and compact Bosch dishwasher. Small expresso coffee-cups were supplied, but no tea-cups. Bathroom (minus a hairdryer) was spacious and the shower worked well. We were located to the front of the building on a busy road. Pellegrin Hospital is not far away and loud sirens could be heard at various times ..... so, definitely, we were not in the quietest of places! The staff were very friendly and were at all times eager to answer any of our queries. Alexander, in particular, was very courteous and helpful.

Check-out was at 10 a.m. There is a locked luggage-room (no charge), on the ground floor, where you can safely leave your belongings, if you wish. Just check reception hours!

GENERAL
Tramline A serves the area and was both frequent and efficient. Get off at Givinies. Look out for Chartreuse Cemetery, as the apartments are directly across on the tree-lined road. There's a flower shop at entrance to the cemetery. We shopped for groceries, wine, etc; in the giant Auchan Hypermarket, in the Meriadeck Commercial Centre. approx. 10-15 mins. walk towards the city, or 3 stops on the tram. Closer by, is a much smaller supermarket. To get there, walk left and left again as you exit the main door of the apartment block.

Bus Liane1 brought us to and from Merignac airport to city centre. Single fare was €1.40 each. Ticket was valid for 60 mins and could also be used for the trams and other buses.

CONCLUSION
We made our choice, overall, on value for money and proximity to public transport and were not disappointed. However,if your search is for luxury, or a daily cleaning service included, or want to be located in the very heart of Bordeaux city centre, then these modern apartments may not be entirely to your liking.

If you don't expect much, then this hotel is OK. The "sofa beds" are more accurately cots, and quite uncomfortable. The location is NOT in the city center, though close to the tram lines. This location is directly in front of a cemetery. The doors are never locked, and no code is needed which explains why one night, we came back in the late evening to find someone quite intimidating sleeping on the couch by the reception. DID NOT FEEL SAFE AFTER THIS (no security personnel). On the way back to the airport, was given wrong information; was told to take a bus that apparently no longer exists which I had to find out already after taking a first connection to somewhere far from the city. How can reception not be able to give directions to the airport? I would definitely recommend the IBIS over this place, which is around same budget.