I had reserved a twin room on the hotel's internet site for 2 nights but when my friend and I arrived, we were shown a double room and the proprietor/desk clerk, instead of apologising, just said "you didn't ask for a twin". After much discussion, he begrudgingly let us have another room for one night (along a dingy landing off a small courtyard, with a tiny bathroom) and told me I'd never find another room for the second night (which was wrong). At breakfast, the tables were too small for the food and the seats were low and not suitable for the elderly (which we're not, but by then we were looking out for faults). The thing that really got me was that our experience would have been entirely different if the bloke had said "oh I'm sorry, there must have been a mix-up, let me see what I can do" rather than treating me as the enemy. The room was OK for the price but not great.

Just returned from a month in Europe and found this hotel to be the low point of our accommodation. As written in a previous tripadvisor review, the room (apparently their best) was shabby and the cleanliness questionnable. When I complained that the bed cover was dirty, the proprietor indicated that this was to be expected. The room had a chemical smell (cleaning solvent, insecticide?) that made my husband and I both nauseous and left my throat burning. Not what we expected from the Frommer's guide. After one night, we ended up finding alternate arrangements elsewhere in town.

My husband and I stayed there for a short break in September 2004. Having read the review from Frommer, we expected a simple, but charming hotel.

In reality, the hotel isn't well maintained. The garden and room which look lovely on the picture are shabby. The toilets make a terrible noise when flushing - they look like 'portable' toilets.

The hotel is also located opposite a huge parking lot just outside the historic part of Pau.

I would say, stay there if you arrive late at night and can't find anywhere else to stay, but do not plan to stay there for a 'charming' week end - you will find this hotel depressing despite welcoming staff.

Do not make your decision based on the pictures and review of the Frommer. Being French, I am actually familiar with the standards of hotel in France. We're also a young couple, so usually not too fussy!

Go down to Bielle - it's beautiful there and unspoilt.