Our few days spent in the Camargue would have been great if it had not been for an almost total lack of sleep! Unfortunately our first two hotel choices (on Trip Advisor) were closed - we should have waited until they reopened! The Hotel Arcades' terrible mattress was one thing but also we suffered from street noise including the daily refuse collection at 5.30am. Earplugs didn't even help! Single glazing, hence the noise from drunken pedestrians, motorbikes, cars and dogs! Impossible to sleep soundly on that ancient mattress which seemed older than the town ramparts - the bed and bathroom both need urgent renovation. We came across the couldn't care less attitude (mentioned by another traveller) from at least two members of staff (or the owners?) - poor welcome and response to a simple request. A smile costs nothing. A real shame as it would not take much to change things for the better - if they really wanted to...

The trouble with taking a summer holiday in August in France is that it's the French summer holiday too. Not that we saw any evidence of crowded resorts or noisy guests.

No. It was just that there seemed to be a single, preoccupied, possibly harassed, lady running the whole of the Hotel Les Arcades.

Outside on the streets of Aigues-Mortes, some sort of colourful, raucous Medieval festival was taking place (the nature or origins of which I have yet to discover for we arrived in the early evening without prior knowledge!).

The lady running the hotel (who had the distinct and unnerving look of an unapologetic stand-in) seemed to have preferred to be out carousing and jousting with her fellow knaves rather than dealing with a couple of dusty English tourists who just rolled in sweating from a hot day's crusade through the Camargue.

Which was fair enough, I suppose, but we did feel distinctly unwelcome.

Continental breakfast - included in the price - was rather insubstantial (a very English understatement, my girlfriend would say). It was served single-handedly by our same lady again, perhaps grumpy this time from the hangover of a streetparty joined too late.

We stayed for one night in August 2007 during a tour around provence.
We arrived the weekend of the fete du village in honor of St Louis, which included numerous processions and villagers dressed in medieval
costumes. This was an added bonus for our short visit.

We were greeted very warmly, and our luggage was taken to the room which was at the very top of the hotel. The room had a very nice view
of this unique and well-preserved medieval village and its surrounding ramparts. The room was very quiet, nicely decorated and functional. Our only issue was that the mattress was too soft. There was a very nice complimentary continental breakfast included.

We ate dinner at the restaurant and the food was also very good.

Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay in this village and hotel, and would recommend them highly.

We have arrived in Aigues Mortes without reservation. We just entered the walls of the beautiful city looking for a nice place to spend one night in.
We found the perfect hotel in Les Arcades. They were fully booked. August is a busy month.. But they have offered us a room at the top of the building, in front of the apartment of the owners (I suppose). The room was clean, comfortable, with flowers on the windows.. We also enjoy the restaurant. They have a particular good cuisine and the service is also very good. Also breakfast was excellent - continental breakfast with fresh baked baguettes and butter, marmelades etc.I recommend this hotel to anyone interested in a nice stay in this wonderful town..