The prior review by Mandelbrot says it all.

We arrived in Nimes after an all-day drive from Dijon. At the time, Tripadvisor had a fairly high rating for the hotel (#4 of 36, or something like that). Based on this rating, we booked a room at L'Orangerie.

As a preliminary matter, to get there, you have to drive through Nimes, which has some of the more depressing scenery in Provence. Do NOT spend time in Nimes if you don't have to. Go right to St. Remy.

In any case, as for the hotel, the place is a total joke. The "gym" -- which is advertised as one of the hotel's amenities -- is really a 75 sq foot shack with what looks like a vintage treadmill from the 1950's, and virtually no other equipment. The "pool" is more like a large bathtub than a pool.

Inside the hotel, the hallways were dark; apparently, the motion sensors didn't work, although it's possible that they don't have sensors. The room itself is just plain gross. My poor mother wiped a kleenex on the table and it was covered with filth. No coffee maker. Musky sheets and bed. We were afraid to sleep there. After a few minutes of first entering the room, we told the front desk we could not possibly stay.

Despite our fatigue, we put our bags in the rental car, and drove to Arles. In Arles, we stayed at Jules Ceasar, a very average experience, but infinitely better than L'Orangerie. Vacations are just too precious to waste on dumps like this.

Based on my experiences at this Best Western and with Delta (which we used to fly to and from Europe), I would advise avoiding American brands for European travel. For hotels, you cannot go wrong with Accor or Novotel.

Hope this helps.

This hotel committed two cardinal sins in my book. Firstly, we booked it as a stopover on a very long car journey - 1200 miles - and key to this was an ability to arrive, eat and sleep. Despite extensive advertising as a hotel with excellent dining -its own literature decribes it as one of its prestige dining hotels - we arrived at 18:00 to be told we could not be accommodated for dinner. This in an establishment with only 19 rooms. Turns out the restauarant is only open from 20:00-21:30!!!!!!

So no dinner. No apology, no offer of help, no offer a quick sandwich, no booking of another establishment. Just a copy of an innacurate map and a general indication "You'll find something in town". That is a half hour walk away through some downmarket streets (lots of single, scruffy men hanging around on corners and at least 3 beggars on the way), and the only place we could find open was a crummy pizza joint. So much for "fine dining" and customer service.

Secondly, whilst were out, hotel staff entered our room and left it both unlocked and the door AJAR!!!!! £1500 worth of laptop, £1000 worth of camera, passports and other personal items left exposed to anyone who wanted to walk off with them. This is pure negligence.

The hotel itself is supposed to be 3 star. Be clear: it is not. I would rate it one star at best. It's old, dog-eared, grubby and tired. Doors are cheap panel affairs, locks don't work, decor is either white paint or Louis XV vernacular, tiles are cracked and grubby, the bath was engrained with dirt and TINY. Shower didn't even have a thermostat. There is no room service (except for breakfast). Corridor lights were left off, so you had to stumble about in the dark

We were allowed to have breakfast, but at Euros 9.50 it is very poor value and not very good - in town there are many cafes offering a splendid breakfast for half that. And the hotel provides no service, either. Coffee (in thermos flasks!) had run out, tables were not set, there were no knives. Staff had to be chased, and were grumpy and slow.

On check out no-one thought to ask us if we had enjoyed our stay. We had not. Last time we stay in a French Best Western.

Do yourself a favour. Book one of the many Accor hotels, an Ibis or Etap, and be assured you'll be able to get a meal after a long journey and a modern room with all the basic facilities.

The hotel is very quiet, comfortable and was within easy walking distance to Nimes centre. Would rate this hotel as a 3 star. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Dining was excellent with great presentation.

Arriving at L'Orangerie the first time for me was like arriving at a stately home; a winding drive through tall trees to an ample carpark, then a stroll though the garden to reception. Well located if you have a car, this hotel is just off the ring-road outside of Central Nimes (5-10 minutes walk/bus/drive to town & station). A very nice restaurant & pleasant courtyard setting, the hotel has pleasant Provincial-style/furnished rooms and the corridors are full of various objets to make you feel as though you're in someones home. Away from the bustle of town, and far enough from the road to be peaceful/quiet at night. Loved it enough to return 3 times now.