As part of a family visit to Normandy, I stayed at the ibis Styles Caen Gare hotel, a property located in the new Rives de l’Orne district and, as its name suggests, near the SNCF train station.
The hotel is basic, but the fact that it is almost new makes it pleasant… A look back at a stay where the fundamentals were present.
Booking
I booked this property a few days before my stay on the AccorHotels website. This was not my first choice, but the Best Western hotel I prefer to stay in was not available.
I miss the old Holiday Inn that was closed two years ago and offered unbeatable rates… I proceed with the reservation, on a non-exchangeable and non-refundable fare, which is charged directly to me.
Arrival
Two days before my arrival, I receive an email inviting me to check-in online, which I do. I was asked for my credit card information again, even though I had given it when I made the reservation…
A nice demonstration of the digital amateurism of AccorHotels. I also enter a theoretical time of arrival, with little hope of seeing my room available on arrival, since I no longer have a status in the chain.
When I arrived, my room was ready, the hotel is far from being full. As I filled it in when I checked in online, I did not need to give my credit card. No upgrade obviously but I wasn’t expecting one.
Room
The assigned room was located on the 6th floor of the property, with a partial view of the city.
Surprisingly, the corridors are equipped with rather insensitive presence detectors, which makes the way to the room complicated.
This hotel remains an ibis hotel: the furnishings and amenities are basic.
When entering, you have to put your access card in the reader near the door to activate the light, as in most hotels now. The bathroom is located on the left. For cleaning purposes, the floor is made of a large sheet of linoleum, not very pleasant. The whole is new and clean.
Toiletries are reduced to their simplest form, namely two all-purpose soap dispensers at the sink and in the shower. The towels are of good quality, but the washing or rather the drying they undergo makes them very dry.
The room is rather spacious for the category, and has a desk (increasingly rare). The bed on the other hand is VERY uncomfortable, and the bedding doesn’t help. The basics are there, without more.
Hotel facilities
The hotel has few notable amenities, the only one being the fitness room, located on the second floor of the property, on the mezzanine of the reception. It is very small and has only 3 cardio machines. Not tenable on a long stay.
Various facilities for children are available, such as a mini-billiard on the same mezzanine, or various electronic games near the lobby.
Food options
The hotel does not have a restaurant, but only a breakfast room. The whole concept of ibis Styles is to offer an “all-inclusive” experience: breakfast is therefore included regardless of the rate paid.
We could have feared a lower quality: it is not the case. Of course, the buffet is not as plentiful as in a 5 star hotel, but here again, the basics are there, with even eggs to cook, and a self-service fresh orange juice machine.
Pastries are also available. We note the lack of local touch with Norman products not represented (farm butter, teurgoule, etc.)
Departure
The departure formalities were very simple, although quite dehumanized. It has to be said that this is a bit of a leitmotif here: interactions with staff and service are pared down, and while not unpleasant, you can feel the lack of passion in the property’s staff. It’s a pity.
Bottom line
A few years ago this ibis Styles would have been an ibis or an ibis Budget, because of its minimal service. But travelers’ expectations have changed. It’s basic but the job is well done. On the other hand, nearly 90€ per night, the weekend in province. It’s really expensive for a basic hotel.
