Ibis Styles Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean

About 5 minute walk from the train station. Like any Ibis, it’s fairly simple but clean. Would stay again if it’s a short stay.

The Ibis Styles Gare is a very good hotel, near the train station where I arrived. The hotel is reasonably priced, reasonably modern, reasonably accommodating, and reasonably close to the tram lines. To review more particularly, first of all there were three Hotel Ibis signs that one can see from the train station; so it is very difficult to determine which one is the right one. When facing away from the station, one must walk to the hard right for the Ibis Styles on Tauzia Street. The breakfast (included) was ample and tasty. However, no one greeted me when I entered the empty breakfast room, but it seems that several ladies should have been there because they looked at me sternly when they discovered me. When I tried to take a cafe Cappuccino, the glass or cup next to the machine was much too small. The coffee overflowed the glass. I threw my hands up in exasperation. The clerk at the front desk who could see me from the desk came and showed me that they were big cups already on the table. C O I K. Of course, if I had seen the cups on the table as I walked in or if I had been greeted as I walked in, I would have known that I could get a cup from my then yet undesignated place. The room is well furnished and well provided, although the lighting leaves something to be improved. Because I needed to leave at 4 a.m., I was glad for a 24-hour front desk. However, the desk agent was often doing something in the area near the breakfast room. The staff was, nevertheless, polite and professional.

This review is for the Ibis Styles Hotel Gare Saint Jean, (please note there are 4 Ibis hotels all within close proximity of each other at the train station). I have used the Ibis hotel brand on many occasions in various countries, as they are basic, standard, and value for money, which suits when you are out and about all day and not spending any amount of time in the hotel. You also know what you're going to get with Ibis being a well known brand. This hotel was well below standard - it was like an old youth hostel. It was tired, dated, and I felt grubby and dirty. The rooms were very small, there was no wardrobe to speak of, just a boxed off location with 3 coat hangers. There was only one bedside table/shelf. Only one of the bedside lamp worked. The floor felt a bit gritty in places under foot and the bathroom was just dirty and needed a good deep clean. The shower floor tiles were dirty and the tile grout black. The toilet seat was stained and dirty looking. I actually bought a sponge and cleaner just to give it the once over but it was ground in. The room had a tv and a hairdryer in the bathroom but there was no safe deposit box for your valuables, there was no kettle for making coffee, so really very very basic. I ended up using the one plastic chair in the room as the other bedside table. The Breakfast was a continental breakfast and was absolutely fine. The staff were very friendly and they were constantly topping up the food, so there was always plenty even on a day we arrived for breakfast in the last half hour. The tables were pre prepared/set with horrible green plastic trays that contained a plate, cup and cutlery which felt prison like, in garish colours of yellow, orange and green. In the reception area there was a sofa area with a tv where they showed football matches and there was a small pool table too. Overall I wouldn't recommend this hotel, it was just too basic, tired and dirty as the pictures show. It's a shame because there is just no excuse these days for lack of cleanliness.

This hotel is what I classify as posh budget. My number one thing I look for is a good a**osphere at a hotel. This certainly had it as the staff were all very happy and welcoming and happy to help. The hotel was nice and clean. Our bathroom had a large walk in shower with rainfall shower head (plus standard). We were lucky to be upgraded to a family room so had loads of space and a sofa(bed). The bed itself was I think a Queen and comfy. The real benefit/bonus of an Ibis Styles is the included breakfast. There are so many options from fresh fruit, cereal to meat and cheese and pasties. The location is great too. About 100 metres over the road is Bordeaux’s train station. Just outside (or other way about same distance another stop) is the tram stop of 2 lines. 3 or 4 quick stops and you into the heart of Bordeaux’s tourist area along the river. I could not fault this hotel and we intend to go back.