Ibis Styles Niort Poitou-Charentes

We failed to do our homework. Earlier in the week, we enjoyed staying at the wonderful, very modern, Hotel Styles Ibis in Castelnaudary, and having stayed at other Ibis Stlyes hotels, in our rush to book somewhere convenient on our route booked this Ibis Styles without checking reviews. What a mistake to make. This hotel is old, very faded and clearly unloved. It reeks of times gone past. It needs a complete renovation to bring it up to the standard expected of Ibis Styles hotels. Amusingly, there are 12 Tesla charging points in the car park, presumably to garner points towards somehow getting ( maintains ? ) a 3 star rating. This hotel is 2 star, at best. This is the worst Ibis hotel we have ever stayed at - avoid.

My wife and I have stayed in this hotel on numerous occasions during the past 20 odd years, long before it became an IBIS STYLES, it being a very convenient stopover on the long journey from our home in the south of France to the ferry ports in the north. However, the hotel has deteriorated in recent years - it is now very tired and in my view needs a complete overhaul. Furthermore, the amenities in the Aire itself have deteriorated and make it a less pleasurable stopover. We will seek out a hotel in Niort in future.

I have been an Ibis client for many years. After 5 hours drive through poor weather I arrived to fing no restaurant ope, the restaurant next door closed and the nearby patisserie closing. I ended up with a soggy chicken sandwich and bag of crisps from the Shell shop. In the reception area was an old wood pallet and two wooden crates serving as tables. No proper bar. The lady on duty was lovely but disillusioned. At 80 euros it was dreadful and the head was missing from my hair dryer. Breakfast fine. Sad!

An hour to check in and no one else at the reception they stated he could not find my booking. There was walk ins asking if any room was available he had doubled the rate and asking for cash. stating his machine was not working. I would not leave as I had prepaid at it was now 11 pm. He finally gave up and gave me a room and took my card details as security despite proving i had pre-paid. I think I have been charged twice. The room is basic, I just need to sleep but saw the bar the next day it was a 2ft counter.