New Hotel of Marseille Le Pharo

Great Hotel

I loved this hotel. It's on the edge of the old port, but it was still within walking distance. And I liked how it was a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the old port. Marseille doesn't have many beaches near downtown, but one of them was about two blocks from the hotel. Also, the hotel across the street from the Pharo palace and gardens, which offer great views of the sea and the city. The hotel is trendy and modern, and the room was spacious by European standards (about the size of an average US hotel room) and clean and comfortable. The bar and restaurant are nice with a terrace that was perfect on nice evenings. The staff was very friendly.

Too Trendy

Staff wears silly uniforms (all black with departments -front desk, room service, etc. and numbers on backs of shirts). Hallways have different color neon lights. Silly blown-up (floor to ceiling)photos in rooms. Room has a coffee machine that a mechanical engineer could not operate ( a staff memmber also did not know what all of the buttons did - we kept getting plain water for 2.50 euros per attempt to get a cup; but after complaining at checkout, was not charged). Nice area, 15 minute walk to most restaurants and some museums. Only REAL complaint: can't bring food to your room. Carrying a pizza from a nearby restaurant (I was tired and merey wanted to go to bed), I was stopped by a security person who told me that I couldn't bring it to my room BECAUSE THE HOTEL HAS A RESTAURANT. I proceeded to eat it in front of their restaurant. Same person then came out to inform me that he spoke to the manager and got special permission for just me, just tonight that I can bring the pizza to my room.

Excellent hotel for the money

I was pleasantly surprised by this hotel. It is a very good value for the quality, and in a good location in Vieux Port. Our room size was large, the bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom was a nice size and modern. My only complaint was with the air-conditioning, which was working, but did not cool very much. Because the nighttime desk receptionist did not speak sufficient English to understand my complaint, and I did not speak sufficient French to communicate in that language, we lived with the room being warm for the one night we stayed there.

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