Hôtel Première Classe Marseille Vitrolles — Hotel in Istres

Stayed here for one night at the start of spending a few days photographing the wildlife of the Camargue. My flight landed rather late at the nearby Marseille airport and so I needed somewhere close by to sleep the first night. The airport hotels all seemed rather expensive and so I chose this self-proclaimed "budget" hotel for about £30 a night (for one person, paid in advance) including breakfast. I reached the hotel at 10.40 pm and found that the reception had closed for the night. I tried entering my booking number into "the machine" but no joy. So I went to the adjoining Campanile (they are part of the same chain) and found I was expected, with a card key ready for me to take back to the Premiere Classe annexe. My very basic room was a bit of a shock. I had a double bed but there was also a single bed "bunked" above it, at right angles. I had to be careful how I got of bed, lest I catch my head or back on the upper bed. There was a long human hair on my towel. The Wifi did not work. The two rooms adjacent to mine were occupied by a family that kept the doors open until late to allow ease of (shouted) communication and this was rather noisy for me. I was not looking forward to breakfast the next morning but - to my surprise - it was actually rather good!||||I don't object to the "budget" approach. Indeed, my next three nights were spent in an excellent and comfortable Ibis Budget hotel. But one can overdo the approach and, based on this one experience, this is what Premiere Classe...

I have arrived in the room and the first thing I noticed was the smell of cigarettes, I had to get my key from a terminal, so I was sure there was nobody, besides prior to my arrival I called the hotel three times but the telephone was not answered. I took the cover from the bed and opened the door and sprayed parfum all over in order to get rid of the smell.||I noticed that whenever I moved in my bed the smell got back, so I don't have the impression this is a one time occasion and therefore I don't understand why the cleaning staff did not notice this smell.||||The following morning when I called to talk about my experience the woman made clear that I exagerated and that I could have gone and talk to the reception. For sure I had seen nobody and when the gate for the parking was opened they told me to go to the terminal. I asked her to cancel my second night, and althought I did not receive a confirmation, I hope she cancelled my second night. ||||I found another hotel, paying 10 euro more and am now staying in a nice room that smells normal.||||First and for sure last experience with...

DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL ! ! You are not even guaranteed to get the key to your room as reception is closed from 9pm to 7am and you only have a check in tablet (if it works). Plus you have an 83p fee to pay for late check in (I would not pay 83p for a night there) Place isn’t safe, very dodgy at night and nobody available besides a phone number. The rooms are so small and you feel like anybody could walk in at any time, a bit of a motel vibe which you are paying 30/40E for a room that is the size of your bathroom. Very noisy and 1h walk from the airport which means you have to book a taxi as there is no shuttle bus. I’d like to inform you that a taxi costs 30€ for a 4 minute drive to the airport. YES 30 EURO it is a joke! So for your safety and to avoid you having regrets pay a hotel that is a little more pricey but worth it a millions times more. It would turn out to be cheaper somewhere else because they have airports shuttles. My mistake picking a cheap hotel, plus Ubers will not accept your trip as the airport is so close and they do not make enough...