15 rue Charles Domercq, Bordeaux, France | (251) 219-4428
Opposite a train station with express route to airport
Contemporary rooms with desks, iPod docks, and Nespresso machines
Evening lobby wine bar with happy hour
24-hour room service from partner restaurants
Buffet breakfast with cooked and cold options (at a fee)
Library that can act as a meeting room
On-site parking (fee) and free bike storage
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Removed from downtown
Rooms and bathrooms are on the small side
Complaints of noise from trains and other guests
No full restaurant or gym
The 37-room Best Western Royal Saint Jean is an upper-middle-range hotel just opposite a train station outside the center of Bordeaux. Rooms are contemporary and stylish, though small, outfitted with Nespresso machines, minibars, and iPod docks. The hotel lacks a restaurant, but a buffet breakfast with great local pastries is available for a fee. Additionally, a lobby bar is cozy and offers many of the region's fine wines in the evenings, and a library can be used as a meeting room. Note, a few rooms are only reached by stairs. This area isn't the nicest, but nearby trams run downtown or walks take about 20 minutes. Secure on-site parking is at a fee, while bike storage and property-wide Wi-Fi are both free. It's worth considering the more central Hotel Continental, which also has free cheese and wine nights.
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Scene
Cheerful, stylish hotel opposite a train station
A former 18th-century mansion, the Best Western Royal Saint Jean is on a street corner opposite a train station. The traditional stone exterior belies the refreshingly modern interiors, where an open-plan lobby features contemporary seating, text murals, and an elegant mix of textures. Also acting as the lobby bar, there are shelf-encased wine bottles, colorful patterned bar stools, and moody gray walls. Retro warm-toned tub chairs feel a bit dated, however. The 24-hour library also acts as a meeting room, but games such as chess and free-to-borrow books bring a friendly vibe to the space. Guests are largely couples on vacation, plus some corporate travelers, who don't mind being removed from downtown.
Location
Removed from town center, but well-connected via nearby train
The hotel is located in an area that's a bit rough around the edges, but it is just a two-minute walk from the Gare de Bordeaux - Saint-Jean train station, plus a three-minute walk from the nearest Tauzia tram stop. Regular trams run downtown with journey times of around 10 to 15 minutes, while walking takes between 20 and 30 minutes. Basilica of St. Michael is a 15-minute walk, Bordeaux Cathedral is a half-hour stroll, and Porte d'Aquitaine monument is a 20-minute walk. There are some restaurants and shops are in the immediate area, but more can be found in the town center. Bordeaux-Merignac Airport is a 25-minute drive away or one hour via an express bus running from the Gare de Bordeaux - Stain-Jean train station.
Rooms
Small, contemporary rooms with flat-screen TVs and Nespresso machines
Air-conditioned rooms underwent a refurbishment in 2016, resulting in a contemporary and stylish design. The mostly gray-scale design consists of gray carpets, accent walls, drapes, and bed runners, minimal and basic light-wood furniture, and orange desk chairs for a pop of color. A downside is that rooms are on the small side, and some past guests have complained of noise from nearby trains and other guests. Amenities are more than sufficient, consisting of Nespresso machines and kettles, iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, desks, minibars, free bottled water, and free Wi-Fi. Small wardrobes have safes. Modern, monochrome bathrooms have walk-in showers, hairdryers, and toiletries, plus small nail kits. Some rooms have small balconies overlooking the street, although views of nicer old buildings are mixed with uninspiring station views.
Features
Breakfast, wine bar, and free Wi-Fi
The lack of a full restaurant may be a notable downside for some, but room service is available 24/7 from partner restaurants. Additionally, a buffet breakfast is available for a fee, and it includes scrambled eggs, sausages, traditional "canele" pastries, smoked salmon, and all the typical continental fare. A lobby bar serves regional wines and daytime coffee, plus it has happy hour. The library has books and games, and also acts as a meeting room with audiovisual equipment. Secure parking is at a fee, while bike storage is free. Ironing facilities are free at reception, and laundry services are at a fee. Free Wi-Fi extends throughout the property.
