5 boulevard Heurteloup, Tours, France | (888) 710-7049
19th-century hotel near Tours station
10-minute walk to cathedrals, museums, and numerous restaurants
Contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, and toiletries
Upgrades include jetted tubs, living spaces, and Nespresso machines
Restaurant serving French fare, plus bar serving Loire Valley wine
Hot and cold items offered at the breakfast buffet
Heated indoor pool, hot tub, steam room, and massage treatments
24-hour front desk and on-site parking (fee)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms lack fridges and kettles (upgraded ones get coffeemakers)
Mix of classic and contemporary style can feel disjointed
Restaurant closed on weekends
Fees for breakfast and parking
Gym is tiny
The Hotel Oceania L'Univers Tours is an upper-middle-range property that blends a bold, contemporary design with Belle Epoque accents. It's well-located, set a 10-minute walk from major sights and the center's numerous restaurants and bars, plus a three-minute walk from Tours train station. The 91 spacious rooms have simple, modern furniture and pops of color, as well as flat-screen TVs with Disney channels, desks, and safes, but no fridges or kettles. A pleasant spa area has an indoor pool, hot tub, and treatment rooms. A tiny gym only has a few cardio machines. The traditional French restaurant serves three meals each day during select times, including a buffet breakfast, while a bar offers the region's famous wines. Travelers wanting a quiet location nearer Loire Valley castles may prefer the feature-packed Clarion Hotel Chateau Belmont.
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Scene
19th-century hotel with mix of contemporary and classic interiors, for better or worse
Old-fashioned lanterns, carved stone, and arched windows on the hotel's exterior show the historic side of Hotel Oceania L'Univers Tours, which has been welcoming guests since 1846. A hodgepodge of original features and contemporary additions, decor can feel disjointed at times, though it's mostly tasteful. Expect a classic, theater-like lobby, where blue frond-motif carpets and a sky mural ceiling combine with gold-topped marble columns and wrought-iron balconies in front of murals of people in old-fashioned period garb. It's sometimes hired out for functions with row seating, but generally it has arrangements of faux-leather sofas and throw pillows in primary colors. This carpet continues into the restaurant, where teal walls and armchairs in various green hues create a bold look. Fortunately, rooms are a bit more subdued and contemporary. The property attracts primarily couples, and the atmosphere is generally relaxed, with most guests spending their days exploring the town and surrounding region.
Location
Convenient setting by the train station and close to major attractions and restaurants
The hotel is on a lively boulevard on the edge of downtown, just a three-minute walk from Tours train station which runs to major cities. The City Hall and Vinci Congress Centre are both a four-minute walk away, while walks of 15 minutes lead to the half-timbered houses of medieval Plumereau square -- where charming cafes and restaurants are numerous. The Beaux Arts Museum, cathedrals, and Tours Chateau are all within a 15-minute walk, and it's half that to reach the main Rue Nationale shopping street. Travelers with cars may find the 30-minute drives to stunning historic castles in the surrounding region worth it. Tours Val de Loire Airport is a 10-minute drive, while it's just under a three-hour drive from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, or two hours via public transportation.
Rooms
Bright, contemporary rooms, but no fridges
Modern rooms feel a world apart from the old-fashioned lobby, outfitted in a subdued style consisting of wood floors, basic blond-wood furniture, white linens, and pops of red, pink, or blue in wall panels and patterned armchairs. A big downside is that rooms lack mini-fridges and kettles, but they do have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with the Disney channel, electronic safes, and wardrobes. Standard Rooms are a tight 18 square meters (194 square feet), while upgraded rooms add more space, bathrobes and slippers, and Nespresso machines. Modern bathrooms have showers, separate toilets, hairdryers, quality toiletries, and vanity kits. Some have jetted tubs. Suites start at 35 square meters (377 square feet), have cozy living areas, and sleep four to six people. Views are of the tranquil courtyard or street.
Features
Indoor pool and simple spa and well-reviewed French food at restaurant
Added in 2016, a small, heated indoor pool looks upscale and sits next to a black hot tub and an open rainfall shower. An attached glass-roofed terrace is tiny but houses a couple of loungers and woven basket chairs. A steam room is also available. Overlooking the pool, the tiny gym has just a few cardio machines. The restaurant serves a buffet breakfast (at a fee) with options such as eggs, sausage, and standard continental fare, plus great local cheeses and sweet brioche breads. Lunch and dinner at La Touraine are traditional French cuisine such as steak tartare and seafood dishes, but the restaurant is closed on weekends. The bar offers local fine wines and spirits. Parking is at a fee and reservations are recommended for the limited spaces. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
