Ajoupa Apart'hotel Nice

The Ajoupa Apart'hotel is an apartment hotel with utilitarian-looking rooms situated in two separate but nearby town houses along a bustling pedestrian street. While there's no real lobby, a small wood-paneled reception area with traditional speckled cement floors, a few upholstered chairs, and some maps and brochures, is on the fifth floor. Guests should note that while the hotel has an elevator, it stops on landings between floors,so guests still need to negotiate up a shorter flight of stairs to reach rooms. This apartment hotel is a good choice for budget-minded families, couples, and solo travelers looking for an apartment-style place with cooking facilities.

Ajoupa is situated in the heart of Nice on a bustling pedestrian street about a three-minute walk to the Promenade du Paillon and a five-minute walk to the eastern end of the Promenade des Anglais and the beach. Guests can walk to Cours Saleya market and Old Town (Vieille Ville) in about 10 minutes. Plenty of boutiques and stores are within a two-minute walk, including Galeries Lafayette Nice Massena, and on the Avenue Jean Medecin. Other attractions in walking distance include the Nice Opera (seven minutes), Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (13 minutes), Musee d'Art et d'Histoire Palais Massena (10 minutes), and Place Garibaldi (14 minutes).For sights farther out, the Massena Tram Station (T1) is a three-minute walk from the hotel, and several buses are within a five-minute walk. Nice-Ville, the main train station is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Guests can take public transportation to the Musee Matisse (25 minutes), Musee National Marc Chagall (25 minutes), and Nice Cote d’ Azur Airport (35 minutes). The hotel can arrange for airport transfers, and while there is no on-site parking, the hotel offers discounts at nearby lots. 

Ajoupa's 32 studios and apartments include Standard and Superior Singles and Doubles, as well as Junior and Two-Room Suites, which can accommodate up to four guests. Standard Single Studios, at 140 square feet, are tiny, while others measure at least 200 square feet.Apartments are basic, with bare wood or tile floors, white walls and painted or wallpapered accent walls, and a mix of wood furniture. Brown drapes and matching pillows help pull the look together, and artwork over the beds adds splashes of style. While some rooms have been renovated, others show signs of wear.All rooms include kitchenettes with sinks, fridges, stove-top burners, microwaves, kettles, toasters, and dishware. Rooms also come with Nespresso coffeemakers, but guests must purchase their own pods. Rooms also have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, irons and ironing boards, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms may have balconies, sitting areas, couches, and other extras. Bathrooms vary, but most have white tile with either single-standing showers with rainfall showerheads, or shower/tub combos, and come stocked with hairdryers, towels, and welcome toiletries, which are not replenished. Housekeeping comes once a week. Guests are expected to wash dishes and take out their own garbage before they leave. Some past guests have complained about noise traveling between the units.

Aside from a small reception area near the front desk, there's no common space for guests to gather and mingle, and as a budget property of self-contained apartments, facilities are limited. A continental breakfast of bread, jam, pastries, and coffee for the Nespresso machines is available for a fee, and guests can have it delivered to their rooms or take it at one of two cafes. The staff can arrange for airport transfers, laundry service, and luggage storage. Guests are given free beach umbrellas and beach mats to use during the day. Cribs and extra beds are available for an extra fee. There's no on-site parking, but guests get reduced rates at nearby lots. Wi-Fi is free, and guests report the signal is strong.