Best Western Alba Hotel

The Best Western Alba Hotel is best described as a solid mid-range property. It's geared toward guests who find its convenient location more important than frills and features. The exterior and entryway might be the hotel’s most distinct assets. The property occupies an inviting five-story townhouse with a sunny stucco facade finished in white trim. Beyond the entryway, the lobby is small but spirited with high, bright-orange, arched ceilings, a huge gilded-framed painting, a mirrored reception desk, and a handful of tiny (almost comically) squat chairs. Decor choices sometimes feel vaguely off-key, but the property is clean and well-kept. It’s not really a spot to hangout, then again, the tourists and travelers who frequent the property, which include couples and families, are usually planning to spend more time outside the hotel than in it.

The Alba Hotel is located on a main shopping avenue just a five-minute walk from Nice-Ville, the city’s main train station. Promenade des Anglais -- and thus the waterfront and the beachfront -- is a pleasant 15-minute walk down Avenue Jean Medecin, filled with restaurants and shops. Within 15 to 20 minutes guests can walk to Cours Saleya market, Old Town (Vieille Ville), the Nice Opera, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Place Garibaldi. Public transportation is also convenient, with a tram stop a five-minute walk away on Avenue Jean Medecin. Nice Côte d’ Azur Airport is about a 15-minute drive or 35 minutes via public transit. With the main train station so close, trips to Monaco and Cannes are convenient; the ride to each is about 25 minutes.

Guest rooms are contemporary and well-sized, although somewhat generic. While their high-pile royal purple carpeting conveys a touch of personality, the cream-colored walls, white bedding, and chain-hotel artwork feels cookie-cutter. But floor-to-ceiling windows keep the spaces sunny. Small, wood laminate desks feature outlets, safes, minibars stocked with items like soft drinks and chocolate, and coffee/tea service (electric kettles or coffeemakers). The 26-inch flat-screen TVs are wall-mounted above desks, and Wi-Fi is free. Translucent acrylic desk and side chairs are chicly modern, though not particularly cozy, and the headboard-mounted bedside tables are small. Bathrooms are rather little, too, but they're well-maintained, with white and gray tiling, shower/tub combos, and separate toilet stalls, All come stocked with old-fashioned hose-shaped hairdryers and free individual toiletries. Most rooms are Standard Double/Twin Rooms, but Superior, Triple, and Duplex Rooms are also available. Duplex Rooms, which feature loft areas, can accommodate up to four guests. While rooms are air-conditioned, guests occasionally complain it's not switched on in the springtime, even when the warm weather warrants it. Noise isn’t an issue in rooms that face the back, but exterior noise can be a problem in street-facing rooms.  

The hotel has few extra property features, though a buffet breakfast is provided for an additional fee. The breakfast room is pleasant, if cafeteria-like, with cafe tables and cornflower blue mesh-back chairs, although there is a stretch of outdoor terrace seating that provides a far more picturesque backdrop. While not huge, the buffet is decent with standard fare like cereal, breads, scrambled eggs, yogurts, juice, and hot drinks. Some guests find the extra fee pricey, though cheaper rates may be available if morning meals are added during booking. Room service for breakfast can be arranged. Other features include a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, a small business corner with a computer and printer for guest use, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Take note that there is no full-service restaurant, bar, or fitness facilities on the premises.