34 boulevard Saint Roch, Avignon, France | (618) 248-8274
At the foot of the ramparts, walking distance to attractions
Two-minute walk to Avignon's central train station
Huge rooms with Provencal decor, sitting areas, and terraces
Mini-fridges, coffee/tea service, and flat-screen TVs
Rooftop terrace with wooden loungers and small pool
Grand reception area with small bar and lounge spaces
Breakfast buffet served in bright dining area (extra fee)
Concierge and room service (limited hours)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Family and pet friendly (no extra fee)
Limited wellness facilities (no gym or spa, small pool)
In-room decor lacks grand feel of common areas
No full-service restaurant on-site
Breakfast and parking cost extra fees
The 122-room Avignon Grand Hotel is an upper-middle-range property with breezy Provencal decor well-located near the train station, directly outside the city walls. The hotel has a spacious lobby with a small bar and lounge areas, a courtyard with a terrace, and a rooftop terrace with loungers and small pool, though there's no gym. A breakfast buffet is served in a bright room and room service is available, albeit for extra fees, but there's no on-site restaurant. While room decor can feel more dated than common area decor, rooms are huge with sitting areas, terraces, plus bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. By comparison, the Hotel Cloitre Saint-Louis offers more amenities, like a high-end restaurant, but it can be pricier.
Scene
Mid-size hotel decked out with Provencal decor
Built in 2000, the Avignon Grand Hotel features a rectangular facade with a modern tiered layout. The front of the hotel is plain chain-hotel beige, but the back has sunny yellow walls that feel bright and homey against the hotel's courtyard garden. The two-story lobby offers grand Provencal style with concrete floors, wrought-iron accents, and window walls on two sides where natural light comes streaming in. In addition to the reception desk, there's a small lobby bar and carpeted nooks with IKEA-esque white couches that give guests a chance to relax and lounge. People can also gather in the garden terrace or on the rooftop terrace that surrounds a small pool, but for most guests this hotel is a starting point for exploring the old city right outside it's front doors. Another draw here, especially for families, are the spacious rooms, though the room decor doesn't quite match what's found in the lobby.
Location
At foot of ramparts, in walking distance to train station and attractions
The Avignon Grand Hotel is located just outside of Avignon's famous old city walls (truly -- they're right across the street). It's a spot that's in walking distance to old-town sights. The regal Palais des Papes, for example, is a 16-minute walk away. Avignon's central train station (Gare d'Avignon Centre) is just a two-minute walk away, while the Palais des Papes is a 15-minute walk. Nearby airports include Avignon - Caumont Airport (20-minute drive), Nimes Airport (45-minute drive), and Marseille Provence and Aix en Provence Airports (one-hour drive). The TGV station is less than 10 minutes away via the regional train from the Gare d'Avignon Centre. Parking is available on site for an extra fee.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with Provencal touches, terraces, and separate showers and tubs
Rooms range from rather spacious to downright huge with at least 430 square feet of space, and up to 700 square feet in apartments and duplexes. The Provencal-style decor offers local color with wrought-iron and white-painted wood furniture, but the wall-to-wall carpeting and drapes and upholstery in pink, red, and yellow feel outdated (though soft refurbishments were occurring during our 2016 visit). Bathrooms have beige-tiled floors and white tiled walls, plus glass shower stalls and separate soaking tubs. In the rooms that have them, the outdoor terraces are nice and spacious enough for lounging. Views either face the garden or, better yet, the ramparts. All rooms include separate sitting areas, safes, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea service with electric kettles, and mini-fridges stocked with bottled water. Bathrooms have hairdryers and free individual toiletries. Upgraded rooms might add terraces with tables and chairs, dining areas, or extra bedrooms.
Features
Rooftop pool, breakfast buffet, lobby bar, and room service -- but no restaurant or gym
Avignon Grand claims to be a four-pearl property, but the features tell another story, with only some of the expected amenities on offer. In addition to the well-maintained and manicured lawns and a first-floor terrace, the hotel has a terrace on the roof featuring a stylish terra-cotta patio and wooden lounge chairs that surround a circular pool. The pool, though, is small for a hotel of this size and is only opened during the summer months. There's no gym or other wellness facilities. For dining, the hotel offers a nice buffet breakfast with hot and cold options, served in a bright dining room. Most guest are charged an extra fee (some guests find it pricey), but kids under 16 eat free. There's also a small but stylish bar with lounge spaces in reception, open through mid-evening. There's no on-site restaurant, though Avignon Grand Hotel's sister property, Le Cloitre Saint Louis, has a restaurant, a four-minute walk from the property. Room service is available into the evening.Pets are allowed in specific rooms, and the hotel is family friendly with laundry and babysitting services available all for extra fees. The front desk runs 24 hours, offering concierge services as well. Wi-Fi throughout is free, but parking costs an extra fee.