3 quai Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France | (937) 315-4602
Historic, intimate boutique hotel with nautical vibe
Prime location on waterfront in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Easy walk to restaurants, train station, and beach
Comfortable guest rooms, all with sea views and mini-fridges
Charming wine bar with outdoor seating on the water
Sailboat with skipper available for full- or half-day rentals
Small on-site sauna
Past guests have noted a helpful, friendly staff
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Pet-friendly (extra fee)
Some guest rooms are dated
No full-service restaurant
No gym or pool
Fee for breakfast and parking
The family-run Welcome Hôtel is a three-pearl boutique property situated on the water in the heart of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Its 35 guest rooms are well-maintained and comfortable with a nautical motif, but many are dated. However, all feature sea views, and come with AC, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has a charming wine bar with waterfront seating, and a buffet or in-room continental breakfast is available for a fee, but there's no full-service restaurant. No fitness center or pool is on-site either, but there's a small sauna, and a sailboat (skipper included) that can be rented for half- or full-day excursions is a perk. Travelers looking for a stay with a pool can consider Le Versailles Hotel.
Scene
Intimate and historic waterfront hotel with nautical theme for leisure travelers
Hotel Welcome, which has been run by the same family since the 1940s, is a charming boutique property situated in a six-story building with a peach facade and sea-blue shutters. It's been a hotel since the 18th century, catering to leisure travelers, including many artists and writers. Among the most frequent and famed guest was Jean Cocteau -- a room is named after him and one of his drawings hangs in the wine bar. Decor throughout is tastefully nautical, with wood trim and sea-themed photographs and paraphernalia. The lobby has a small lounge with a floating, circular staircase, and the space connects to a handsome bar, with cobblestone walls and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. But the real highlight here is the sea views, available from every room and from the wine bar's waterside seating.
Location
Waterfront spot in a charming village, walking distance to the beach and restaurants
This waterfront hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer gives guests the full French Rivera experience, set in the heart of the charming village. Most of the village's restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars are within walking distance, and the 14th-century Chapelle St-Pierre is located on the same block as the property. It's about a seven-minute walk to the beach, and Rothschild Gardens is a 10-minute drive. The train station, Gare de Villefranche sur Mer, is only an eight-minute walk. From there, guests can get to regional hotspots like Nice, Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Avignon. Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is a 30-minute drive, or more with traffic.
Rooms
Individually decorated, all with sea views -- but some dated details
Individually decorated guest rooms are clean and comfortable, although many are dated. While decor varies, there's a gentle nautical motif across the board, with items like a porthole-style mirror, sea-themed mural, or model of an antique diving helmet set on a desk. More thematic rooms mimic ships' cabins, with wood walls and wainscoting. Some are vaguely attractive, but several units have peachy-pastel walls, bright aqua carpeting, and stuffy, striped pillows and drapes. However, all feature excellent sea views.
Entry-level rooms can be fairly compact, though upgraded units are considerably larger. All have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms add balconies, living rooms with pull-out couches, and even whirlpool tubs. Bathrooms vary as much as room decor, but they're also dated, with tiling in bright, aquatic colors. Shower/tub combos with wall-mounted soap dispensers (of good quality), bidets, and hairdryers are standard.
Features
Wine bar with waterfront seating and sailboat rental, but no restaurant or pool
Like many smaller hotels, extra property features at Welcome Hotel are limited, but one here is particularly exceptional: a hotel sailboat, available to rent by the day or half-day, skipper included. The hotel also has a charming cobblestone wine bar that serves up local wines, cocktails, and snacks at chairs along floor-to-ceiling windows, or at cafe tables outside that face the sea. But the best option? The "wine pier," with faux wicker couches that are set only a few feet from the water.
This wine bar is where the buffet breakfast is served, with a spread including eggs, bacon, and pastries, but it costs extra, as does a lighter, continental breakfast (bread, jams, coffee) which can be ordered to guest rooms. The hotel lacks a full-service restaurant, and there's no fitness center or pool, but there's a small sauna and towels and umbrellas are available for beachgoers. Valet parking costs extra, and dogs are allowed for a surcharge. The front desk is open 24-hours, and guests find staff helpful, friendly, and attentive. Wi-Fi throughout is free.