Reims Luxury Getaway: Unforgettable Novotel Suites Stay!
Reims Luxury Getaway: Unforgettable Novotel Suites Stay! - A Rambling Review (Because Let's Be Real)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just spent a few days at the Novotel Suites in Reims and, well, let's just say it was an experience. This isn't your perfectly-polished travel brochure; this is the raw, unfiltered, and slightly sleep-deprived truth. I'm gonna spill the tea, the champagne (of course!), and everything in between. And yes, I'm going to be super honest about accessibility, because that's huge for me.
First Impressions (and a Little Panic):
Pulling up, the hotel looks sleek. Modern, clean lines. Tick. But initially, I was a little stressed. You know how it is. Checking in is always a gamble, right? Thankfully, the contactless check-in/out was a lifesaver. And the staff? Legitimately friendly. But this is where the messiness begins. My French is… let's call it "emerging." So, the 24-hour front desk was a godsend – especially when I locked myself out of my room (more on that later).
Accessibility - My Biggest Worry, Frankly:
Okay, so accessibility is a big deal for me. I need to know, can I actually navigate this place? And I'm happy to report, mostly, yes.
- Wheelchair accessible: The hotel boasts facilities for disabled guests, and I saw ramps and elevators (elevator) everywhere. The main areas were definitely accessible, which is a HUGE relief.
- Rooms: I didn't personally stay in an accessible room (though I did check a few pics online), but they do have them. Look for details and call the hotel to confirm if you need them.
- The Little Things: CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside the property felt reassuring. And the access to the hotel in general? Pretty easy, though the entrance could be a tad tricky depending on the weather conditions.
- It’s a good idea to contact the hotel BEFORE arrival if you have any accessibility concerns.
The Room - My Personal Sanctuary (Mostly):
Now, the room itself! Let's see… air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Double check! Because after all that French-speaking panic, I needed to sleep. The extra-long bed was a dream (for a small gal like myself, anyway) and honestly, the soundproofing was fantastic. I'm sensitive to noise, and I heard nothing from the hallway.
- Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi [free]): The Internet access – LAN was a bit of a head-scratcher for me. The Wi-Fi [free] was easier! A bit of a hassle to figure out in the beginning, but once it was set up… it was pretty great.
- The Bathroom Blues: Okay, the bathroom was nice, but I could have used a little bit more light, as well as a better mirror.
- The Finer Details: Complimentary tea, coffee/tea maker and free bottled water. Yes, please. The in-room safe box was handy for my valuables, and the hair dryer actually worked (unlike some I've encountered). The slippers were a nice touch!
- The "Uh Oh" Moment: So, remember me mentioning locking myself out? Yeah. That's where the staff trained in safety protocol came in clutch. They were super quick, and I didn't get to sleep under a star for the night, which was great.
Eating, Drinking, and Snacking (Because, Priorities):
Okay, champagne is always a must, especially in Reims, and the bottle of water provided was welcome. Let's talk food.
- Breakfast (Buffet): I was obsessed with the breakfast buffet. And I am someone who loves a great breakfast! The breakfast service was efficient, and the Asian breakfast options were a nice surprise (although I'm partial to the Western style, myself). There was a wide range of options, perfect because I woke up famished after a long day.
- Restaurants & Bars: There is a bar, and a restaurant (again, I wasn't particularly enamored of the menu options; I am a picky eater), and the poolside bar was a definite bonus. The coffee shop was a godsend in the mornings, as well.
- Room Service (24-hour): Yes, please! Excellent post-lockout-drama comfort food. (It was cheese and bread…the essentials!)
- Snack Bar & Convenience Store: Perfect for those late-night cravings. Plus, there was a convenience store on site! (Seriously, I can’t survive without those things).
Relaxing & Pampering - The "Treat Yo' Self" Factor:
Okay, I'm not usually a spa person, but… I was tempted.
- Fitness Center & Pool with a View: There’s a fitness center and a swimming pool [outdoor], plus you can use gym/fitness facilities, but I didn’t get around to using them. I'm more of a "sit and drink champagne" kind of relaxer, if I'm honest. The pool with view would have been amazing.
- Spa & Sauna: The hotel has a spa/sauna, and a steamroom, so if you are into that, the options are open!
Cleanliness and Safety (In This Day and Age):
This is important, people. You want to feel safe.
- Anti-viral cleaning products were used. Tick!
- Daily disinfection in common areas? Tick!
- Rooms sanitized between stays? Big tick!
- Hand sanitizer readily available.
- Safe dining setup? Yes!
- Staff trained in safety protocol. Definitely!
- Food Delivery: The hotel facilitates food delivery, which is great.
- Hygiene certification
Things to Do (Besides Drink Champagne, Obviously):
- Things to Do: Reims is a beautiful city!
- Getting Around: The car park [free of charge] was a definite plus.
Services and Conveniences - The Nitty Gritty:
- Air conditioning in public area and Daily housekeeping: Very good!
- Concierge: Super helpful with recommendations.
- Laundry service and dry cleaning are available!
- Cash withdrawal
- Invoice provided
- Facilities for disabled guests
Minor Imperfections (Because, Real Life):
- My one real gripe? The elevator could get busy. Like, really busy during peak hours. But honestly, that’s a minor quibble.
- There was no on-site, free car power charging station.
Who this Hotel is For (and Who it Might Not Be For):
- Absolutely perfect for: Couples looking for a romantic getaway, solo travelers who want a comfortable base, and families who need kid-friendly facilities.
- Maybe not the best for: Anyone who needs a super-luxurious, over-the-top experience. This is comfortable luxury, not Michelin-star luxury. Also, if you're super sensitive to noise, you might want to request a room away from the elevator.
The Verdict (Drumroll, Please!)
Overall, the Novotel Suites Reims was a very pleasant stay. It's a great base for exploring the city, I felt safe, and the staff were wonderful. The accessibility was a huge plus, and the convenience of the location was great. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for a comfortable, convenient, and relatively affordable luxury getaway.
My "Must-Do" Recommendation:
Visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. It's absolutely stunning, and just a short distance from the hotel. Also, drink all the champagne.
And now, the offer!
Escape to the Sparkling Heart of Champagne! Unforgettable Novotel Suites Reims - Book Your Luxury Getaway Now!
Tired of the ordinary? Craving a luxurious escape? The Novotel Suites Reims is calling! Book your stay now and experience the magic of Reims in style.
Here’s why you should book today:
- Unbeatable Comfort: Spacious, well-appointed suites with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and all the amenities you need for a relaxing stay.
- Accessibility Champions: We're committed to ensuring a comfortable stay for everyone. Enjoy accessible rooms and facilities designed with your needs in mind (please contact us in advance to confirm your needs!).
- Breakfast Bliss: Start your day with our incredible buffet breakfast, featuring fresh pastries, delicious fruit, and a range of options to suit every taste (both Western breakfast and Asian breakfast are available!).
- Relax and Rejuvenate: Unwind in our fitness center,
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst (and probably faceplant a little) into my potential Reims adventure at the Novotel Suites Reims Centre. Consider this…a draft, a scribble, a messy, glorious, "I-haven't-slept-well-in-weeks" itinerary. It's gonna be a rollercoaster.
Day 1: Reims Arrival & Champagne Dreams (and maybe a slight existential crisis)
- 14:00 - Arrival & Room Chaos: Okay, so I'm supposed to be arriving around 2 in the afternoon. Supposed to be. Realistically? I'm always running late. Probably because I spent the morning meticulously curating my “European Chic” wardrobe. (It's mostly black, let's be honest, with a pop of red lipstick, which I'll probably smear during emotional breakdowns about train delays.) The goal? Get to the hotel, pray my room isn't next to a screaming toddler, and unpack. Oh, the unpacking. That's where the real fun (read: stress) begins. I'll probably chuck everything haphazardly into drawers, promising myself I'll organize later. Lies.
- 15:00 - Location, Location, Location (and Wine!): The Novotel Suites is supposed to be "centrally located". Fingers crossed it actually is. Because after a transatlantic flight and train ride, I'm going to be a grumpy, caffeine-deprived beast. First priority: Find glorious, bubbly champagne. Reims IS the champagne capital of the world, right? Right. I’ll check the hotel bar first. A quick, "hello world!" glass of bubbly to ease the pre-trip jitters. If they don't have any decent champagne, I might have a meltdown. Maybe.
- 16:00 - Exploring the Cathedral and Embracing the History: The Reims Cathedral. Supposed to be majestic. Now, here's where things get… complicated. I love history. But walking around and reading stuff? I get bored pretty quickly. I'll read the plaque (maybe), take a million photos (definitely), and probably spend more time admiring the gargoyles than actually learning anything. Okay, I will make an effort! I promise.
- 18:00 - Reims City Walk and Dinner: Time to wander the city and then find somewhere to eat. Okay, I have to remember that I never really know what I want to eat, so if there is a restaurant that looks good, I'll just eat there…and hope for the best. Don't want to spend too much time finding a place.
Day 2: The Champagne Trail (aka, My Liver's Nightmare)
- 9:00 - Coffee & Panic: Wake up (hopefully without a hangover – fingers crossed.) The day of Champagne houses is here.
- 10:00 - Champagne House Tour (aka, "Am I worthy?"): This is the big one. Visiting a genuine Champagne house. I've booked a tour (hopefully, it's a good one). I hope I don't sound like a total idiot or get my Champagne etiquette totally wrong.
- 12:00 - Champagne Tasting (and Possible Emotional Breakdown): This is IT. The moment of truth. And also, probably, the moment I become completely ineloquent and start rambling about "bubbles" and "effervescence." Will I be able to differentiate the terroir? Probably not. Will I enjoy every single drop? Absolutely. I might even shed a tear of joy. Or despair, depending on how the tasting goes. Also, I must not judge the locals. I will remember my manners!
- 14:00 - Lunch (and potential regret): After the tasting, I'll need food. Solid food. Something to soak up all that bubbly. This is when my eating gets weird: I probably order the biggest lunch I can find. And then, the inevitable afternoon slump hits.
- 16:00 - Independent Exploration: After all that Champagne, I'll just wander around, buy some local stuff, and stumble into a cafe so I can re-hydrate with a water.
Day 3: Goodbye Reims (and Maybe a Little Tear)
- 9:00 - Breakfast and Regret: Another breakfast at the hotel. I'll have eaten all the croissants and probably consumed a whole pot of coffee. Then, the inevitable sadness starts to creep in. The end of the trip!
- 10:00 - Last Minute Souvenirs and Maybe More Champagne: I always underestimate how much time I need to buy souvenirs. I'll probably rush around town, grabbing random things (a bottle opener, a scarf, a tiny plastic Eiffel Tower) and then realize I've spent all my money and didn't buy anything I really needed. Sigh. At least, this is the current plan.
- 12:00 - Departure: Train to the airport. The bittersweet farewell.
The "Messy Details" Section:
- Transportation: I'll be using trains and taxis. The train is supposed to be reliable. Taxis? Pray for good drivers.
- Food: I have zero solid restaurant reservations (see above: "I-don't-plan-well"). I'm banking on serendipity and the kindness of strangers to help me find decent (and affordable) food.
- Packing: I'm notoriously over-packer. I'll probably bring five pairs of shoes. Five. (One pair will be comfortable; the others will be for pretending I'm effortlessly stylish.)
- Emotional State: Expect a rollercoaster of emotions. Excitement, anxiety, boredom, joy, regret… and a healthy dose of "Will I survive this?"
- My Perfect Day: A quiet morning with a view, a long walk, a lunch filled with local flavors, a cafe on a sunny terrace, and then the most important thing: No bad company.
So there you have it. My Reims adventure: a work-in-progress, a testament to my utter lack of organization, and a guarantee of a good story (or at least, a long rant when I get back). Wish me luck. Or, you know, just send champagne. That would be great too.
Escape to Defiance: Your Dream Stay Awaits at Holiday Inn Express & Suites!
Reims Luxury Getaway: Unforgettable Novotel Suites Stay! (Or Was It?) - FAQs You Actually Need!
Okay, so, "luxury." What *exactly* does that *mean* at the Novotel Suites Reims? Is it like, champagne showers every morning? Spill the actual tea!
Alright, let's get real. "Luxury" in the context of a Novotel Suites in Reims... it's relative, isn't it? It's not Buckingham Palace, let me tell you. Think: spacious (yay!), clean (thank goodness!), and with a Nespresso machine that actually worked (bliss!). The "luxury" element, in my opinion, centred around the space. I mean, my partner, bless him, is a chronic suitcase-spiller. The suites, though? We actually had room to breathe *and* avoid tripping over each other's stuff. Truly life-changing. As for champagne showers... sadly, no. But the mini-fridge was stocked, and that, my friends, is a win in my book. Considering I'd packed a emergency bottle of champagne (just in case), that was good enough.
The location... is it actually convenient? Or am I going to be schlepping my luggage across a cobbled street in the pouring rain? (Because, let's be honest, France.)
Location, location, location! This is HUGE. The Novotel Suites Reims? Pretty decent, actually. Relatively close to the train station, which is a massive relief (especially if, unlike me, you don't arrive fashionably late and stressed) and a manageable walk to the cathedral. Rain? Yep, it rained. Of course it did. But it wasn't a *miserable* slog. However, I will say this: don't underestimate Reims. The cobblestone streets are charming, until you're wrestling a wheeled suitcase. Consider soft wheels guys, don't be like me.
Breakfast! The bane of many a hotel stay. Was it a sad continental situation, or did it redeem itself? TELL ME EVERYTHING!
Breakfast… oh, breakfast. This is where things get… interesting. It wasn't a disaster, let's just say that. There was bread (obviously. They're French!), croissants (slightly stale, if I'm being honest. *Shudders*), some cold meats (not my favourite. I'm a veggie!), and… wait for it… a surprisingly good selection of cheeses. And the coffee? Drinkable. Not mind-blowing, but definitely caffeinating. My partner, a proper breakfast fiend, was reasonably happy. Me? I survived. I think, the main issue was the 'buffet'- feel, and me attempting to balance a plate loaded high with the local cheese, with the occasional clumsy bump. Not elegant. But definitely memorable.
The room itself: clean? Comfy bed? Any nasty surprises? (Like, you know, bedbugs...).
Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. The room *was* clean. Phew! The bed? Surprisingly comfortable. I actually slept well, which, considering my inherent travel anxiety, is a minor miracle. No bedbugs that I could see (hallelujah!). BUT... and there's always a but, isn't there? The lighting was a bit… institutional. Like, bright, slightly harsh hospital lighting. Not exactly conducive to a romantic getaway, I might add! They really could sort that, but hey, at least the blackout curtains worked a treat. That’s critical.
Champagne! Because, Reims! Did you get any recommendations from the hotel, and were *they* any good? Also, how much did you drink? Be honest!
Champagne! The *reason* we were in Reims, really. The hotel staff were fairly helpful with recommendations. They pointed us towards some of the bigger houses, which was fine (Moët & Chandon is beautiful, let's be real), but I was craving something a little... less predictable. We ended up finding a small, family-run producer, thanks to a little online research (which let’s face it, beats the hotel brochure every time). The champagne was divine. And how much did I drink? Let's just say, my partner and I spent a good portion of the trip in a state of blissful, bubbly contentment. Remember that emergency bottle I mentioned? Well, it did not return home. No regrets. Zero. Zilch.
Anything *really* annoying about the hotel? Come on, spill the beans!
Ugh, yes. A minor detail, but... the pillows. They were, and I'm being polite here, utterly useless. Like, paper-thin, pancake-shaped, and offering zero neck support. I spent two nights wrestling with them, trying to fashion some kind of vaguely pillow-like creation out of extra towels. Honestly, I considered going to reception and demanding they swap them for a hefty bolster! (I didn’t, because, well, shyness, and also, champagne.) The air conditioning was also a bit temperamental. One minute freezing, the next... a sauna. But the pillows. The pillows were the real enemy here.
Would you go back to the Novotel Suites Reims? Be honest!
Okay, the million-dollar question! Would I go back? Hmm… if I were looking for a convenient, reasonably priced stay, with a decent location, and not overly fussed about pillow-related trauma? Yes, probably. It’s comfortable enough! But if I were booking a truly *luxurious* getaway, a special occasion, something where I wanted to be utterly spoiled? Probably not. The Novotel Suites is a solid choice, a reliable workhorse. But, it's not quite a thoroughbred, if you know what I mean. I'd rate it a strong 7/10, perhaps an 8/10 if they replaced those awful pillows. Seriously, the pillows man. Sort them out!
This entire stay, the ups, the downs, was it worth it?
Worth it? Absolutely. Even the pillow-based misery! It was Reims, for crying out loud! The champagne, the historic sights, the time spent with my partner... it all made it worthwhile. The little niggles? They fade away. What remains are the memories of a great trip. And well, those awful pillows are now just a little bit of humor. I'd do it all again. Maybe with a suitcase full of my own pillows next time.
