Hotel de la Cite Carcassonne

We stayed here for 4 nights during our first trip to Carcassonne in October. We wanted to stay at a hotel intra muros and chose Hotel De la Cite, the highest rated 5 star, from the Accor website. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. The hotel staff, including the parking attendants at the lot, were nice, and for the most part, competent. The hotel is beautiful, especially the library/bar and restaurant. We didn't go to the spa and the pool was closed because the weather was too cold, but the garden and grounds were nice to wander through. The location is perfect, with all of the restaurants intra muros a short walk away. Our dinner at the hotel's restaurant La Barbacane was delicious, and our wait staff friendly. Not to detract from all of the 5 star reviews, and we didn't expect a centuries old former bishop's palace renovated into a modern hotel to be perfect, but an Accor luxury 5 star hotel at this price point does come with certain expectations. The intention may be there, but we would have to agree with other reviewers that Hotel de la Cite doesn't quite merit the 5 stars it is billed as. First, the good: 1. Beautiful, historic hotel and grounds. 2. Junior suite looked like it was from the Middle Ages. 3. Large bathroom with plenty of storage space. Drawers, closets, hangers inside the bathroom. Towel warming rack was an added plus. 4. Nespresso machine with 4 coffee pods, 2 decaf and 2 caff. Electric tea kettle and several tea bags included. Mini fridge under coffee/tea area. 5. Perfect location intra muros. 6. Parking lot very close outside the walls, 5 minute walk from the hotel. 7. Friendly staff and bartenders. Next, the not-so-good for a 5 star hotel: 1. Parking lot was a little difficult to find. Used the car GPS which told us to go up a small street past a sign that seemed to indicate do not proceed (red circle with a horizontal white line in the middle). Tip: ignore this sign and go past it to the top to get to the lot, shared with Best Western Donjon. 2. Tiny car used to drive the luggage up from the lot to the hotel was filthy. We opted to send the luggage in the car and walk up to the hotel, a 5 minute walk, 10 if you are a slow walker. 3. Room specific issues for the junior suite overlooking Eglise St Nazaire: *very uncomfortable period chairs in front of the TV, table wobbly and unstable. *smell of sewage from the shower drain permeated the bathroom. Had to run the shower for 5 minutes to clear out the odor, which would then return. Likely a plumbing issue with this room. *A/C didn't work while we were there. It was cold and rainy outside, but stuffy inside the room so we wanted to use the A/C. The thermostat on the wall didn't seem to work so we told the front desk the next morning, who said they would send someone to repair it. When we came back later that afternoon, the thermostat was turned to the cold setting but it was as hot as a sauna. Turned it off and alerted the front desk again, which by that time had a different staff member who told us that there was in fact no A/C, only heat. This struck us as odd not to have climate control at a 5 star hotel. No choice but to leave the shutters open to get cool air in, and keep the curtains closed so everyone couldn't look in. This worked fine for the room temperature, but the sounds of the garbage and delivery trucks in the early morning weren't conducive to sound sleep, so we ended up closing the shutters anyway. Wondered why they would send someone up to fix the A/C when there isn't A/C available to fix? Note: this was the only hotel we stayed at during our 15 day trip to France that didn't have climate control. *Because it overlooks the square in front of the hotel and church, it gets very noisy starting late morning once the tourists arrive. Unless you want to photo bomb every picture that tourists take of this building, best to leave the shutters mostly closed, which darkens the room and requires most of the room lights to be turned on. Or, hang out the window and wave at everyone if you like attention. 4. Service issues: *Housekeeping left 4 decaf coffee pods one day, instead of 2 caff/2 decaf. Found this out in the morning and tried to call housekeeping and the front desk to have 2 caff pods sent to the room, to no avail. Tried to call continuously for 15 minutes, no one picked up any phone. Got dressed and was on the way downstairs to ask for pods when I saw a cart in the hall with Nescafe coffee sticks, creamer, sugar, and baskets of decaf pods. I was looking in the baskets to see if I could find any caff pods when a man from housekeeping came by and he gave me a dirty look like I was crazy. I explained that I all wanted were 2 caff pods (good thing I speak French) and he looked through the cart and couldn't find any either, so he went into the room we were standing in front of and came out with 2 pods. Satisfactory outcome but this issue at a 5 star hotel? *Bartenders at the library bar were friendly but when it came time to settle the check, the one helping me said in English to make sure not to forget to give him a big tip. No smile or wink like this was a joke. Not a big deal but really? Can you imagine anyone at the Ritz or ShangriLa in Paris making this comment to a guest? Again, this is a wonderful hotel and we enjoyed our stay, but the aforementioned issues put Hotel de la Cite at 4 stars, certainly not 5. Perhaps Hotel de la Cite warrants 5 stars for a hotel in Carcassonne, since it is not in Paris. However, with this price point, and being considered a luxury Accor hotel, we were not thinking that we would have to lower our expectations.

Nice location but far from the announced standards. Some staff members are brilliant, caring and experts and some were even rude or not trying to satisfy your (reasonable) needs. No fitness, and rooms need some renovation. Well, all in all the ratings are somehow more a 4 than 5*.

The hotel dates back to 1909 and fits beautifully within the walled City of Carcassonne. The general manager, Xaviol (?), met us the afternoon of our arrival and chatted with us awhile. He is a very knowledgeable and experienced world traveler. He was on duty continuously always looking after our needs. Kareem ran the Library bar and kept us in drinks and tapas when needed. Dinner at the restaurant was our favorite meal of the trip. It will be a meal to remember! Thanks to everyone for a life lomg memory! Shan & Tricia Paden

This was my 2nd stay in this hotel in the midst of the fortress. I enjoyed it as much as my first time. The location is perfect. The hotel is beautiful and classic. It is clean, I love the lounge with the piano player. Although the fortress is a tourist attraction they leave at night and then it is all yours. The receptionists are very helpful. The masseuse Nenita was excellent.

Attended a conference here in a centre next to main hotel. Location in the fortified medieval town is interesting and it is next to the main church. The old town is car-, bus- and taxi-free (you only get taken to the gates in the medieval walls), although people staying at Hotel de la Cite can use a special hotel taxi. Good facilities: 4 rooms for ~50 people each, 3 rooms can be opened up together for a plenary session (150 people). Entrance hall for reception desk/displays/posters. Light refreshments were served in a marquee outside the main building. We enjoyed a lunch in the main hotel. The evening dinner for 150 was held in the conference centre turned into a restaurant. Unisex toilets (not enough for a mainly female group).i