Avignon's Hidden Gem: Premiere Classe Courtine Gare - Unbeatable Deals!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the glorious, slightly-less-than-perfect world of Premiere Classe Courtine Gare in Avignon! Forget the glossy brochures, let's get real. This ain't the Ritz, but for the price, and the location, it's a sneaky good deal – a true Hidden Gem that's waiting for you, right near the Avignon TGV train station - and that's a HUGE win, trust me. This review? It's unfiltered, like my morning coffee (which, by the way, you can get at the surprisingly decent coffee shop just down the street).
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Accessibility: Does it Pass the Test?
Alright, let's rip the Band-Aid off. Wheelchair accessible? Yes! That's a big win. The website says they have facilities for disabled guests, and from what I saw, the ground floor rooms, and the elevators, well, they seem pretty accessible. I didn't personally test it with a wheelchair, but from observation, it's definitely a plus. The elevator is a little… cozy, shall we say. Be prepared to hug your luggage.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: This is where things get a little… French. There's no fancy lounge with velvet ropes. Think basic, functional. Near the hotel are restaurants. Not the greatest for a late night snack, but that's Avignon, not fault of the hotel.
The Internet… Oh, the Internet! (And Other Tech-y Stuff)
Internet Access! Okay, here's the deal. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! That's a win. And it actually works. Most of the time. Look, I managed to stream a movie, so I'm calling it a victory. Internet [LAN]? Yeah, I saw the little ports. But seriously, why would you bother with LAN when you have free Wi-Fi? Let's be honest, it's 2024. Wireless is the way.
Internet Services: Nothing fancy, don’t expect a dedicated tech guru, but you are connected. Wi-Fi in public areas: Works! Though, again, it's not always lightning fast. Patience, my friends, embrace the French way.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (Or At Least, Survive): A Reality Check
Body Scrub, Body Wrap, Fitness Center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Nope. Not here. This is a budget stay. You're paying for location and clean. You want a spa? Go to a real spa. Avignon has them.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Shield Against the Apocalypse!
This is where Premiere Classe surprisingly shines. Especially post-pandemic.
- Anti-viral cleaning products? Yep, they're using them.
- Breakfast in room? Negative on that.
- Breakfast takeaway service? Nope, but you could buy a croissant…
- Cashless payment service? Thank goodness! Always a bonus in this day and age.
- Daily disinfection in common areas? Yes! This gave me a little peace of mind.
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit? They're there
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere!
- Hot water linen and laundry washing? I’m guessing they hit the proper temps.
- Hygiene certification?: Probably.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Fairly evident at breakfast.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They try, people try.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Definitely.
- Room sanitization opt-out available? I have no idea.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Absolutely.
- Safe dining setup? The breakfast space seemed safe.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Pretty sure.
- Shared stationery removed: What shared stationery?
- Staff trained in safety protocol?: From what I saw, yes.
- Sterilizing equipment: Probably.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Adventure
Okay, here's the brutal honesty: the hotel dining is… minimal.
- A la carte in restaurant? Nope.
- Alternative meal arrangement?: Not really.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant? Absolutely not.
- Bar? No.
- Bottle of water? You can buy one at a vending machine.
- Breakfast [buffet]? Yes! It's… basic, but adequate. Think cereals, pastries, coffee, yogurt. Don't expect gourmet, but it'll get you going.
- Breakfast service? Available – see above for breakfast.
- Buffet in restaurant? Same as breakfast.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant?: Yes, at breakfast.
- Coffee shop?: There’s one nearby.
- Desserts in restaurant? At breakfast they had pastries.
- Happy hour?: Oh, you wish!
- International cuisine in restaurant?: Not really. Everything is fairly plain.
- Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: No, no, no. See a pattern? This isn’t a foodie destination. You are on your own!
My Breakfast Face-Off… And the Croissant Catastrophe!
I need to be brutally honest here. The breakfast buffet is… functional. The coffee? Drinkable. The pastries, however… This is a story that will haunt me. I’ve eaten croissants all over the world, and these… well, they were a little on the hard side. I kid you not, I almost broke a tooth. It was like chewing on a stale, buttery weapon. Still, after a quick search, I managed to find a good bakery and croissant, so it can’t be the end of the world.
Services and Conveniences: The Practical Stuff
- Air conditioning in public area?: Yes! Thank the heavens.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events?: Not here.
- Business facilities, Cash withdrawal?: No.
- Concierge? Nope.
- Contactless check-in/out: Thank goodness!
- Convenience store?: Not really. There’s a vending machine.
- Currency exchange? No.
- Daily housekeeping? Yes! The rooms are cleaned daily.
- Doorman?: Nope.
- Dry cleaning, Elevator: Yes!
- Essential condiments?: I found some.
- Facilities for disabled guests?: They're there, from what I saw.
- Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop?: No. But Avignon has shops!
- Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided? No to both.
- Ironing service, Laundry service?: They'll probably offer it for a fee.
- Luggage storage?: Yes! Very handy for early arrivals or late departures.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events?: No.
- Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area?: No.
- Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events? No.
- Xerox/fax in business center?: No.
For the Kids: Not Exactly Disney, But…
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal?: No. Okay, it’s not really a kids place. It's clean, safe, and you can stay there with your kids, but don't expect a play area.
Access, Security, and All That Jazz
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable Pets allowed, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms?: Yep. It's got all the basics covered. The entrance is secure, there's a night-time front desk, and it felt pretty safe.
Getting Around: Location, Location, Location!
This is the real selling point. Airport transfer? Nope. Bicycle parking: Probably
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Okay, buckle up buttercups. This itinerary ain't pretty, but it's real. Welcome to my Premiere Classe Avignon - Courtine Gare adventure… or, you know, what's left of it. My brain is basically a lukewarm croissant at this point, so forgive me.
The Almost-Perfectly Imperfect Avignon Itinerary (and the Soul-Crushing Reality)
Day 1: Arrival, Panic, and Questionable Pizza
- 14:00 (ish): FINALLY, landed. Charles de Gaulle. Ugh. The flights felt like I was being gently shaken in a giant Tupperware container. My stomach is still trying to decide if it wants to participate in this Avignon adventure. Got the train (thank GOD for the direct line, even if I’m certain I slightly misread the platform number and almost ended up in Lyon). Arrived at Avignon Courtine Gare. It's further from the actual city than I thought. Did a little cry. Not enough caffeine.
- 15:00 (ish): Found the hotel. Premiere Classe, a beacon of budget-friendly… ahem, "charm." The room is… functional. Let's just say the décor screams "corporate beige meets institutional green." The shower handle is hanging on for dear life. I'm kinda hoping for a good old-fashioned power outage.
- 16:00 - 17:30: Wandered around trying to find the city centre on foot. Okay, so I am not prepared for France. I am always the one who gets lost. Found a random supermarket and bought some… well, everything that looked vaguely familiar to soothe the homesickness. Started the walk again. Found a bakery. The smell of the croissants was intoxicating. Okay, I am ready for France.
- 19:00: Dinner. A revelation of a pizza place. Apparently, pizza is not the same in France. I love it. I went back and ate it all. It was a miracle. The waitress had the patient face of someone who has to deal with tourists day in, day out. God bless her.
- 20:00: Back to the hotel. Exhausted. Surfed for a bit, but quickly fell into a food coma.
Day 2: The Pont d'Avignon, the Sun, and a Near-Meltdown
- 08:00 (ha!): Woke up to that special "European hotel" smell. You know the one – a mixture of stale air, cleaning products, and existential dread. Forced myself to shower. The water pressure is… optimistic.
- 09:00: Realized I forgot to pack the charger for my phone. Cue mini-panic attack. Managed to find a tiny shop that sold an overpriced replacement. Sigh.
- 10:00: Finally made it to the Pont d'Avignon. Okay, it actually looks pretty majestic with the sun out. Took like, a million photos. Tried to learn the history. Listened to the audio guide. It was mildly informative. Kinda felt like I was on a school trip.
- 11:30: Walked the rampart, stared out at the waters, and wondered how many people had stood there before me. Very peaceful. Decided that for lunch, I would try a crepe.
- 12:30: Lunch. Found a crepe stand. Ordered a ham and “Fromage” crepe. It was okay. The sun was out, the wind was blowing… I was mostly happy.
- 14:00: The Palais des Papes. OH. MY. GOD. That place is HUGE. And crowded. And echoing. I think I got a bit claustrophobic. Stared at the walls, the tapestries, the history. I felt very small. Actually, I kind of lost it for a bit. I felt a bit overwhelmed, the historical details blurred into a confusing jumble, and I just wanted to be home. I sat down and had a little cry. Then I took a deep breath and found a quiet corner.
- 16:00: Found a tiny café that served coffee. The coffee was strong. I felt more alive. Ordered a pastry. The pastry was gorgeous. I started to feel a bit more human.
- 17:00 - 19:00: Wandered the streets. Decided I absolutely need to buy some lavender sachets. Did not. The price was extortionate.
- 20:00: Dinner. Found a restaurant. The food was good. The wine was better.
- 22:00: Back to the hotel. Slept like a log.
Day 3: The Markets, The Struggle, and a Premature Goodbye
- 08:00 (ish): Another groggy morning. Actually managed to get a decent shower today. Progress!
- 09:00: This is it. I'm going to the market. Today, I'm going to become a local. Found the main market. Took a deep breath. So many smells! So many people! The colors! Tried to buy some fruit, gestured wildly, and mostly confused everyone. I think I bought an apple.
- 10:00: Found a lovely small artisan market. Got my lavendar. Finally!
- 11:00: Realized I hate shopping. My feet hurt. My backpack is heavy. My bank account is crying. Seriously contemplating just going to the airport right now.
- 12:00: Found a tiny bakery. Bought an almond croissant. It was a gift from the gods. Ate it and considered skipping lunch.
- 13:00: Decided to revisit the Pont d'Avignon. It wasn't as crowded today. I realised that some people have problems. Maybe I'm one of them. Maybe not. Took some nice photos, stared at the water, and felt, like, a vague sense of peace.
- 14:00: Okay, it's time. Time to pack.
- 15:00: Checked out.
- 16:00: Train back to CDG to catch my flight.
Quirks, Rambles, and Imperfections:
- The Food: I'm a carb-loving, sugar-craving beast. The pastries are everything. The pizza is a gift. The coffee is a lifesaver.
- The People: The French are… French. Sometimes confusing, sometimes brusque, always stylish. The service is not always the best. But, on the whole, everyone was really helpful, and nice, and I felt pretty safe.
- The Language: My French is… non-existent. I muddle through with a combination of broken phrases, frantic hand gestures, and a whole lot of luck.
- The Hotel: Well, it's clean. The walls are thin. I'm pretty sure I can hear people snoring through them.
- The Emotions: This trip was a rollercoaster. Joy, boredom, wonder, panic, frustration, and a whole lot of "I just need a nap."
Final Verdict:
Would I go back? Maybe. Avignon is beautiful, but it's also… a lot. I need more time, more patience, and possibly a crash course in French. But I'm glad I went. Even with the imperfections, the near-meltdowns, and the questionable pizza, it was an adventure. And that's what matters, right? Right?! Now, pass the chocolate and let's just get through the flight. Cheers.
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Avignon's Hidden Gem: Premiere Classe Courtine Gare - The *Unforgettable* Saga (and the Deals!)
Okay, spill the tea! Is Premiere Classe Courtine Gare *really* a hidden gem, or just… cheap?
Alright, alright, buckle up. "Hidden gem" is a subjective term, right? Let's be honest, the *aesthetic* isn't going to win any design awards. Concrete, functional… think "budget airport hotel that accidentally ended up in Provence." But the deals? Sweet mother of Provence, the deals can be *insane*. I once snagged a room for like, €30 a night. Thirty Euros! You can't even *buy* a decent croissant for that kind of money in Avignon's fancy bits. So, yes. Cheap? Absolutely. Gem? Perhaps. The *experience*? Now that's where it gets interesting…
What's the absolute *worst* thing about staying there? Be honest!
Okay, deep breath. The walls… they're thin. Like, paper-thin. You could practically hear the guy in the next room snoring in *stereo*. And the showers? Functional. That’s the kindest thing I can say. Prepare for a dribble – not a waterfall – of lukewarm water. My first time, I thought the handle was broken. Nope. Just, you know, *efficient* water delivery. And don't expect views. Unless you consider the parking lot a breathtaking vista. Which, in fairness, it *is* free.
The location? Is it as "conveniently close to the station" as they claim?
Oh, it's *close* to the train station. Like, a five-minute stagger. Especially after a long journey and a bottle of wine. (No judgement, we've all been there.) But, and this is a big but, Courtine Gare isn't *central* Avignon. It's a bit… suburban. You'll need a tram ride or a half-hour walk to get into the historic center. I walked it once. Once. It was hot. I swore. But hey, more exercise to justify that extra pain au chocolat, right?
The breakfast situation. Should I bother?
Breakfast… hmm. It's the classic continental affair. Croissants (potentially from the nearby supermarket, let's be honest), bread, jam, coffee that's… coffee. It's convenient, sure. And if you're really strapped for cash, it fills a hole. But honestly? I'd recommend going outside. There's a little boulangerie a short walk away that does the most *divine* pain au chocolat. And the coffee? Worlds better. Consider it a starting point for your Avignon adventure. Plus, you get to feel like a local, fumbling through your basic French phrases. "Un pain au chocolat, s'il vous plaît… and maybe another one." You'll get the hang of it eventually!
What's the *best* thing about Premiere Classe Courtine Gare?
The *price*. Seriously, let's not forget that. And, I'm not going to lie, the staff. They're… they're fine. They're just trying to do their jobs. I've always found them perfectly polite, even when I showed up at 3 AM after a train delay looking like a zombie. And honestly, after you've been traveling for a while, you start to appreciate the basics. A clean bed, a hot shower (even a dribbly one!), and a place to rest your weary head. The *real* best thing? The potential for hilarious travel stories. Like the time I accidentally set off the smoke alarm… or nearly locked myself out of my room at 2 AM. Good times. Good messy, imperfect, human times.
Okay, I'm sold (or maybe not)! Any tips for surviving (and even enjoying) the experience?
Okay, insider tips! Bring earplugs. Trust me. Consider it an investment in your sanity. Pack a travel kettle if you're a coffee snob (like me). Embrace the budgetness! It's part of the charm, or at least, it's a story you can tell later. Take advantage of the free parking. That saves you a fortune! And most importantly, manage your expectations. This isn't the Ritz. But it's clean, it's cheap, and it’s a basecamp for exploring the wonders of Avignon and Provence. And hey, what's the most crucial thing to have when vacationing? A good story to tell, right? Believe me, Premiere Classe Courtine Gare will give you *plenty* of those. And for that alone, it's worth it. Now, book it. Before the price goes up! (And tell me all about it when you're back!)
Let's talk about that wifi...
Ah, the wifi. Prepare for moments of utter frustration, interspersed with brief bursts of connectivity that will fill you with hope... before promptly vanishing into the digital abyss. It's like playing a game of online hide-and-seek with a particularly mischievous ghost. Don't rely on it for important work, video calls, or anything requiring a consistent signal. Consider it a digital detox. Or, you know, load up on data beforehand. Either way, good luck. You'll need it. And yes, I speak from experience, spending a solid hour trying to upload a photo of a particularly tasty croissant. The croissant, thankfully, was more reliable.
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