September 2023. Oriol and I are flying to Toulouse for a road trip in Occitania and (French) Catalonia. We include the Principality of Andorra, which I can finally tick off the bucket list, and Llívia, Spain‘s exclave in France. Besides Toulouse we visit Mont-Louis, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Perpignan and Carcassonne.

Returning to Toulouse after Carcassone, we drove to Neméa Appart’Hôtel Toulouse Concorde for a two-night stay. As this was a road trip, the presence of parking space is important. Neméa Appart’Hôtel Toulouse Concorde does have plenty and booking a spot in advance is not necessary.

The hotel is nicely located near Toulouse-Matabiau Railway Station and walking distance from the historic city centre.

Reception

To say the reception was chaotic is too strongly worded, but it was not efficient. The receptionists were friendly, for sure. But at first we received only one key card. 

After installing ourselves in the room and before getting dinner we asked for a second one, which we received. But then it turned out the first card didn’t work anymore. Urgh. Also in general it seemed like the desk attendants didn’t have much experience.

The room

The room is fine. A bed, a table for two and two chairs. A desk. Storage space. No coffee and tea facilities. A fridge. Several power outlets and USB outlets. 

The kitchenette was closed off. That’s t be expected because we booked for the ‘hotel’ part in ‘aparthotel’.

WiFi is decent. 

The bathroom 

The bathroom is pretty standard but features a bath tub, which is nice. There are no bars to hang your towels so they can dry.

Toiletries are labeled Neméa. We got to little bottles, which had to last two days. Not very generous. 

No cleaning service

Not very generous as there was no cleaning service it turned out. So no restocking of toiletries, no fresh towels. Is this COVID-19 all over again? 

In a way I don’t really mind not having the room cleaned in two days but I would have liked to know. So I would have figured something out to dry the towels decently. 

The gym

The gym is basic and has no free weights. It’s okay I guess, I’ve been let down by hotel gyms so often.

But the opening times of 9 AM to 9 PM are a joke. 9 AM is way too late for people wanting a work-out before starting the day. Aparthotels, a blend of apartment and hotel, also cater longer stays. People who’d want to use the gym.

Breakfast

Breakfast at Neméa is sadly a dull affair in a soulless room. There are the basics yes, but nothing surprising, nothing inspired. And again – this is a running theme – no baguette. 

So?

This is a short review because the hotel doesn’t have something for it going. It’s far from terrible, but too many things are just not nice. Barely toiletries, no cleaning service, nonsensical opening hours for the gym and a the most mèh hotel breakfast since Hotel Cabin in Reykjavík. And that had porridge.

So no, I can’t recommend Neméa Appart’Hôtel Toulouse Concorde. 

2023 Occitania – Andorra – Catalonia Road Trip

1. TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC AIRPORT | Arrival, ID check, car rental and unusually strict security at departure.
2. REVIEW | Novotel Toulouse Purpan Aéroport.
3. Circuit Andorra.
4. HOTEL REVIEW | Eurostars Andorra.
5. REVIEW | Caldea hot spring spa and treatments in Andorra la Vella.
6. Andorra la Vella & Escaldes–Engordany.
7. QUEER ANDORRA | Entre Nous, the only gay bar in the village.
8. ANDORRA PARLIAMENT HOUSE | Casa de la Vall.
9. Andorra.
10. Llívia, Spain’s exclave in France.
11. LE TRAIN JAUNE TERRITORY | Mont-Louis and Villefranche-de-Conflent.
12. REVIEW | Dali Hôtel Perpignan.
13. Perpignan during the Visa pour l’image international photo journalism festival.
14. PERPIGNAN | The Palace of the Kings of Majorca or Palais des Rois de Majorque.
15. North Catalonia, Northern Catalonia or French Catalonia: Catalan presence in France.
16. FRANCE | Carcassonne and its Counts Castle.