Résidence Coté Mer

“Right on the beach!”

The location couldn't get any better. Our room was on the first floor facing the beach and had a large patio we could sit on to look out on the ocean. We visited in mid-September, so there were no crowds which is just what we were trying to avoid and the weather was spectacular. Our room had a bedr… more

The location couldn't get any better. Our room was on the first floor facing the beach and had a large patio we could sit on to look out on the ocean. We visited in mid-September, so there were no crowds which is just what we were trying to avoid and the weather was spectacular. Our room had a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen with a dishwasher. We only stayed 2 nights, so we didn't use the kitchen much. The house rules indicated that you were expected to bring most of what you need for the kitchen yourself and leave the kitchen and dishwasher as you found it (clean). We were looking forward to using the laundromat they advertise, but it was broken and it didn't sound like they were going to be able to fix it. Fortunately, there is a laundromat that is not too far away and due to being there during the low season, the machines were mostly available. Our shower head was not mounted on a wall or stand, but once you got the hang of how to use it without spraying it everywhere outside the shower stall, it was fine. Americans just aren't used to shower heads that are not mounted.

less

“Bring your own mosquito spray!”

We went to La Grande Motte with another couple who had been there the previous year to celebrate the wife’s birthday. The arrangements were made by her husband and I have to admit that we would not have chosen such a place ourselves so my review should be read with that in mind. I knew he had made … more

We went to La Grande Motte with another couple who had been there the previous year to celebrate the wife’s birthday. The arrangements were made by her husband and I have to admit that we would not have chosen such a place ourselves so my review should be read with that in mind. I knew he had made the reservation largely with price in mind so we were already slightly apprehensive, and when we were shown into the room and found it was effectively a bed-sit with a sofa that doubled as the bed I was rather horrified. Nevertheless we were only going to spend two nights and there was not much we could do about it. For someone booking here deliberately I think it probably satisfies the requirements. It has a small kitchen area with cooker, micro-wave, washing up machine and fridge, and sufficient plates, cups, cutlery etc for a couple. The room has air-conditioning, but there were no instructions and it was quite difficult to work out how to adjust it. We were there at the end of September so it was cool enough not to bother and I discovered how to turn it off. The fridge was fairly noisy, and as we didn’t need it I turned that off too. There is a washing machine on site; it has a small swimming pool, and free on-street parking opposite. It is right on the beach. There was no shelf in the toilet to put things like a toothbrush on, so everything has to be balanced precariously around the rim of the basin. The basin tap had good water pressure, but the downside of that was that if you turned it on the water splashed out and soaked you - even after you’ve done that the first time it is easy to forget when you next use the basin! It is also very difficult to prevent the shower in the bath from flooding the floor, so you fetch up with soaked floor towels. The bed was not the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in; in fact we had the worst nights sleep we’ve had since I can’t remember when. To some extent that was arguably down to our own lack of forethought, as we were seriously attacked by mosquitos. In the morning I counted some two dozen on the ceiling, the curtains, walls, and just about anywhere an insect could land. We made it a priority to buy some spray and used best part of the can before we left the room next day, and for our second night the room was a mosquito-free zone. You can’t really blame the management for being bitten by mosquitos though. I think the facilities would be average for this type of place and I’ve rated it on that basis.

less