Hotel de la Cite Carcassonne - MGallery Collection

After watching Rick Steves's video about this part of France, we knew it would be best to stay within the walls of the old town, and Rick was right. The hotel gives excellent directions to the parking lot outside of the town walls, and the driver picked us up quickly. We don't generally stay in hotels of this caliber, so it was a delightful surprise to be spoiled in such a way. The room was their standard, cheapest room, but it was magnificent. Spacious, spotless, richly decorated, and blissfully quiet. The French doors opened onto a garden with a nice view of the city and surrounding countryside. The hotel management had left a bouquet of flowers and some delicious chocolates made by their own chocolate chef in a beautifully-detailed chocolate box. Every evening, the bed was turned down and additional chocolates were left for us that were shaped like Carcassonne. The bathroom was well-appointed and immaculate. Towels were soft, absorbent, and in new condition. There were bathrobes and slippers for guests. Unfortunately the shower's spay nozzle with did not have a hook or other device to hold it in place on the wall. This oversight made it inconvenient to wash one's hair while holding the nozzle in one hand, and resulted in quite a bit of water sprayed on the floor and window sill. The first morning we enjoyed possibly the best croissant we've ever eaten at the small bakery that's just opposite the hotel and is run by the hotel, and the baked goods come from the hotel's ovens. Two croissants and some café au lait were the perfect start to a day. The second morning we chose to take the breakfast at the hotel. It was very good, with excellent service one could expect from such a fine hotel. The sole drawback to the breakfast was that the individual packets of sugar for coffee or tea were made of plastic. We found it most unusual that a superior hotel as this did not opt for an environmentally-friendly paper material for the sugar packets. Bottom line: Rick Steves was right about staying in the old town of Carcassonne. It's worth it to splurge of a room here and stay in less-expensive places elsewhere on your travels. If we're ever fortunate enough to return to this historic, unforgettable city, we will try to get a room here again.