WABI-SABI Hôtel Lorrain - Self Check-in

High quality decor and furnishings. Added bonus of a balcony. The room was clean with good air con and had a very secure locking system.

Storage was limited and the communal entrance and hallway is in need of redecoration.

The location was very convenient to the markets, the beach and many great restaurants. The room itself was very clean and thoughtfully designed with a comfortable bed

There was a little kitchen sink area which was very useful - a few pieces of cutlery and cleaning supplies would have been useful especially because there is no daily cleaning

The location to the beach and old Nice was very good. We found the bed one of the most comfortable we had in our travels. The fridge and Nespresso coffee were also appreciated.

We were a bit unsure about the insurance deposit needed in order to receive the codes. Just needed to read a bit more thoroughly before arriving.

Wabi Sabi Lorrain is visually beautiful. The room was stylish, the balcony was lovely and the property certainly photographs well. Unfortunately, the reality of staying there was far less enjoyable. The first issue came before arrival. The property required a €500 deposit, but the payment system relied on a one-time passcode being sent to a phone I did not have with me while travelling. This requirement was not made sufficiently clear during the booking process and created unnecessary stress. The room access system was another frustration. The door code regularly needed to be entered three or four times before it would work and on one occasion we were locked out entirely. Although a member of staff checked it, the lock remained unreliable throughout our stay. There were also several maintenance and housekeeping issues. The bathroom sink was blocked from arrival and I eventually fixed it myself. The shower gel dispenser was empty. The safe batteries failed on the first day, leaving our valuables locked inside, although this was resolved promptly. We arrived without hand towels and the duvet cover had a noticeable stain. Towels were refreshed during the stay, which was appreciated. One positive deserves special mention. The concierge who assisted us on two occasions was excellent. She was warm, professional and genuinely helpful, and was easily the highlight of the experience.f

The biggest issue is that the concept falls awkwardly between a hotel and an apartment. It is not really a hotel because there is no reception desk and no luggage storage after checkout. Equally, it is not really an apartment because there are very few facilities provided beyond some glasses, coffee cups and a couple of teaspoons. In the end, despite the attractive design, I found the wstay more irritating than relaxing. There were simply too many small problems and points of friction for a property positioned as a premium experience.