Bargain trip. Booked 3 nights for £99. Too be honest I wasn't expecting much as it was so cheap but was very pleasantly surprised.

Hotel was in a great location 5-10min walk from main square & shops. Hotel staff were very helpful & spoke good English. Breakfast choice was good & always well stocked. The room was small but very clean and tidy with extra pillows & blankets ( not that they were needed). The restaurant isn't open fri, sat, and sun evenings but the bar is open until 11, although drinks are quite expensive. We bought wine & beer from the supermarket next door.

There was a drunk outside the hotel the 1st evening but he didn't bother us at all. A metro station Beajois aux arts' is at the end of the road so you can either get the metro or a cab from the eurostar. We got a cab as we had never been to Lille before, cost 10 euros. On way back we got the metro and it cost a 60cents each. If you walk the short distance down to the Euralille shopping complex and get on the metro, its only 3 stops away.

I'd reommend the Lille city tour, departing from the tourist office. It does cost 9euros each but I am sure we would never of discovered all Lille has to offer left to our own devices.

Dont believe that Lille is a party city, it was quite quiet, not many lively bars.The hotel is on a busyish road but we were on the 4th floor at the back of the hotel and found it quite peaceful.
Last thing..... On Sundays there isn't much open, a couple of cafe's so not a lot to do. Most of the restaurants are only open for lunch. Too be honest when I go again I will come home in the sunday afternoon as some of the shops dont reopen until Monday lunchtime.

We stayed at this hotel last weekend- 26-28 Jan 07. Booked hotel and eurostar through last minute.com.

Hotel was around 15 minutes away from eurostar station walking - less by car. When we arrived there it was in the evening and as we were told by Crown Plaza staff that the hotel has too far to walk we got a taxi. However after looking at a map of Lille we later found out we could of walked it and saved money!

Hotel was clean and the room was also well maintained the bed was comfy and was not worn out. We did find the room quite small and it did get stuffy in the night - so make sure you keep a window open - even in the winter months. We found the hotel staff helpful and accommodating.

Hotel situated close to attractions and shops. We did see a few people begging and were approached one or two times- but they were not intimidating and given as Lille is a fairly large city one should expect to see homeless people and drunks on the street -it is a fact of life.

However one thing we were a bit shocked and disgusted at seeing - was a man urinating in a doorway in broad day light in full view of shoppers, familes etc. Coming from the Uk and being used to yobbish behaviour - this is something I have not yet seen here and was quite suprised to see it in France.

As mentioned by a previous reviewer there are a good selection of chinese, japanese and thai resturants around the corner from the hotel. We found a good place to eat in the city centre- shopping part - I think it was called the La Bolingarie - which provides a 3 course meal for 21 euros - has bar and resturant.

We also visited Flunch and had a cheap meal via the menu express 7.80 euros - which includes a drink, dessert and main meal- I believe you can have as much veg as you like. This is situated opposite the train station.

Holiday Inn Express Lille Centre France:- Good central location. Easy walking distance of old city. We visited for Christmas Markets. 2 nights is about enough time to see city and markets. Architecture and art museum well worth seeing.
Hotel comfortable and clean. Everything worked in the room and bathroom. Would describe room as compact and comfortable.
Breakfast good with plenty of choice. Staff friendly and helpful.
We had an enjoyable visit and would return to this city and hotel.

I agree with everything that the reviewer on the 8th August wrote. I was put off by the negative reviews but ended up having to stay here as the other hotels offered by Lastminute were taken.

I arrived on the 11th expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised when I saw the room. It was fairly compact but very clean and comfortable. The beds were comfortable with super-soft duvets! The bathroom was especially nice with a power shower and glass screen. The only thing I have to say is the rooms are not air-conditioned, so if it was a bit hotter (it was around 20 degrees in the day when I was there), it might get a bit stuffy. However all rooms are facing away from the road and offer a quiet atmosphere at night, even with the windows open.

As mentioned, the continental breakfast offered is good and comprehensive. The buffet is open from 6.30-10.30am.

Just as we were leaving a coach arrived, and the reception area was flooded with pensioners. Before they had arrived the hotel was only half full. You may want to check how full the hotel is as it may possibly affect your experience here.

Forget what guidebooks say about this being ‘party district’ – no such thing. There are a few quiet bars around the corner, but nothing loud or intimidating.

There is a mini-supermarket right next door – so you can get food easily if you miss breakfast. There was only one resident drunk (the passive kind) at the time I was there – mainly because of the excellent offer the supermarket was doing on wines!!

The hotel is 5 mins walk from the main shopping strip & Aux Moules (the most famous Mussels establishment), 7 mins from the Grand Place (the ‘heart’ of town).

When you turn out of the hotel, and turn left, and left again at the crossroads, a few minutes walk will take you to a little bar/ café (on the left, after a few Chinese restaurants). It has a great atmosphere – very hip. A selection of beers, teas and cocktails can be had, along with a wide variety of sheesha (water pipes). The barman is very friendly too.

Great bargains to be had at Wazemmes Sunday market – it is on from morning but is over by about 2pm. In fact practically everything is shut on a Sunday afternoon!