My wife and I have just returned from Nice, having enjoyed a smashing short break, staying at the Univers for 3 nights.
We are delighted to report that, having read the majority of negative reviews and seriously considered changing our booking, the hotel was a pleasant surprise.
Contrary to most of what we had read, we couldn't really fault the hotel.
The location is superb - right in the centre, adjacent to the main square with a tram stop 20 metres from the front door and within walking distance of the train station, bus station and the sea front.
The staff were friendly and answered any enquiries we had.
The reception was compact but functional and didn't have any smells, as previously reported.
Our room on the 2nd floor, was fairly small but comfortable with twin beds that we had no trouble falling a sleep in.
There was a good size bathroom that was clean but without a shower curtain (however, we did shower each time without flooding the floor).
The room was serviced each day which included fresh towels and fresh complimentary soap products.
The one problem with the room was the lack of drawers and coat hangers but we just made do. There were no problems with noise and our room had a flat screen TV, free safe, telephone, hairdryer and air con (but we didn't use it).
The breakfast room(s) were clean and tidy, breakfast was satisfactory for the price paid - fruit juice, tinned fruit, cornflakes, ham & cheese, croissants & buns and a choice of hot drinks from a dispenser.
All in all, we were totally satisfied and wouldn't hesitate in recommending the Univers to other travellers, particularly given the price.

I stayed at this hotel for 4 nights at the end of October 2007 and was rather sceptical after I read the reviews.

I was pleasantly suprised by what I found and had none of the problems described by other reviewers. I had a shower curtain, working air-conditioning and a nice smelling room (with windows in the room and bathroom). My room (1st floor) was clean and the staff was friendly. I found the hotel in an ideal location between the bus and train station and in a safe neighboorhood especially as I am a single female traveller.
I would not like to speculate, but maybe the fact that I used a well know travel agent to book the stay had something to do with the room that I was given. I found that the hotel was good value for money, but I agree that the breakfast is of a 'limited' variety.

The only problem is that the walls between the rooms seems to be paper thin and my neighboor was either inconsiderate or deaf!

5 of us arrived at this hotel having booked a triple and a double room. Triple room was not available but we were told that they had put an extra bed in a double room for us and the triple would be ready the next day. It was a camp bed that was provided and absolutely no room to put the bed up in the room - thought we would have to use the bathroom! The bathroom was another story - no shower curtain and a very large window overlooking another hotel - Privacy! No Way. When the toilet was flushed it leaked over the floor - smell in the room was horrendous.

We were moved the following morning to a much larger room and a better bathroom. The double room that the other party were in was quite small but adequate. Towels provided were ridiculous - more like floor clothes - grey in colour, frayed at the edges and most had holes in them.

Breakfast was french rolls, fatty ham, something that looked like spam, croissants and pain au chocolat. Croissants were good. Although coffee and tea was from a machine it was ok. If having breakfast - do not expect to have a leisurely breakfast if time approaching 10am - they 'shouted' at us that breakfast time was over and practically threw us out of the room!

Receptionist was pleasant on arrival even though she was to tell us about the room not being available - every other receptionist did not even lift their heads to acknowledge our existence.

This was the worst experience I have had in a hotel although I have to say the location was superb.

I stayed here with two friends for two nights. We were on the 4th floor but the noise from the street was unbearable. Room was supposed to have air conditioning but this did not work and the heat was dreadful. Had to keep the wondow closed with the noise from the street. Bathroom had a bath with painted tiles which were peeling. There was a shower over the bath but no shower curtain. The buffet breakfast was poor. We had to have breakfast in a restaurant as the choice at the hotel was so bad. The breakfast staff are most unfriendly and demanded our room number on the first morning (as if anybody in their right mind would want to eat breakfast here).
The girl on the reception was very helpful, same could not be said for her male colleagues.
Location of the hotel is excellent. This is the only redeeming factor.