Pau Vacations from $997

We stayed at El Palauet for three nights as a family of four in August. We arrived just before midnight and were greeted by a friendly member of staff who showed us to our Royal Suite. There is no denying that the hotel itself is absolutely stunning. The building is beautiful and timeless, with incredible original features, including the very unique lift. Our Royal Suite was spacious and impressive, with beautiful ceiling designs and plenty of character. Visually, the hotel certainly has the wow factor. Unfortunately, the service simply did not live up to the surroundings or, more importantly, the expectations of a five-star hotel. We were told there was a complimentary bottle in our suite for us to enjoy, which was a nice gesture. However, after reading other reviews, it appears this is standard and that other guests have had this replenished throughout their stay. Ours wasn't. While this alone wouldn't bother us, it became another example of the inconsistent attention to detail we experienced. Breakfast was probably our biggest disappointment. Having breakfast delivered to the suite and laid out on the dining table sounds like a wonderful and luxurious experience. Unfortunately, the reality was very different. Our breakfast arrived cold every single morning of our three-night stay, meaning we had to reheat everything ourselves. We raised this issue and reminded staff, yet the same thing happened again. And then again. Having to reheat your own breakfast three mornings

It's a great location if you want to be in the thick of it. Lots of restaurants, shops, etc. and tourists. We did not find the noise level to be a problem. Maybe because our room overlooked the back area. The staff was very helpful and offered good suggestions as to where to eat and how to get there. It was lovely to have an area to make coffee and find snacks. Coming up and down the stairs with luggage or even without at the end of a long day was a bit of an issue. Not easy. But everything else made it worth the climb.