Holiday Inn Express Marseille Saint Charles, an IHG Hotel

I stayed here in September 2024. This hotel is extremely convenient to the train station and metro subway - just across the street. Emilie at the desk checked me in and was lovely and very friendly. The room had a nice view of Marseille, the sea, and Basilica. I was given a top floor room by the elevator. The room was clean, furnishings were decent, but I felt like the carpet was due for a change. I was slightly concerned about being by the elevator, but the elevator was surprisingly quiet - maybe not a lot of guests as it was the off season.

The location is convenient, but head west (left out the main door) and it gets pretty bad - I got off at a wrong metro and had to backtrack a little and it was sketchy (syringes on the sidewalk, etc.) from that direction. From the hotel walking southeast, it's not too far to walk to the old city or the old port through some mildly rough looking sections, but the metro is very close. So location is a double-edged sword - great for transit, no too great for environment. If you just sit around a hotel on vacation, then this isn't for you. If you are out touring around and just need a place to sleep, this works fine. Sadly, there's a lot of graffiti around Marseille so you can't judge the area solely on the presence of it - there's a lot in the beautiful historic narrow streets too.

Skip the breakfast - this is one spot that they can control and improve. The staff was friendly, but there was little selection and it was just not appetizing. It was a totally different experience than my experience days earlier at the Saarbrücken Holiday Inn. I tried the eggs each morning but they were cold. I simply grabbed a croissant and some juice and left for the metro to go do things and eat elsewhere. Frankly, they might be better off just ending the breakfast and not offering one. There are so many options around the city and even some in the station across the street, I believe not having one in the hotel would be fine, or keep it very simple and light with only cold items - pastries, breads, cereals, yogurt, fruit, and juices.

I'd stay here again, especially if I have an early morning train to catch. You can't beat this location for that.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Marseille - Saint Charles for a week in August 2012 and had a very pleasant experience. The hotel's location is incredibly convenient, right next to the Saint Charles train station, making it easy to explore Marseille and beyond. The staff were friendly and attentive, always ready to assist with any requests. My room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, with modern amenities. The complimentary breakfast offered a good variety of options and was a great start to the day. While the hotel lacks some luxury features, its excellent service and prime location make it a solid choice for travelers. Four stars!

Great hotel. We arrived at 3 pm and the front desk manager was very friendly. Recognised my platinum status and offered late check-out which we took. The parking is easy and not too expensive. The room was great and comfortable. The breakfast was surprisingly good 👍. For an inclusive breakfast it was the best in a while. Overall I cannot share any bad experience and will book the HIX in Marseille again.

A perfect location to travel by train ! Good breakfast, kind staff and great room noise system- you don’t hear anything in the room !