Hotel Montsegur (Carcassonne, France)

The thing that guests seem to appreciate most is the free parking at the hotel. It may not be big, but it is off-road and secure - the hosts closing it at night.

Guests are seduced by the friendly welcome afforded by the host family and staff. They are extremely helpful and will do anything to help make your stay more enjoyable.

Although some guests think the 10-minute walk to the citadel is a bit far, most find the hotel is well situated. You can easily get to the mediaeval part or the main town, explore the canal du midi or even get to the railway station by foot. If anywhere seems too far, there are plenty of buses outside to get you to where you need to go.

If you have a room overlooking the main road you may get disturbed by the constant noise of traffic. Whilst it is to be expected in a town centre, the hotel does provide double glazing and air-conditioning so you don't need to open the windows at night.

Some guests find the beds a bit on the hard side. This is maybe down to personal preference - whether you go for a soft or a hard bed. A lot of guests - who are not fans of the long, elongated pillows - don't realise until it is too late that there are extra pillows in the wardrobe too!

A lot of guests adore the quaint traditional charm of this hotel. The authentic nature and antique furnishing is a refreshing change for those used to contemporary, chain or design hotels. However, others simply write the hotel off as being out-dated. You can't please everyone!