Crowne Plaza Nice Grand Arenas

What is your Priority Club status?
Diamond Ambassador

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
The hotel is quite nice and ideally located at the airport in walkable distance, a tram and train stop in front of the hotel. So ideal to discover Nice and the surrounding areas.
I arrived at the hotel at 14:20 and was the only guest. The agent retrieved the reservation from the system. I was asked if I like the points, the welcome drink or the breakfast as Diamond Amenity. The lounge access was also mentioned, but there was not breakfast available. So I took the breakfast. Lounge was explained as open all day from 11:00 till the evening. Snacks and beverages would be available from 17.00 to 20:00.
I asked about gym (24/7) and breakfast time (from 06:30 to 10:30). A late check out was already offered during check-in till 14:00, which I did not need.

My room was located on the sixth floor. I had booked a standard room with points and received exactly this. The room was facing the train tracks. So not upgrade.
After stepping into the room the bathroom was to the right. Quite large with shower, sink with more than sufficient place to store items. Shampoo, bath foam, conditioner and lotion were wall mounted larger bottles. The lotion was somehow clogged, which was not resolved during housekeeping. I had my own lotion, so no problem. Towels (two large one and two medium sized) were available. Not slippers and bathrobes though. Bathroom mirror was heated.
There was a closet in the hallway which hosts iron, ironing board, hairdryer and safe. More than enough space to store clothes for a longer trip.
The room had a large king size bed on the right side along with two bedside table with lamps and additional reading lamps. Power and USB outlets were also available.
A desk large enough to work with a desk lamp and a desk chair. There was also an international power outlet and two additional USB ports. The Flat TV was next to the desk facing the bed. An armchair with a small table were next to the windows.
A kettle was available, unfortunately no Nespresso machine. Two small water bottles were available as well and restocked during housekeeping. A minifridge was available but turned off.
A small fitness centre is available on the ninth floor. During my visit in the late afternoon it was empty. There was a small balcony – I assume a relaxing place for the sauna which is also located within the gym.
Breakfast is served as buffet on the second floor. Available were fresh fruit, cereals, pastries, and bread in addition to cheese and jam. Hot items were rösti, scrambled eggs, mushroom, bacon and pork sausages.
Internet did not work until the afternoon the day after I checked in. I was not informed that there were problems for a couple of days as I checked in. Only during breakfast I inquired about any know issues and was told that somebody from the provided should check on the same day.
I had dinner in restaurant in the evening. I went with a cheeseburger (did not want to leave the hotel and was into the mood of a more fancier option). I tasted good. There is a happy hour with reduced price between 17:00 and 20:00 for some items on the beverage menu.
Service was friendly and attentive. During breakfast however, the used dishes were only cleared after the guest had left.
Check out was quick and fast.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Standard room and received this room. The reason might be that it was a point booking. The flexible cash rate would have been 126 EUR for a standard room and 107 EUR for an advanced purchase rate

How are the rooms?
The hotel is a new building and sharing the building with the Holiday Inn Express.
Room was in good condition. Contemporary styled with barely any wear and tear. Mattress was soft, too soft, but this is not uncommon for hotels in France.
The number of sockets to plug in laptop and chargers were good.
Water pressure of the shower was okay. It took some time in the morning before the water became hot.
The room was quite dark as there was only one rather small window which could be opened. It was no floor to ceiling window. As the room used dark colour, it was cosy but nevertheless a bit too dark for my taste. I would have preferred either a larger window or two smaller window. But the architect of the building might have a different point of view.
No pen / biro and writing pad were available in the room.

How is the exec. lounge?
Nice in regard to design. Not very large (80 m˛) with a number of arm chairs and sofas. A bookshelf with a large number of books from Taschen Publishing Company about art, photography, travel and architecture. Two computer terminals and a toilet. Maybe a bit dark and nothing is served outside of the evening reception.
In the evening there is a small plate of finger food. Only an amuse-gueule. It was a small salmon roll, liver pate and cream puffs. A red, rose and white wine along with soft drinks were available. Four cans of Heineken beer were also available. There were not plates though. Sparkling and still water was only available at the first evening.
It is a nice place to have a glass or two of wine, but the lounge is not a place to be a substitute for a dinner (but this is France, so have a real dinner in the evening in one of the nice restaurants in Nice or the one of the hotel)
On the second evening I returned to the lounge after dinner down in the restaurant. Some other guest have taken the plate with food to their table and left nothing. Positive, the lounge is not crowded - I was the only guest, but other guests had access as well.
I would not pay for the lounge, but it was nice to have one. In regard to the offering a bit on the small side and not what you expect from a lounge compared with the competitors.
What I really disliked is, that there is nothing offered during the day, not even coffee, tea or water (let alone soft drinks).

What was good and what was bad?
Good
Staff is friendly and helpful
location is well connected to public transportation and roads.
room is good sized and in good condition
Room hardware

Neutral
Breakfast Buffet in regard to quantity, quality was good. I would like to see some more fresh fruit and vegetables. Scrambled eggs was very watery.
Information about not working internet
Lounge (good in regard to design / bad in regard to offerings - coffee or tea and at least watter during the day would have been nice)

Bad
Room is dark and does not offer much light due to the small window
Shower glass panel it too short

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
The location is good. The rooms are of a good size, though a bit dark. Room is in good condition and offer real desk. The lounge offerings are very limited. If you expecting a real dinner, you will be disappointed. If you expect a place for an aperitif or to have an amuse-gueule, it is okay.

In so far, I would return, if the rates are affordable.



Club Lounge / Crowne Plaza Nice Arenas

Club Lounge / Crowne Plaza Nice Arenas

Club Lounge / Crowne Plaza Nice Arenas

Club Lounge / Crowne Plaza Nice Arenas

Additional pictures are in this post in the Master Thread of the hotel.