Grand Hotel De L Opera - Toulouse, France 

This hotel is in a stupendous location--right smack in the middle of town. Hotel employees were without exception kind and helpful. They made a difficult stay bearable. The square that the hotel sits on is always busy, full of people (particularly students), hand cart sales, farmer's market, and bums. The square has restaurants all around the edges but did not feel safe to us at night. We spent two nights in this hotel during a very hot spell. The air conditioning in our room simply could not keep up with the temperature outdoors. We baked. The room had red velvet wall paper and heavy red velvet curtains. It reminded me of something out of an antique bordello--or what I imagine one might look like. The hallways are very old, all exposed wood, and unfinished. Everything echoed and in spite of the padded walls we heard every whisper and foostep out in the hallways at night. We were definitely not impressed with the "ambiance" of the stairways and halls. The rooms were simply overwhelming and dark--like being in a cave or a padded cell. Breakfast was not included in our very expensive room rate. The public rooms on the main floor are quite pleasant but very "grand tour" and dated. We thought the restaurants were totally overpriced and ate elsewhere. The rooms were so expensive, we really thought we were going to be in a very special spot. Instead, it was nothing but one huge disappointment--and a very warm disappointment at that. We most certainly would not return. Ever.