I stayed at the Novotel Prado for a conference at the Marseille Chanot-Palais des Congrès et des…read moreExpositions down the street. This hotel looks and feels like a boutique hotel, and I enjoyed my stay.
My room was small by American standards, but spacious by European ones. Everything was very clean (and this was true of all the areas in the hotel). The bed was quite comfortable, although the sheets and pillowcases were a little rough compared to what I'm used to. The wall-mounted LCD TV had a few English channels (mainly news). The bathroom consisted of a walk-in shower (no tub), a sink area, and a separate WC for the toilet. Like most (if not all?) French hotels, there was no iron or ironing board. However, there was an automatic coffee maker as well as a very small fridge (with complimentary water and carbonated water). My only complaint about the room is that temperature control was extremely difficult. My room was terribly HOT when I arrived (probably about 85 degrees) and the only way to cool it down was to open the single window. There was no air conditioning.
There is no business center in the hotel, but there is a very small area for accessing the internet on a computer in the lobby. Fortunately, wireless at the hotel is free and you'll just need to acquire a username/password at the front desk. By the way, the staff at the front desk speak English so that ignorant Americans like myself could communicate. ;)
The best part about this hotel was the incredible free breakfast. The selection and quality were beyond compare. Fresh breads of all varieties, pastries, meats, cheeses, fruit, juices, cereals, eggs, sausage/bacon, yogurt (and other packaged items like rice pudding and applesauce), and freshly ground/brewed espresso drinks. Just divine... and I miss it already.
Besides being within walking distance of the convention center, the hotel was a very short distance from the Marseille metro. The neighborhood was fairly busy, with lots of traffic. If you plan on opening the window, bring ear plugs so that you can sleep!