Best Western Premier Hôtel du Vieux-Port

The Best Western Premier Hôtel Vieux Port puts you right on the old fishing port, in a building where contemporary design meets the traditions of La Ciotat. The hotel has 61 rooms and junior suites, spread across five floors, each with its own colour scheme. It feels more like a town address than a sealed-off resort, which suits you if you want the port, restaurants and evening strolls close at hand.

The rooftop infinity pool overlooks the bay, giving the hotel its clearest signature. Down below, the waterfront carries on with its usual business while you can retreat upstairs for a swim, a drink or a quiet look across the water. The hotel's website is available in French, English and German, so it is clearly set up for an international clientele, including English-speaking guests.

You are in La Ciotat, France, at 252 quai François Mitterrand, directly on the old fishing port and opening towards the bay. This is a waterfront town position rather than a beach resort: the sea is part of the view, while the nearest proper coves are reached on foot or by car.

Calanque du Grand Mugel is about 0.6 miles away on foot, and Calanque de Figuerolles about 0.7 miles. Petit Mugel is also around 0.7 miles away. For dinner, Quai Sud and Le Minots are practically next door, while Sous les Lampions is just along the waterfront; The Crown is about 550 feet away for a drink or coffee.

La Ciotat railway station is about 3.4 miles away by road. Marseille Provence Airport is about 33 miles away by road, with Toulon–Hyeres Airport at a similar distance. Cassis is around 7 miles away by road, useful if you want to add another Provençal port to the itinerary.

The room choice is mainly about how much space and outlook you want when the day's salt and exertion have caught up with you. Couples can keep things simple with a king-size bed, while a balcony or sea view gives you somewhere to sit and watch the port without putting your shoes back on. The Junior Queen Suite with Sea View is the obvious choice when the view matters and three people are sharing; the larger family and sofa-bed suites give four guests room to spread out.

Every room has air conditioning, an LCD television, a minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities and a modern bathroom. That covers the practical post-dive basics: cool air when the Mediterranean has been doing its best, something cold from the minibar, and a proper bed rather than another seat at the bar. Bathrobes and hairdryers are provided, and daily housekeeping keeps the return from the day's activities pleasantly uneventful.

Soundproof rooms are available, which matters more here than it would in a quiet rural hideaway: the hotel sits on an active port and in the middle of town. Non-smoking rooms, family rooms and accessible rooms with wheelchair access and grab rails are also available. The larger suites are the sensible pick if you are travelling with children or simply prefer not to keep every bag and jacket on the bed.

Breakfast is served as a buffet each day, with gluten-free options included in the breakfast offering. It is the sort of arrangement that lets you build a proper start before heading out, rather than negotiating a complicated menu while still thinking about tides, kit and whether the second coffee has happened yet.

The hotel has a bar where you can settle in for a cocktail in the evening. There is also a coffee house on site, plus tea and coffee-making facilities in the rooms. The minibar gives you a private fallback when you want a quiet drink without another trip downstairs.

For a fuller meal, you are already in the right part of La Ciotat. Quai Sud and Le Minots are only a few steps away, with Sous les Lampions also on the waterfront, while nearby cafés and bars give you alternatives when dinner is not required. The hotel itself does not present a full restaurant programme, so the port's dining scene is part of the practical appeal rather than an afterthought.

The rooftop infinity pool is the main reason to head upwards. It overlooks the bay and comes with a sun terrace, outdoor furniture and loungers or beach chairs, making it an easy place to spend an afternoon when you are taking a break from the water. Pool and beach towels are available, so you do not need to turn your room towel into a second job.

For a slower recovery, the hotel has a sauna, hammam and steam room, together with a relaxation lounge. There is also a solarium and a fitness facility. These are useful options for a day when your body wants movement but not another ambitious excursion, or when one person wants to unwind while the other still has energy to burn.

When the pool and wellness area have done their work, the waterfront is immediately outside. You can walk to the nearby coves, visit Notre-Dame de l'Assomption about 1,100 feet away on foot, or simply stay among the harbour cafés and restaurants. La Guillaumière is about 2.2 miles away on foot for a change of scenery.

Check-in runs from 3 pm to midnight, and check-out is available from midnight until noon. A photo ID and payment card are required at check-in, and the hotel does not accept cash. Reception is open around the clock, with express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and concierge service available when your travel plans do not fit neatly around hotel hours.

Private parking is available on site in a parking garage, with no reservation required. Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms. A lift serves the building, and accessible facilities include wheelchair access and toilets with grab rails. Air conditioning, heating and wake-up service cover the less glamorous but more useful parts of a trip.

Transfers from Marseille Provence Airport or Toulon–Hyeres Airport can be arranged directly with the hotel, in a private or shared form if offered for your dates. The neighbourhood has daytime roadworks linked to renovation work, with completion planned for February; contact the hotel for the current situation before travelling. Cancellation and prepayment conditions vary with the accommodation option you choose.

The hotel holds Green Key certification. That gives you a named environmental standard to look for when comparing addresses in La Ciotat, without turning the stay into an ecology lecture. Here, the useful point is simple: the hotel has chosen to operate under a recognised sustainability label while sitting beside the coast you have come to enjoy.