Sofitel Marseille Vieux-Port

Sofitel Marseille Vieux-Port is built for a city break with the sea close at hand and a little more polish than a basic base for the night. Three terraces look over Marseille's Old Port, while the Dantès Skylounge gives you somewhere to sit with a cocktail once the day's business is done. The address suits couples particularly well, but family rooms, babysitting and children's meals also make it workable for a wider group.

The practical comfort is properly covered. Air conditioning, soundproof rooms, a minibar, room service and free WiFi mean you can return, cool down, eat in if required and shut the harbour noise outside. The hotel also has a 24-hour reception, concierge service, luggage storage and private check-in and check-out.

The hotel sits in Marseille, beside the Old Port and close to Fort Saint-Nicolas, which is about 0.1 miles away. Parc Émile Duclaux and Jardin Missak Manouchian are also nearby, so you can leave the waterfront behind without travelling across the city. The Catalans beach is about 0.3 miles away, while Fausse Monnaie and Plage de Maldorme are roughly 0.9 miles and 1 mile away respectively.

The centre of Marseille is within reach on foot, with Vieux Port Metro station about 0.8 miles away. Marseille Saint-Charles railway station is about 1.6 miles on foot, and Marseille Provence Airport is about 11 miles away. For a shore-side wander, Fort Saint-Jean and the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean are close enough to make an easy non-diving outing. Château d'If can be reached by ferry from the nearby marina.

The room choice is less about collecting categories and more about deciding how much of Marseille you want in the frame. Some air-conditioned rooms have a terrace overlooking the harbour, which gives you an outdoor place to take in the port without having to go anywhere. For a quieter night's sleep, soundproofing matters more than a grand description, particularly in a working city with ferries, traffic and late dinners.

Every room has a flat-screen television with satellite channels, an iPod docking station and a minibar. Bathrooms are stylish, and some include their own television. Room service runs from 6.30am to 11pm, with breakfast available in your room, which is useful when an early start has left you more interested in coffee than conversation.

Families can choose family rooms, while two Superior Rooms are adapted for wheelchair access. Cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the selected accommodation and availability. Children of any age are welcome, with children aged 12 and over treated as adults for the stay.

Breakfast is continental and buffet-style, with the option of taking it in the restaurant or in your room. Lunch and dinner are covered too, so you can keep the evening simple rather than setting off in search of food with tired legs and a wet bag in the corner. Special-diet menus are available on request, and room service gives you another route when the day has run long.

Les Trois Forts is the more formal address, pairing gourmet cooking with fine wines and champagnes and a panoramic harbour view. Le Carré brasserie handles breakfast, lunch and dinner in a more relaxed format, with pastries available between meals. There is one named bar in the hotel offer: Dantès Skylounge, where cocktails are served from 5pm until 1am. Three terraces complete the picture, including a seventh-floor terrace with the brasserie menu at lunchtime and in the evening.

The spa is the obvious place to put yourself back together. You have access to a sauna, hammam and jacuzzi, with massages, facials, body scrubs, mud baths and body wraps among the treatments. Spa and wet-area access is arranged by appointment, and the spa operates from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday during its stated daytime hours. Hairdressing and beauty services are available as well.

The fitness room is open around the clock, which leaves you free to train before breakfast or later in the evening. If that sounds suspiciously energetic, the three terraces and their harbour outlook offer a less demanding alternative. Walking tours and bicycle rental provide a way to see more of Marseille, while the nearby parks, historic sites and museums give couples plenty to do without turning the hotel into an activity camp.

Check-in starts at 4pm and check-out is by noon. You need photo identification and a credit card at arrival. The front desk operates around the clock, with express check-in and check-out, concierge assistance and luggage storage available when your travel times do not line up neatly with the room.

Private underground parking is available on site, along with valet parking, and car hire can be arranged. WiFi is free throughout the hotel. The address also has wheelchair-accessible facilities, including accessible bathrooms with grab rails, raised toilets, lower sinks and emergency cords.

Pets are welcome. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing are available, and breakfast can be served in your room. For the spa, wet area and hairdresser, appointments are required. The hotel's website is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Czech, Swedish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Chinese and Japanese.

No named environmental certification or specific sustainability programme forms part of the hotel's offer.