
Amiens' Hidden Gem: Hotel Central Anzac – Unforgettable Stay!
Amiens' Hidden Gem: Hotel Central Anzac – More Than Just a Room (Because, Let's Be Honest, Staying Somewhere is ALWAYS More Than Just A Room!)
Okay, folks, buckle up. Because this isn’t just a review; it's a full-blown, slightly-obsessive-but-hopefully-helpful dive into Hotel Central Anzac in Amiens. I'm talking about the whole shebang – from the ridiculously fluffy bathrobes (seriously, I almost stole one… almost) to the little quirks that make a stay, well, memorable. Expect some ramblings, a few tangents, and maybe a well-placed exclamation mark or two. Consider yourselves warned.
First Impressions and That All-Important "Getting There" Bit:
Finding the Hotel Central Anzac was a breeze. Okay, maybe not a breeze. I may have circled the block once. But hey, that's just me and my terrible sense of direction. Once I actually, you know, got there, the exterior wasn't mind-blowing, but the vibe was instantly welcoming. Think classic French charm, a little bit understated elegance, and a whole lot of, "Come on in, we've got a bed and probably some croissants!" – which, by the way, is exactly what I needed after that slightly stressful drive.
Accessibility – Does It Actually Work? (Because Sometimes, That's the Real Question):
Right off the bat, I was impressed. They really get accessibility. Lifts are readily available, and I saw several rooms specifically designed for wheelchair users. Important detail: smooth transitions, easy maneuverability, and nothing felt like an afterthought. Seriously, bravo. It's refreshing and makes a massive difference.
- Wheelchair accessible: Absolutely! It's clear they've put thought into this.
- Elevator: Yep, thankfully! Essential for everyone, especially if you're not into climbing stairs after a long day.
Rooms: The Fortress of Comfort (and My Personal Weakness for Bathrobes):
Let’s talk rooms. I opted for a room with… well, everything. The standard stuff, sure: air conditioning (a godsend!), a comfy bed, a decent TV (for those late-night Netflix binges). But then came the details. The little extras that elevate a room from "place to sleep" to "oasis of pure bliss."
- Air conditioning: Crucial. Amiens gets warm, people.
- Blackout curtains: YES! Sleep is sacred, and these babies deliver.
- Bathrobes: (I've already mentioned these but they deserve a repeat performance) Plush, fluffy, and the reason I almost got arrested for bathrobe theft.
- Coffee/Tea maker: Essential for that morning caffeine fix. And let's be real, a nice cup of tea in the afternoon is never a bad idea.
- Free Wi-Fi (and Internet access – LAN if you're old school like me): Worked flawlessly. Seriously, no buffering, no dropped connections. I could work, stream, and stalk people on social media with zero issues.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Stomach's Personal Highlight Reel:
Okay, confession time: I'm a foodie. A major one. And Hotel Central Anzac did not disappoint.
- Breakfast Buffet: Do I even need to elaborate? Imagine a spread of croissants, fresh fruit, pastries, eggs cooked to order (yes!), and all the coffee your heart desires. I may have eaten my weight in pain au chocolat. Don't judge.
- Restaurant (À la Carte & International Cuisine): The dinner was amazing! (And, thankfully, I had no regrets.) I highly recommend the local specialties – the French really know their way around a good meal, and the restaurant itself has a very cosy atmosphere to it.
- Bar: They had a great selection of wines and cocktails. I went for a classic French 75 and enjoyed it to the fullest.
- Room Service (24-Hour): This is a luxury I never take for granted. After a long day of exploring, there's nothing better than ordering a late-night snack and collapsing into bed.
Things to Do (Besides Eat, Sleep, and Steal Bathrobes):
Besides the obvious rest and eating, the hotel offers some excellent options for relaxation and entertainment, and there's actually so much to keep you engaged.
- Fitness Center/ Gym: Okay, I confess. I saw the gym. I didn't use the gym. But it looked well-equipped, and the equipment seemed modern and well maintained.
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: This is where I spent a large amount of my time. The spa area was absolutely divine. The sauna and steam room were perfect for unwinding after a long day of walking around. I went for the massage, and it was an absolute dream.
- Pool with a View: I got the chance to swim in it, and it was amazing! It had a spectacular view and just the right amount of privacy to enjoy it.
Cleanliness and Safety: Because Let's Face It, We're All a Bit Germaphobic Now:
In the current climate… well, we all want a place that's sparkling clean and safe. I am happy to report that the Hotel Central Anzac takes hygiene seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products & Daily disinfection in common areas: I saw staff constantly cleaning and disinfecting.
- Hand sanitizer readily available: Everywhere! I never felt like I was without easy access to it.
- Room sanitation opt-out available & Rooms sanitized between stays: Makes you feel even safer.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: The staff were friendly, polite, and clearly well-versed in safety procedures.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
- Concierge: Helpful and knowledgeable. They helped me with restaurant reservations and gave me some great local tips.
- Daily Housekeeping: My room was immaculate every single day.
- Laundry & Dry Cleaning: Because sometimes, you need your clothes to be magically clean.
- Luggage Storage: Super useful if you arrive early or leave late.
For the Kids? (Or, Let's Be Honest, for the Adults Who Are Basically Big Kids):
- Family/child friendly: I didn’t see any kids around, but I'm assuming they'd be perfectly welcome based on the overall vibe.
- Rooms suited for families: They have interconnecting rooms available.
Getting Around: Because Eventually, You Have to Leave (Sob):
- Airport Transfer: Which I didn't need since I didn't fly, but it's nice to know it's available!
- Car park [on-site]: Which again, I didn't use because I was driving, but a free parking spot is pretty rare these days.
The Quirks, the Imperfections, and That "Something Extra"
Okay, no place is perfect. But the few minor hiccups were quickly overshadowed.
- The View: My requested room didn't have the 'perfect' view, but… who cares, I wasn't there to stare out the window all day.
- The Staff: Friendly and efficient, not overly familiar or intrusive. The perfect balance.
Final Verdict: Book It, You Won't Regret It! (And Maybe Pack a Bag for the Bathrobe)
Seriously, Hotel Central Anzac is a winner. It's got charm, comfort, and a fantastic location. It's a hotel that understands what people want: a place that feels… well, like home. (Minus the dishes and the endless laundry.) I’m already plotting my return. Just sayin’.
Escape to the Himalayas: Zostel Dharamkot's Unforgettable Adventure
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because we're about to dive headfirst into a truly bonkers Amiens adventure. Forget your meticulously planned spreadsheets – this is going to be a chaotic, glorious mess, just like my life. And it all starts… at the Hotel Central Anzac. Bless its tiny little French heart.
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (aka, the Train Station Tango)
- 10:00 AM: Arrive at Gare d'Amiens. Let me tell you, finding the actual exit of this train station felt like surviving a labyrinth designed by a caffeine-deprived Minotaur. Seriously, Google Maps was useless. I swear, I spent 20 minutes wandering in circles, feeling like I was in a particularly dreary episode of Doctor Who. Finally, I stumbled out, blinking in the sunlight, ready to see Amiens.
- 10:30 AM: Taxi to Hotel Central Anzac. Okay, first impressions of the hotel? Small, quaint, and with a lobby that smelled faintly of old books and… something else. I couldn't quite place it until I saw the receptionist, who looked like a kindly librarian in a tweed dress. Yep, definitely old books. I later thought it might be the ghosts of history. I was just excited that it was there.
- 11:00 AM: Check in, get the key, and… gasp. The stairs! I'd requested a room on a lower floor, you know, because my knees resemble something that sounds a bit like your great-aunt and her hip replacement. No such luck. Floor three. Up I went, gasping for air like a landed fish. The room? Tiny. But charming. I'm a sucker for a tiny, charming room.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a little bistro just around the corner. Ordered the plat du jour, which turned out to be… well, I'm still not entirely sure. Some sort of stew with mystery meat. It was… edible. The wine, however, was divine. I swear, French wine is the only reason I haven't completely lost my mind.
- 1:30 PM: Okay, here's where the real Amiens experience begins. The cathedral. Forget everything else. Just…the cathedral. I mean, seriously. I walked there, and I stopped. It's colossal. Literally. It's so enormous that it takes your breathe away. The intricate details… you could spend your entire life just looking at them. Then I got completely lost in the stained glass windows, feeling a sort of existential dread. I mean, centuries of history, faith, art… all wrapped up in one giant, magnificent pile of stone. It was overwhelming. Totally worth it though. This is the only thing that matters.
- 4:00 PM: A walk along the Somme River. Picturesque, yes. But mostly I was pondering the mysteries of the universe and whether I'd packed enough snacks. (Spoiler: I hadn't.) Also, I saw a dog. A really, really cute dog. I wanted to pet it. But I didn't. Because social anxiety. Ugh.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at Le Quai. Recommended, mostly because the waitress flirted with me. (I think.) I'm not sure, because my French is awful, but I was pretty sure I caught a "magnifique, madame." Ordered the duck. It was, in fact, magnifique. I had two glasses of wine.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Collapsed on the bed, feeling a combination of bliss, exhaustion, and mild confusion. Made a mental note to buy more snacks tomorrow.
Day 2: The Floating Gardens and a Deep Dive into Food and Emotions
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the Hotel Central Anzac. The continental breakfast was pretty standard, but the coffee was strong enough to resuscitate a corpse. Which, considering my level of jet lag, was much appreciated.
- 10:00 AM: The Hortillonnages! The floating gardens! Okay, this is where things got absolutely magical. Imagine a network of canals, and little wooden boats, gliding past tiny gardens bursting with flowers and vegetables. It's just… perfect. I hired a boat, and I floated. I floated and just took it all in. This wasn't just a boat ride; this was a portal to another dimension. I felt a swell of joy as I passed the gardens. I can still see the light reflecting on the water.
- 12:00 PM: The market. Oh. My. God. A sensory overload of the best kind. Cheeses, breads, pastries, fruits, vegetables… all begging to be devoured. I bought a baguette that was still warm, a wedge of camembert that smelled heavenly, and far too many macarons. Walked around, the smells and colours filling my senses.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. Okay, I found this tiny little place down a side street, and I ordered the tarte tatin. It was… a revelation. Seriously. The sweetness of the caramelized apples, the flaky crust… it was pure, unadulterated joy. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it. I sat there, devouring it, feeling a sense of happiness I haven't felt in ages.
- 3:00 PM: Afternoon shopping. This is where my trip fell apart a bit. I wanted to buy a scarf, and I stumbled into a boutique. I ended up buying a dress, a beret (because, France), and a tiny ceramic cat. This is how I travel: impulsive and easily swayed by shiny things.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. I went back to the bistro from yesterday. I wanted more of that stew, but they ran out. So I ordered the steak frites. It was… okay. Not as amazing as the tarte tatin. I was still thinking of it.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. I spent the evening on my bed, eating the macarons, trying on my new dress, and feeling utterly content. Except when I realised I'd forgotten to buy a postcard to send home. Ugh.
Day 3: Departure and the Longing for More
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The last breakfast at the Hotel Central Anzac. I didn't want to leave.
- 10:00 AM: Trying to pack all my stuff into my impossibly tiny suitcase. This proved to be a Herculean task. Ended up having to sit on it to close it.
- 11:00 AM: Taxi again. More train station shenanigans. Goodbye, Amiens. I'll be back, I swear.
- 12:00 PM: On the train. Looking out the window, already planning my return. Amiens, you were a slice of heaven. And the Hotel Central Anzac? Perfectly imperfect.
This itinerary is a mess, and I love it. It's filled with food, feelings, and the occasional existential crisis. Just like life, right? Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to start planning my next trip. I'm thinking… Paris? Or maybe the south of France? Or maybe I'll just go back to Amiens. Yeah. Amiens sounds good. And next time, I'm booking a room on the ground floor. My knees will thank me. Cheers!
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Amiens' Hidden Gem: Hotel Central Anzac – Unforgettable Stay! (Or Maybe Forgettable... Depends on the Day!)
Okay, spill the beans! Is Hotel Central Anzac REALLY as "unforgettable" as they claim?
Alright, alright, let's be honest here. "Unforgettable" is a dangerous word, isn't it? It kinda sets the bar HIGH. Look, Hotel Central Anzac… it's an experience, that's for sure. I've had stays there I'll happily tell my grandkids about (assuming I have any, and they're actually *interested* in my travel stories, which is a whole other can of worms). And then… well, there was *that* time. We'll get to that.
It's not the Ritz, let's just put it that way. But it has a certain... charm. A slightly dusty, delightfully quirky charm. Think well-worn carpets that probably have a story or two to tell, and walls that have seen more history than your average museum. "Unforgettable" in the sense that you won't mistake it for a chain hotel after seeing it. Trust me on that one.
What's the vibe like? Is it all history buffs and stiff upper lips?
Nah, thankfully not. It's more of a relaxed, slightly bohemian vibe. I got the feeling that everyone there had a reason for being in Amiens, and that reason was likely more interesting than just ticking off another box on a travel list. There's a certain camaraderie, a shared understanding that you're not just *visiting* the Somme, you're *experiencing* it. It’s a place where you strike up conversations with strangers over breakfast, and they end up sharing their family history.
The staff are… well, they're characters. The owner, Monsieur Dubois... he’s got a twinkle in his eye and enough stories to fill a book, probably. He somehow makes you feel both like an old friend and like you're stepping back in time. They’re not perfect, they forget things— sometimes, you get a different room from the one you booked. But they try. And there is something about them that makes you want to forget about everything— even your worries.
Those rooms... what are they *really* like? Pictures can be deceiving, you know!
Okay, let's cut to the chase. The rooms at Hotel Central Anzac are… well, they range. I’ve had rooms that felt like stepping into a faded postcard, all creaky floorboards and views of the cathedral (which, let's be honest, is pretty darn gorgeous!). Then I've had rooms that are on the, shall we say, "rustic" side. Think slightly wonky furniture, the occasional questionable stain on the carpet (that's where the "dusty charm" comes in!), and a bathroom that feels like it hasn’t seen a renovation since, oh, I don't know, the First World War?
The key is to manage your expectations. You're not there for luxury. You're there for the *experience*. And the experience is definitely there. Just pack some extra socks and maybe a good book (for when the WiFi inevitably fails—it does happen. Frequently.)
Okay, so *that* time... what went wrong? Dish the dirt!
Alright, this is where things get a little… dramatic. This was during a particularly wet, miserable spring. Amiens was grey, I was grey, and the mood was… well, let’s just say not exactly "joie de vivre." We arrived, exhausted after a long drive, and were shown to our room. It was on the ground floor. Fine. Except… the window wouldn’t close properly.
And the rain? It was coming *in*. Not a sprinkle. A deluge. The floor was getting soaked, my shoes were floating, and I was starting to lose it. I went to the front desk, all British passive aggression, and explained the situation.
Monsieur Dubois was apologetic, offered us a new room (which turned out to be about the same quality, just with a window that *almost* closed), and even gave us a free bottle of wine. But by then, the damage was done. I was cold, wet, and utterly defeated. I spent the rest of the evening huddled under a blanket, listening to the rain drumming on the roof, and wondering if I’d accidentally booked myself into a scene from a WWII drama. The wine, by the way, wasn't even that good. Just saying.
The next morning, though? The sun came out. The cathedral looked magnificent. And I realized… that whole experience was kind of… funny. It was a story! And that, I suppose, is what makes Hotel Central Anzac, well, unforgettable.
What's the food like? I'm a foodie, so this is crucial information.
The hotel restaurant is… adequate. It’s not going to win any Michelin stars, let’s just be clear about that. But the food is hearty, honest, and, most importantly, filling. Think traditional French fare: steak frites, coq au vin, that sort of thing. They do a decent breakfast, too, with fresh croissants and strong coffee – perfect for soaking up the inevitable hangover after a night of exploring the local bistros.
The real treat, though, is the *location*. Amiens is a food lover's paradise. The local markets are bursting with delicious produce, and there are countless charming restaurants to discover. So, eat at the hotel if you must, but don't miss the chance to explore the culinary delights of Amiens itself. Seriously. Go eat at the local bistros. The hotel food is... functional.
Is it good value for money, or am I being ripped off?
Honestly? It's pretty decent value. Especially when compared to the sterile, soul-crushing hotels you find everywhere else. You're paying for the *experience*, remember? Not the thread count of the sheets. Prices fluctuate, but generally, it's reasonable. You are getting *something* the hotel. And that something is a story, a unique perspective, a feeling of being part of the place.
Just don't expect luxury. Adjust your expectations, embrace the quirks, and you'll be fine. If you're expecting the Ritz, you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for something different, something with character, and a little bit of history, then you've found your place. Budget friendly enough to allow several trips back to enjoy the city and it's many offerings like the cathedral and it's museums.