184, Avenue de Saint Menet, 13011 Marseille

ibis Budget Marseille Est Porte d'Aubagne

Name: ibis Budget Marseille Est Porte d'Aubagne
Address: 184, Avenue de Saint Menet, Marseille, 13011, FR
Price range: 50 EUR
Rating: 3.95

Hotel 2-star in Marseille

Presentation

The ibis budget Marseille Est Porte d'Aubagne stands out with its blue-and-white facade, attached to that of the neighboring Novotel, just after exit 5 of the A50 motorway. You almost get there without thinking about it, so direct is the access from Aubagne, La Valentine, or Gémenos. The Saint-Menet district, in the 11th arrondissement, is anything but a postcard setting. Commercial zone, warehouses, roundabouts. People do not come here for the view.

The parking lot, free and shared with the Novotel, is closed off by a gate between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. A reassuring detail for anyone leaving their car there all night before heading out at dawn toward the calanques.

At reception, the welcome contrasts with the somewhat impersonal look of the building. The staff, used to groups and passing families, knows how to handle a booking hiccup in a few minutes rather than after several calls.

The rooms, averaging 23 m², keep things simple. Air conditioning, large screen, open wardrobe, walk-in shower separate from the toilet. Nothing ostentatious, no designer desk or noble materials, but bedding that does the job and enough storage to put your things down without piling them up. Three rooms are designed for people with reduced mobility, and another includes a bunk bed for families traveling four.

On the ground floor, a garden and a terrace add a little breathing room to the whole place. Picnic table, vending machines, a spot to relax between journeys. Those traveling by bike can rent one on site to cover the first kilometers toward Aubagne or La Valentine.

Breakfast, however, is not included in the room price. Expect to pay between 4.45 and 8.90 euros for an all-you-can-eat buffet of bread, pastries, fruit, and hot drinks, served from 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. on weekends. A modest extra, well worth it once seated facing the garden, before getting back on the road.

As for getting around, the Vieux-Port can be reached in a little under twenty minutes by car, and the beaches of Cassis are a bit farther on. Without a vehicle, however, it is better to allow more travel time: the nearest station, in Saint-Marcel or La Barasse, is still a few minutes by car or a good twenty-minute walk away. It quickly becomes clear that this ibis budget mainly works for motorized travelers, heading toward the calanques, Aubagne, or the Provençal countryside.

In the evening, the simplest option is to cross over to the neighboring Novotel, where a 10% discount applies to the bill for ibis budget guests. Handy when you do not feel like getting back in the car after a day of walking.

One last tip for those arriving late: the parking gate closes at exactly 11 p.m. Better not linger on the road to the calanques at sunset.

Summary of some positive reviews read on the Web

Small booking issue via the Accor app; the family room requested was not confirmed on arrival. The person at reception found a solution in less than fifteen minutes.
Simple room but new and comfortable bedding. Good sleep despite the proximity to the motorway; the soundproofing does the job.
Bathroom and room spotless on arrival. Practical walk-in shower, separate toilet, appreciated by several people.
Paid but generous buffet, bread, pastries, fruit. Served from 6:30 a.m. on weekdays, convenient before an early morning drive.
Free parking and locked at night, reassuring for leaving the car. A50 exit two minutes away, handy for traveling around toward Aubagne or Cassis.
PMR-adapted room on the ground floor, easy access without steps. Bathroom designed for a wheelchair, staff attentive to practical details.