Square Planchon
Square Planchon, Centre, Montpellier, Hérault, France- Park
Compare nearby stays with similar location, guest experience, amenities, and class.
Relax at the Spa - Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa that offers relaxing massages to unwind after a day of exploring the city.
Delightful Dining Experience - Enjoy a meal at the hotel's restaurant or grab some snacks at the coffee shop/cafe. Don't miss out on the 24-hour room service and quench your thirst at the bar/lounge.
Modern Comforts and Convenience - Stay connected with complimentary wireless internet access and make use of amenities like the business center, concierge services, and express check-in. The hotel also offers self-parking and has 7 meeting rooms available for events.
Immerse yourself in luxury at Hotel Belaroia and book your stay now to experience the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication in the heart of Montpellier.
Check-in from
04:00 PM
Check-out by
11:00 AM
Children
Not allowed
Pets
Allowed
1 King Bed
269 sq feet
Layout - Bedroom
Internet - Free WiFi 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Espresso maker, electric kettle, 24-hour room service, and free bottled water
Sleep - Premium bedding, a pillow menu, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, bathtub or shower, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Laptop-compatible safe, laptop workspace, and phone
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 2 guests
2 adults · 1 children
Beds
King bed (151-180 cm wide)
Room details
25 m2
In-room amenities
1 Twin Bed
237 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Electric kettle, 24-hour room service, free bottled water, and free tea bags/instant coffee
Sleep - Premium bedding, a pillow menu, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Laptop-compatible safe, laptop workspace, and phone
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 2 guests
2 adults · 1 children
Beds
Twin bed (90-99 cm wide)
Room details
22 m2
In-room amenities
1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
334 sq feet
Layout - Bedroom
Internet - Free WiFi 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Espresso maker, electric kettle, 24-hour room service, and free bottled water
Sleep - Premium bedding, a pillow menu, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Free local calls, double sofa bed, and laptop-compatible safe
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 4 guests
4 adults · 3 children
Beds
King bed (151-180 cm wide), Sofa bed (131-150 cm wide)
Room details
31 m2
In-room amenities
1 King Bed
237 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Electric kettle, 24-hour room service, free bottled water, and free tea bags/instant coffee
Sleep - Premium bedding, a pillow menu, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Laptop-compatible safe, laptop workspace, and phone
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 2 guests
2 adults · 1 children
Beds
King bed (151-180 cm wide)
Room details
22 m2
In-room amenities
1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
398 sq feet
Layout - Bedroom
Internet - Free WiFi 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Espresso maker, electric kettle, 24-hour room service, and free bottled water
Sleep - Premium bedding, a pillow menu, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, separate bathtub and shower, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Free local calls, double sofa bed, and laptop-compatible safe
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 4 guests
4 adults · 2 children
Beds
King bed (151-180 cm wide), Sofa bed (131-150 cm wide)
Room details
37 m2
In-room amenities
1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
291 sq feet
Internet - Free WiFi 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Espresso maker, electric kettle, 24-hour room service, and free bottled water
Sleep - Premium bedding, a pillow menu, blackout drapes/curtains, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and free toiletries
Practical - Free local calls, double sofa bed, and laptop-compatible safe
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 4 guests
4 adults · 3 children
Beds
King bed (151-180 cm wide), Sofa bed (131-150 cm wide)
Room details
27 m2
In-room amenities
Service animals are exempt from fees/restrictions
Contactless check-out is available
Cashless transactions are available
Parking height restrictions apply
Pets allowed
LGBTQ friendly
Professional property host/manager
No cribs (infant beds) available
Service animals are allowed
Get answers about amenities, policies, and more — e.g. “Are pets allowed?” or “Is parking available?”
Provider-sourced guest reviews.
Wir waren im Rahmen einer Radrundreise für eine Nacht hier. Unsere Räder konnten wir sicher in einem separaten Raum in der Tiefgarage des Hotels unterstellen. Der Check-In verlief problemlos. Die Zimmer waren ausgesprochen gut. Geräumig, modern, mit einer großen Dusche, separater Toilette und einer generell guten Ausstattung. Das einzige Manko aus meiner Sicht war das Frühstück. Die Auswahl um 8:30 Uhr war nicht mehr so gegeben. Viele Bereiche waren bereits leergegessen und wurden nicht nachgefüllt. Das sah mehr nach Resteessen als nach einem Frühstück aus. Die 2 Kaffeeautomaten gingen dann während des Frühstück kaputt und das Personal konnte es nicht reparieren. Hier hätte ich erwartet, dass man für solche Fälle Ersatzmaschinen hat, die dann zum Einsatz kommen können. Für das Frühstück würde ich daher nur 2 von 5 Sternen vergeben. Aber insgesamt doch ein sehr schöner Aufenthalt und ich würde wiederkommen.
Close to Grotto. Every one was nice.
Great service from staff. There isn't really AC in the room.
Veldig fin og sentral beliggenhet. Lite skap-plass. Veldig gode senger.
Stained couch. Useless fridge. Great location. Basic comfort.
Superbe endroit
Fine night. Friendly bar staff. Friendly staff at the foyer.
Close to transit, trains, busses, light rail. Easy walk to Place Comedie and parks.
Nickel
Ett stort välstädat hotell med superbra läge att gå in till stan Rummet var mörkt med sköna sängar och tyst trots nära tågstation Parkering under hotellet
Pratique, à 2 min à pied de la gare, central, et malgré tout calme et feutré.
A friend and I travelled to Montpellier, from Vancouver, Canada, and our initial accommodations were not as expected. In a scramble we had to find a suitable hotel and we found the Belaroia. Upon arrival we were greeted by Ladissi at the check in desk. She was kind and welcoming. Throughout our 4 day stay she was always incredibly thoughtful - offering us an umbrella on a rainy day, writing out a detailed list of the most noteworthy restaurants nearby by as well as calling a beach club in Sete to book our reservation, in French! Merci! She is truly a gem and made our stay unforgettable!
3 things is my complain. 1st is air condition, this is maybe French thing but AC does not cool for a US visitor, riom is hot. 2nd the room have no good wifi coverage. 3rd fridge does not cool well. The rest are good
Super im Zentrum gelegen und Preis-Leistung genial
I stayed for one night and everything was perfect! The room was clean and comfortable, the staff were friendly and helpful and the location was great. I would definitely come back. Highly recommended!
front lady was super nice speak english very well
😍😍😍
Excellent séjour sauf le matelas trop mou à notre goût
For $210 it was decent. Wish they had included light breakfast
Great choice near the train station. Montpelier is compact and walkable, so it's easy to start and end your trip here. A/C was so-so by American standards, but reasonable by French standards.
Greet stay, clean rooms.
Rien a dire sur cet hôtel : c'était très bien et le personnel est au service des clients.
Simple
Great place in close proximity to the train station. Liked the short walk to the square and other nice bars and restaurants. We'd stay there again.
It’s a great location near the train station and not too far of a walk into the heart of the center. It’s also an easy taxi to the airport. Staff were friendly and room was comfortable. Would stay again.
Overall I have had an amazing experience with this hotel, from check in to check out, positive from start to finish. Location wise it is right outside the station, tram is 1 min walk and every thing is a nice beautiful 10-15 mins walk. Highly recommended
Minute walk to Place des Comedies. Very nice room, and dining area.
Ha sido una estancia corta pero nos parecio super comoda la habitacion, buen baño, buena cama, tv, todo lo necesario para un buen descanso.
Staff was excellent.
Staff was excellent
Great room, Spa excellent, wide breakfast selection, cool bar with light menu
Chambre très obscure luminosité très basse difficile de travailler sur un pc avec cette luminosité Flexible de douche cassé avec un très faible débit d'eau Attention petit déjeuner à 21€ non affiché lors de la réservation
Rien à redire sur l’établissement. Manque un peu de professionnalisme de la part de l’accueil
Tout était parfait, bien situé proche gare, proche centre-ville. Chambre bien agencée et bien équipé.
La chambre était cette fois-ci plus sombre, dans un coin de hôtel. La fenêtre n’était pas complètement hermétique et le vent sifflait en entrant. Le reste, c’était très bien.
We really enjoyed the stay. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We able to check in little bit early for no extra charge since the room was ready. The room was comfortable and clean. We appreciate your great service!
Très décevant. Nous y avons séjourné l'an passé, et ça s'était tellement bien passé que nous sommes revenus. Eh bien, nous n'y retournerons plus. Un vendredi après-midi fin mars, hors vacances scolaires, la chambre n'était pas prête à 15h20, on a dû attendre jusqu'à 16h. Pas cool. Le toilette dans notre chambre n'avait pas l'air d'avoir été lavé... Les oreillers sont énormes et durs. Pas de fontaine à eau dans la salle de sport. Pas de ventilation de l'air dans la chambre, on a dû ouvrir la fenêtre pendant la nuit, en mars, alors qu'il ne faisait même pas chaud dehors. 15 minutes d'attente au bar pour une bière. Et il y a encore d'autres choses, mais voila l'idée, en gros, on est très déçus.
Sejour parfait, hôtel face à la gare Pas de nuisance sonore Chambre confortable Petit dejeuner sous forme de buffet très bien
Un très bon séjour !
The hotel has a very convenient location: across the street from the Gare and about a 10 min walk to the city centre. The front staff however wasn’t the most welcoming or friendly. Most times they didn’t even greet you or look up when you walked into the hotel. A couple of front staff were friendly but most weren’t. So not exactly the most warm reception. The rooms also looked a bit beat up, but they were quite spacious.
Las alfombras un poco manchadas, y algo de polvo en los muebles lo que da una mala impresión. El baño muy bueno y la ducha estupenda. También hay bañera pero no la usamos. La habitación es grande y cómoda, el desayuno muy bueno y completo. El hotel está frente a la estación de tren. Y es fácil caminar al centro.
L’hôtel en lui-même est joli, agréable, plutôt bien agencé. Les chambres sont jolies. Mais niveau propreté, il y avait beaucoup de taches sur la moquette et le canapé, ainsi que sur les murs et les rideaux. Et notre chambre donnait sur la rue. Juste au-dessus d’un arrêt de bus. Donc beaucoup de bruit en journée. Et ensuite la nuit, énormément de bruit de gens qui parlaient (criaient?) très fort, mettaient la musique de leur voiture à fond, klaxonnaient. Puis, beaucoup d’éclats de voix à divers moments de la nuit. Autant dire que le sommeil n’a pas été très bon…
Tres reactif. Probleme avec une fenetre resolu le jour meme
localizacion
Très bel hôtel bien placé en face de la gare. Confortable.
L’hôtel est très correct. Dommage que la chambre soit assez sombre, les murs sont noirs et très peu de lumière. En revanche, très pratique car près de la gare, le bar est aussi très agréable.
Très bon rapport qualité prix, juste en face de la gare de Montpellier St Roch dans un immeuble flambant neuf. Accueil humain et de qualité.
Super hôtel, on ne peut pas faire mieux situé. Nous n’avons pas eu le plaisir de profiter du spa, restaurant et bar mais c’est super d’avoir tout ça sur place. Nous avons eu un peu chaud dans la chambre car le clim ne fonctionnait pas, mais l’équipe nous a gentiment prêté un ventilateur.
Très bien
PARKING / SECURITE : parfait PETIT-DEJEUNER : très bien présenté, bon accueil, mais pas de qualité du tout pour 21€ ou 25€: pas d'œufs durs ni de possibilité à la coque, alors que coquetiers à disposition ; œufs brouillés ultra cuits et secs ainsi que saucisses dures et du coup immangeables car trop cuites tout comme le bacon ultra cuit et sec car les 3 plats chauds posés sur plaque chauffante sans eau (photo jointe) ; sucre non disponible sur tables, que l'on vous amène à la demande mais 2 simples petits sachets uniquement (...) SALLE-DE-BAIN : trop petite mais bien équipée = bon grand double miroir et surtout bonne pression eau douche ; en revanche porte de douche fermée non étanche en partie basse donc tapis de bain trempé en 10 secondes (voir photos) MINI-BAR : pas de verres disponible ; on ne vous le monte pas en chambre, obligé d'aller demander et récupérer au bar ; mêmes verres non changés ou lavés lors nettoyage chambre ; tire-bouchon indisponible au bar Mini-bar vide, surprenant, mais le meilleur est que le frigidaire de ce mini bar est un simple meuble ; en effet me suis étonné que mes bouteilles à température ambiante après 1 nuit dans le mini frigidaire branché (lumière, photo jointe) ; après 2 réclamations, on m'a répondu que c'est normal, car le mini-bar reste à température ambiante ; de tous les hôtels en France, en Europe et dans le monde, c'est la première fois que l'on m'explique qu'un frigo est à température ambiante de la chambre (...)
Bonne chambre , bonne organisation avec le parking de la gare à 200 mètres. Moquette de la chambre super sale qui donne envie de vomir. Sinon le reste est propre. Deuxième problème devoir se lever à 10h un 1er janvier alors qu’on paye la chambre 200e ce n’est pas normal et cela est existe qu’en France. Faire libérer la chambre à 12h minimum.
Hotel bem em frente a estação de trem. Agradável, bonito, chuveiro muito bom, cama boa. Garrafas de água grátis todos os dias. Apenas não pegamos o restaurante aberto . Rapaz do bar muito solicito .
All good. Great restaurant on site
Very unique property very special city in the old town hard to find, the staff was great very accommodating Great Breakfast, had great time in short stay
Hotel bien situé, confortable et agreable. Tres moderne. A 2 pas du centre ville
The best hotel ever near the station. Incredible pricing for the quality. It is a new building and there is a co-working area, with a nice terrace as well. The room was clean, spacious, and modern.
Great location (not sure if you arrive by car?). The hotel looks quite new but not equipped to high standard, our room had a leaking shower, stains on carpet, broken table leg and holes in wall which had been roughly filled. Maybe it’s a party hotel? The rooms are soundproofed from corridor but not each other. We heard a dog barking for an hour, and could hear people above us. Some staff were friendly and spoke a little English, but some only speak French, I was able to communicate but if you don’t speak French it could be a problem? I can’t put my hand on my heart and recommend, not sure how it got such good score on hotels.com.
Nice design, nice rooms but limited lighting in the duplex room (I know design principles quite well and the lighting while mood focused was just poor in the room). Carpets were stained pretty good also. However, staff were nice and helpful, bed very comfortable and a convenient location. From the outside looking in, I would have considered a slightly better interior
Alles in orde. Modern hotel, juist tegenover ´gare centrale´.Geen geluid van buiten. Goede bedden! Aangename sfeer in ontbijt ruimte. Lekker uitgebreid ontbijt. Vriendelijk personeel! 10 minuten van centrum ´place comédie’ wandelen.
Size of the room ok (and of the tv screen!) Bar ok with funny staff
Agreable silencieux devant la gare
The lady that checked me in was very friendly - she gave me a room with a balcony which was very nice. The only problem was that there were no towels in the room, they must have forgotten to put them there.
Bien situé à côté de la gare, proche du centre et des transports. Chambre standard un peu petite mais confortable
très on séjour pro
Accueil agréable et sympathique. Bien situé. Mais les chambres de l’hôtel donnent sur le bar. Avec musique non stop et très forte le soir . Pour qui aime ouvrir sa fenêtre, c’est du bruit continu auquel s’ajoute les trams. Épuisant.
Emplacement idéal pour visiter le centre ville, parking, accueil et services irréprochables.
Nice restaurant
Excelente Hotel, nuevo y con muy buenos servicios
chambre propre, confortable et très "cocooning"
no ofrecieron nada de VIP Access
Literally steps from the train station. Great location within walking distance to Place de Comedie, shopping and restaurants. The room was spacious with a comfy bed and big bathroom. Will stay there again for sure
Gute zentrale Lage - Parkhaus in der Nähe
L’hôtel est agréable si l’on excepte les travaux à l’intérieur et le matériel au milieu sur les différents accès aux chambres et au bar. L’environnement n’est pas très agréable mais à une dizaine de minutes de marche on se retrouve dans le centre-ville. Le point négatif est une odeur très désagréable des draps (étrangement juste d’un côté du lit). Sinon le personnel est charmant à l’accueil comme au bar et au restaurant. Le petit-déjeuner est très bien ! Beaucoup de choix et des produits excellents.
Location of the property is in an excellent walking reach to the main town square and other excursions. Eat out options were brilliant. Hotel staff was very helpful and approachable. Hotel rooms were in an excellent condition with very comfortable mattresses and pillows.
Zentral am Hauptbahnhof aber leise. Gut gelegen für Sightseeing in Montpellier. Parken etwas umständlich im öffentlichen Parkhaus kosten 19€/Tag - aber bewacht. Zimmer schön und modern. Wellness wurde nicht in Anspruch genommen.
Centrale, ben servito dai mezzi pubblici ed architettura interessante
Très bien a part qu’il n’y a pas de séparation entre les balcons ce qui limite l’intimité de chaque chambre.
Very modern and convenient location right next to the train station. Clean and modern with all the amenities. Rooms were very comfortable except that the pullout couch for our daughter had a bar in the middle horizontal that made it uncomfortable sleeping normally (she had to sleep sideways).
Il s'agit d'un hôtel très instagrammable: belle déco, beaux espaces, agencement agréable, et emplacement très central dans Montpellier. Mais le service est très en-dessous des standards attendus dans un 4 étoiles: accueil froid, l'hôte/sse ne vous regarde même pas. J'ai dû demander plusieurs fois la même chose avant d'obtenir ma demande. Pire, au petit-déjeuner le buffet n'est pas réassorti (tasses, oeufs, pain), le barista se sert des cafés, les boissons chaudes sont proposées dans des gobelets en carton. Le pain proposé est de la baguette blanche décongelée minute, au lieu de servir des gros pains frais et croustillants ou de la baguette tradition comme on sait si bien la faire en France. Il manque aussi une vraie machine à café expresso dans les chambres comme le font bon nombre d'hôtels de ce standing aujourd'hui. Bref la base est chouette et bien là, mais des progrès à faire dans le service.
Perfect location close to the train station!
Séjour d'une nuit. Hôtel confortable, chambre spacieuse. Salle fitness bien équipée et propre. Petit-déjeuner bon et copieux. Accueil agréable et professionnel. Hôtel en face la gare, très pratique.
Our A/C did not work. We paid for an extra large suite to accommodate our family of four. The hotel made us pay for two standard rooms in order to address the A/C issue. We were happy the hotel found us rooms with working A/C, but this should have been free of charge. The rooms were not clean - showers needed a scrub, stains on bed linen.
Ett hotell med höga ambitioner, men det håller inte riktigt. Svårt att ta sig till hotellet med bil, när vi väl hittat fram var det stängt med bommar och en av oss fick springa in och hämta en kod för att kunna ens packa ur. Den koden hade vi kunnat få redan vid bokning. Kvarteret runt hotellet är väldigt nergånget och känns otrygg. Vi fick bara en nyckel till rummet så det blev besvärligt då nyckeln behövdes till både elektriciteten på rummet och i hissen. Badrock var väldigt urtvättad och tvålarna var inte påfyllda. Rummet i sig var dock väldigt fint, fräscht och rent. Lite trångt med vårt barns rullstol men det fungerade. Sängen var bekväm och bäddsoffan stor och bra. Frukost helt okej, bra terass att sitta på och vi kunde ha med vår hund.
Pleasant hotel in good location. However it was unacceptable to have no working fridge in the room. There was a fridge but hotel policy dictated that it was not to be cold. Never encountered that before. It is like having a shower that has no water ! No recognition for Expedia Gold. Also no green tea available.
Pleasant hotel in good location. However it was unacceptable to have no working fridge in the room. There was a fridge but hotel policy dictated that it was not to be cold. Never encountered that before. It is like having a shower that has no water ! Also no green tea available.
The bathroom did not have a proper shower
Nice hotel. Friendly staff.
I reserved a room for 2 adults and 2 kids, I receive the smaller room probably in the hotel, and the sofa cama don’t have sheets and a blanket.
Overall a quiet mixed feeling about this hotel ; when i check in was charged with two night of parking and i was staying one; the breakfast is not that great , but overall nice location close to the railway station , and in the center of the city.
Nice hotel but small room Horrible way to enter into the parking lot.
Very nice hotel Brilliant if using the trams or trains
Reception staff were extremely helpful and kind. Beds were really comfortable.
6 nights, an upgrade, great staff, 24 hr Taxi out the front door, what is not to like.
Wonderful, large rooms with elegant bathrooms.
I arrived around 11pm and waited for a long time till some showed up to open the door and do the check in. Also, I wasn’t offered any upgrade as a platinum member guest :/ The room was very clean, good choice of pillows. However, altogether it was a good value for money.
Decent hotel, inconsistent quality of staff. Mostly not happy to help or even greet you. Instant coffee only in the rooms and they don’t replenish. I goofed on my check in date which I made at 8pm the night before arriving. Ended up arriving a day late. Asked for a credit and they refused stating their policy. I was still staying an additional 3 night also! After asking for the manager I received a voucher for 2 drinks. I’m already a Gold and would expect that anyway. On a positive note, the hotel is literally across the street from the SNCF station. Very convenient and a 5 minute walk to Comedie Square and even closer to the tram. The are is ok but probably not good to walk late at night.
The hotel looked nice and clean and it was convenient to the train station and downtown. We did have some strange issues…we had no bottom sheets on either bed, and when we asked for sheets they had to come up and look at the beds and still didn’t understand why we didn’t want to sleep on ripped plastic mattress covers. We asked for pillows and they said there were no ore pillows available at the hotel. The room had an upstairs loft which the air conditioning didn’t touch. The downstairs was cool and comfortable but the upstairs was stifling.
We stayed in this hotel for 3 nights. The hotel room was spacious with a comfortable bed. Notably, the front desk staff were very friendly, warm, and helpful.
Conveniently located next to Saint Roch train station, modern design, friendly staff, comfortable bed!
Feedback themes are sourced from guest reviews provided by our data provider.
What guests love
Areas to consider
Cleanliness
8.24/10Several reviews emphasized the overall cleanliness and well-maintained condition of the hotel.
Service
9.21/10Multiple reviews highlighted the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, particularly emphasizing exceptional service.
Location
9.25/10Close proximity to transit options and city attractions was frequently mentioned positively.
Room Quality
8.2/10Some rooms were noted as being dark or having issues with air conditioning, impacting the overall comfort.
Amenities
8.23/10Amenities mentioned were straightforward, with requests for better options highlighted by some guests.
Value for Money
8.69/10The hotel was considered decent value for its price, though some expected more.
Food and Beverage
7.74/10Guests mentioned a desire for breakfast options, indicating this area could use improvement.
Overall Experience
9.21/10Guests had a positive overall stay, with some memorable experiences noted.