Thon Residence Parnasse

A decent option if you want an apartment-style hotel without spending too much, as long as you keep your expectations modest. The place is handy for the EU institutions and a train station. The apartments are roomy, though they’re starting to look dated, and the bathrooms in particular need a thorough clean. Reception was friendly. I didn’t use the other services.

The location was the best part, within walking distance of the EU sites. We were three people in a one-bedroom apartment and found it big and well equipped, though quite old and not as clean as the online photos suggested. The hotel had just been repainted, and the paint smell was a little unpleasant. We were glad dogs were allowed, for a small extra charge. We arrived late. A friendly night security guard gave us our keycard and showed us where to park, since reception is only open during the day. The daytime receptionist was friendly too, but couldn’t answer our questions about electric car charging.

The apartment itself was very clean, and I have no complaints about that. But I was really unhappy with the stay. My friend and I only found out on arrival that renovations were underway, and we couldn’t get any light, open the windows, or use the terrace. I have claustrophobia, so that night was a nightmare. I asked reception if we could change rooms, but understand that wasn’t possible. I’m usually a positive person, but this was a bad experience. I also understand that access to the swimming pool costs 10 euros per person. Regrettable.

For just under 150 a night, this was a good deal, and I could see staying here longer and living here for a while. The apartment was large, especially for one person, with free, good Wi-Fi, a big TV I didn’t use, and a small balcony. You can open the windows and adjust the room temperature, though the air-refreshing system was a bit noisy. I just turned it off and opened a window. There was a coffee machine with two aluminium cups provided, and a washing machine. Two toilets as well. The kitchen was small but had the pans and utensils needed to cook dinner for up to four. There wasn’t a desk, but there was a suitable table.