Résidence Hoche

The room was tiny, smelled strongly of cigarettes, and triggered my asthma badly enough that I needed my inhaler. I managed to book somewhere else at the last minute, so I stayed less than half an hour. They said it was the smell of new furniture rather than tobacco, but new furniture doesn't give me allergies. The bathroom was small and had mould. They wouldn't refund me, though it was non-refundable, so that's okay. I can't understand the high rating. Looking more closely, most Booking.com reviews seem to be from French people rather than tourists. The location was awful too. The street felt scary at night and didn't look like the photos. It's called well located because there's a metro station, but getting to the attractions takes over an hour.

The room had the basics I wanted for a place to sleep: a kettle, hair dryer, private bathroom with a shower, plus a desk, chair and TV. It was clean and well kept, the bed was very comfortable, and the free WiFi was fast enough for streaming Netflix and YouTube. For us, the spot just outside Paris worked well. We avoided tourist taxes while still being close enough to reach Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport by Metro. The Paris Visite Passes are good value for getting around the city, the airport and Euro Disney. With the Bonjour RATP app, you can buy tickets on your phone, and some devices can also be used to access the service. Then you can take the metro and buses.

The room was clean and had all I needed, and the staff were helpful. There's a 24-hour reception but no other facilities, which suited me. The metro station is very close, making the location convenient. I felt completely safe in the area, where there are local shops and restaurants with good food and friendly staff.

Clean room, comfy bed, and great value. Hoche station is five minutes away. If you're after an affordable place near Paris and don't mind staying outside the city center, this is a great option.