ibis Styles Paris Porte d’Orléans Hotel

We thought the hotel was very nice, but the service left a lot to be desired. At breakfast, most of the tables for three or four were taken by just one or two people, and after waiting 20 minutes we found a round table near the busy coffee machine. My wife was holding our son when someone accidentally bumped her back, spilling hot chocolate across the table and onto the floor. A staff member watched while I cleaned it up with tissues from nearby tables. There was also a problem with hot water on every floor of the front building. I checked it with the receptionist, who knew other guests had complained too. We were allowed to move to the back building because we couldn't manage Saturday to Monday without hot water with our 20-month-old child. Moving to the new rooms around 8pm wasn't a big deal, but it felt as if reception was prepared to wait until Monday to call a plumber. Some staff behavior was questionable in other ways too. At the elevator, we were twice asked to wait while room service took laundry bags upstairs. The hotel itself is very nice, but the service was questionable.

The stay was mostly fine, though it was hard to get a quiet moment because the soundproofing is so poor. When people in neighboring rooms or the hallway shut their doors, it sounded like our own door was slamming. The room also had no kettle, which was inconvenient when we wanted a quick tea or coffee. Fixing those two things would make the stay much more comfortable.

The location worked really well for us. Porte d'Orléans metro station is a 10-minute walk away, with plenty of buses and trams, and there's a large supermarket five minutes away. The hotel felt very central. Our room was clean, comfortable and spacious, which is unusual in central Paris, and it was cleaned daily. The staff were polite and helpful, and the atmosphere was pleasant, with modern decor. Breakfast was a generous buffet. The water dispenser with free tea and coffee available 24/7 was especially handy. An excellent hotel, highly recommended for families and others too.

The clean room, helpful service and public transport location made the stay fine overall. Breakfast was basic, and the room didn't have tea, coffee or a fridge, which we'd expected in a 3-star hotel. We were also very unhappy about the tax charged for our child. The website said children under 17 stayed free, but at check-in the receptionist said it was only free for those under 12. This conflicted with the site, and we hadn't been told about it before, despite our booking confirmation. The charge was eventually removed, but I had to argue for it and was upset on our first night. I'd never had this issue at another Ibis or Accor hotel.