Residence Mercure Paris La Defense Grande Arche

The room was clean and roomy, with a kitchen that had what I needed for basic cooking. Amenities were limited, though, and there was no daily housekeeping, so it's a more self-service kind of stay. Getting around Paris was easy thanks to the short walk to the train station, and having a supermarket nearby was handy. It was a fair stay if convenience is what you're after and you don't mind taking care of things yourself.

We spent six days in room 523. The toilet leaked and made noise day and night. There was mold around the bathtub, which had been covered with plastic filler, and the toilet seat and tub had dark marks where the enamel was actually damaged and peeling. The carpet in the hall leading to the room was heavily stained, and the room smelled bad when we entered, possibly like a drain or feces. At checkout, I asked to stay a few more nights. Reception quoted me a price that seemed around 20-30% above the web price, though I can't remember the exact amount. I moved elsewhere, then checked online that evening and found the reception quote was significantly higher.

The breakfast buffet had plenty of tasty choices, and the hotel is in a great location by Arena La Défense and the RER station. The apartment was a little old-fashioned, but its kitchenette had what we needed. Staff at reception were very helpful and tried to move us to another room, but the hotel was full. The air conditioning was really loud, the furniture worn, and the bed uncomfortable. The water for making coffee didn't work, and the good French Nuxe shampoo ran out after the first day. I travel for work and Mercure is usually my first choice, but this stay didn't meet my expectations.

The employees were nice, and breakfast was okay, though not among the best Mercure breakfasts. The room was acceptable, but the bathroom barely so. There were plastic sheets on the floor for some reason, and the entrance didn't feel properly secured, which is a concern in that neighborhood. The price seemed okay for Paris, but the value for money is debatable. For context, I'm a long-time regular Accor customer and have stayed with them in many places and countries.