1K Paris

I stayed in the airbnb upstairs and had a very good experience. The hotel itself felt a bit run down and in need of refurbishment, which is a shame because it has so much potential, especially for a four-star place. There weren't enough staff, and the elevator had a funky smell. Still, I'd stay again because the location is unbeatable, I felt very safe, and my airbnb was top!

The 1K Hotel is in a great cultural area of Paris, near the Metro. The rooms are unusual but spacious, and I was impressed overall. The staff were helpful, and breakfast was lovely. My wife liked it too. Some parts of the room were a little dark, but I'd go back.

The room worked really well for a longer stay. We could unpack completely into a huge wall of wardrobes, and the King bed had the firm mattress we like. There was also a comfy sofa for naps while we got over jet lag. The bathroom was spacious, with two column sinks and a huge tub, although its sides were a little too high for getting in and out easily. Best of all, the room stayed quiet at any hour. We booked the 431-square-foot Junior Double Room for $363 per night because my husband wanted more room after we'd got used to smaller places in Asia. We were in Paris for a week and chose Le Marais because we liked its looser feel compared with the other well-known areas. All the disenfranchised hipsters seem to gather there, including the gays, and we felt at home. The hotel sits at the edge of Le Marais on Boulevard du Temple, a busy street lined with restaurants. It's tucked behind a tacqueria and sushi places, with no grand entrance or much of a lobby. The style inside is earthy and South American. We walked through the open cocktail area of its Peruvian restaurant Inka to reach the small elevator to our room.

The one bright spot was the comfortable bed, and the front desk staff were polite and helpful with taxis. The room itself was small and very tired, with no chair to sit and relax in. Street noise disrupted our sleep, the window weatherstripping was peeling, and the sink stopper didn't work. The toilet in the bar smelled like raw sewage. To me, the place felt like what I imagine a hostel to be. We were in room 322. It definitely didn't feel like a four-star hotel, and it was poor value.