Alba Opera Hotel

The front desk staff were polite and did what they could to help. We were staying as a family in a typical older Paris building, and the tiny lift was so cramped that I mostly took the stairs. Anyone who’s claustrophobic might prefer that too. That wasn’t why I rated the hotel poorly. On our first night, the old, loose knob and lock broke, leaving us locked out. The receptionist and I spent around half an hour trying to get in, late at night. The next day I tried to reach the manager, who was repeatedly unavailable, and the staff seemed hesitant to contact them. That was discouraging. Then on our last day, an event took over the entire public area, and we were told we couldn’t even sit down to rest for 30 minutes. As paying guests, being shut out of the common spaces was inconvenient and disappointing.

We paid for a superior room, but were put in a basic duplex under the roof. It was dim, awkwardly laid out, and my husband hit his head several times getting in and out of bed. There was no TV either. Reception said it had been sent for repair and they couldn’t do anything. There were nude pictures on the walls, which doesn’t seem suitable for families with young children. We were lucky the weather stayed mild. In hotter conditions, sleeping there would have been impossible. The room didn’t match the superior listing or the price, and to us it wasn’t worth the money. I’d save it and stay elsewhere in Paris.

There’s no air-conditioning, and the room has no fridge. The building dates from 1896, though it’s obviously been changed since then. The stairs carpet has holes, the furniture is old, and there was a heavy smell in the room that made it feel unclean. The bed was fairly comfortable, and the bathroom was the best part: new, well designed, with clean towels. But the clear window above the toilet meant neighbors could see in. The lift seems original and is so tiny that two people can’t ride together. The dark decor includes Lui magazine photos of women not fully dressed, including one above our bed. French people may be very tolerant about clothing, but this hotel isn’t only for French guests. Families with small children or people from stricter religions may feel uncomfortable. The neighborhood is very quiet, though taxis and Uber aren’t easy to get to. R. des Martyrs is a few metres away, with all kinds of shops open every day. Two metro stations are a 7-10 minute walk. Montmartre is nearby, and bus 40 gets you there without walking up the hill. Opera and Galleries Lafayette are also close.

We booked five nights at Alba Opera Hotel, but the heat and repeated power cuts made us leave early. It was summer, during a heatwave, and there was no air-conditioning. When the power went out, the fans stopped too, and the room became unbearably hot. The front desk staff sounded concerned when we raised the issue, but wouldn’t offer even a partial refund. We received no compensation despite the discomfort. The lift was cramped, barely fitting two people and leaving no room for luggage. I can’t recommend this hotel.