Apparteo Palatino Paris 13

The location is a real plus, near the subway and a shopping mall, but the stay was a letdown. We booked five days after seeing positive reviews, and the kitchen supplies were filthy, broken, or missing. The pans and knives were dirty when we arrived, there were no forks or spoons, and cups were so grimy the plates stuck to them. There wasn't any dish soap or a brush either, so we couldn't wash things ourselves. Our room wasn't cleaned once, even after we asked. Staff were friendly and spoke some English, but didn't come across as professional. When we asked for clean towels after half a week without any, they said we should buy our own. The bed and furniture were good, and we slept well. There was also a safe in the room. Check-in was chaotic and took more than 30 minutes. The shower kept switching between hot and cold, and the hall on the sixteenth floor where our apartment was smelled strongly of rotten eggs. There was a TV, but only French channels, along with a microwave and fridge. A warning about the microwave: set popcorn to "Moy. haute" or it may burn. We nearly set the place alight using "Combi". The service and usable equipment were so lacking that I wouldn't recommend this hotel, despite the good location. 1/5.

We had a good three-night stay here. The neighborhood is quiet, and there are shops nearby like Monoprix, Carrefour, and Franprix, plus lots of Vietnamese and Asian restaurants. The Metro is a five-minute walk away, with trains every 3-4 minutes, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the city center. Our room was small but tidy, with enough basic kitchenware for two. Staff were helpful and friendly. The mattress was a bit hard, but it was good value for money. If you're lucky, you might get a view of the Eifel Tower.

We chose this place for its Chinatown location, and getting around was easy. Grocery shops and restaurants were a short walk away, and Porte de Choisy metro station is just down the street for trips into central Paris. The rooms were spacious and clean. The receptionist was lovely, informative, and spoke excellent English. Getting into the building was a hassle since guests aren't given a front door key. I had to ring the bell each time; sometimes nobody answered, and sometimes I was asked something in French I couldn't understand. I'd say "j'ai une reservation ici" or wait for another resident to let us in. The bathroom is in the only bedroom, so anyone using it has to go through the bedroom and open the very loud sliding doors. We were told housekeeping would come on day three, but it never happened. I know this is more of a student residence, but using the same towels for six days and carrying our rubbish down to the basement wasn't ideal. For the price it was a decent, basic, clean stay, especially if you want to be near Chinatown. Also, the hotel is in a pedestrian area with no street access. Our taxi had to stop at the alley entrance on Rue Gandon, and we walked in from there.

We found the reception on the ground floor, right in front of the apartment as Google Maps directs you. The area has several hotels, a McDonald and a great Vietnamese hotel nearby. Geant Casino, a very large and inexpensive supermarket, is 250 meters away and open until 9 pm. Carrefour city and Franprix are about as close, and the Metro and tram are nearby too. Our room was spacious overall, with a kitchenette tucked into the walkway, a large bathroom, and a bedroom with a wardrobe, table, and chairs. The bedroom itself isn't big, but the wardrobe and shelves gave us enough room to put things away and stay comfortable. The kitchen had utensils and plates for everyday cooking, plus a microwave, fridge, and kettle. Storage in the kitchen was limited, so we used the dining table and another table for our things. We were on a higher floor and could see the city, including the Eiffel Tower in the distance. The close-up pictures here were taken from the room with my zoom lens.