Garbo hôtel

We weren't given an apology or a refund, and after all the problems the hotel blocked us and stopped responding. The owner called yesterday asking me to take down my reviews, though she didn't say so upfront. She apologized only when it suited her interests, not when we were left stranded in Paris, and turned rude again when I refused. There was no accountability. Our room at Hotel Garbo Paris was filthy and poorly maintained, and the whole place looked unfinished, as if construction was still underway. Then a mouse came out of a hole in our room on the 5th floor. That's a serious health and safety failure. When we reported it, staff laughed and mocked us instead of apologizing or taking action. The manager was rude and dismissive, took no responsibility, and made no real effort to solve anything. We were pushed out rather than helped. They said they'd cover a cab and that the next hotel would cost the same. That wasn't true, the new hotel cost twice as much, and we had to pay the difference. At check-in, they also accepted a name without checking passports or verifying ID, which is unsafe and irresponsible. This was one of the worst travel experiences I've had. The place was dirty, dishonest, and unsafe. Avoid it at all costs.

We had loads of good bars and restaurants right outside, and the location made a great base for exploring. The room was small but clean and had all the amenities we wanted. There was even a little glimpse of the Eiffel Tower through the bathroom window. It seemed newly renovated, since we could smell paint, and the walls were thin enough that we heard other guests when we'd rather not. My main gripe was the extra “management fee” added alongside the city tax. We weren't expecting to pay about €80 at check-in, and it felt sneaky since it wasn't clear in our confirmation, receipts, or invoices. I did find it at the bottom of the property listing afterward, so keep an eye out.

This felt more like a zero-star place. It was dirty, had no air conditioning, and the towels were unclean. The walls were thin, and scaffolding right outside the windows made it clear the building was still under construction. It was listed as Element Hotel, but the name has been changed in a way that seems intended to mislead customers. Avoid it if you don't want your Paris trip spoiled.

Finding a mouse in our room was unacceptable and made us question the hotel's cleanliness, hygiene, and safety. No guest should have to deal with rodents where they're staying. The hotel eventually refunded us, but offered no alternative accommodation or meaningful help. We were left stressed, trying to find somewhere else late at night in an unfamiliar city. A mouse isn't a minor issue, and the poor response from staff made an already serious sanitation problem worse. It ruined part of our trip. We wouldn't recommend this hotel, and management needs to address its hygiene and customer service failures.