Grand Hôtel de l'Europe

The location is very good, and for a single night you can manage: the bed is clean, there are towels, and you can shower. But the hotel is old because it hasn't been maintained, not in a charming vintage way. There was mold and a terrible smell. They also won't let you bring friends in, which is strange, and having to leave your key at reception every time you go out is inconvenient and weird.

No, no, no. Apart from the location, this is a horrible place to call a hotel. I booked three nights but lasted only five minutes. The room was awful enough to give me a heart attack when I walked in. A dirty gully pit outside the window let in the nastiest air, the bed linen was stained, and the carpet smelled. The lighting was dark and dim, and I don't even want to get into the bathroom. I thought a prison room would be better. I left right away, but was charged a €199 cancellation fee despite asking for it to be waived. The grim-faced receptionist suited the place perfectly. I represent a 14-hotel chain and have slept in some of the world's best and worst hotels. This is the worst I've experienced. Book only if you want your Paris stay to be unforgettable in the worst way.

The beds were really comfortable, and the lift had classical music and a nicely decorated door. We could change rooms without any trouble: first we got a quiet room facing the side street, but wanted one facing the busier main road. It's a nice classic hotel, and its location works well if you're arriving by train. Breakfast and lunch options were good and fairly priced for Paris. The crepe and sandwich stand opposite stays open late into the night, and there was no curfew.

We were fine with the budget double for one night, and the view from the room was amazing. But the description said toiletries and shampoo would be provided; on arrival there was only hand soap by the sink. The receptionist told us to use that when we asked, so we ended up buying our own. We didn't mind too much, but we hadn't brought any because of what the description said. They should update it.