Grand Hotel De Turin

We booked a double bed but found two singles pushed together. The room was uncomfortable, with an old broken kettle, and the whole place felt very dirty and poorly looked after. Noise came through easily, too. The surrounding area also felt like it could be unsafe.

The location was fine, but noise was an issue during our four-night stay. Once the cleaners started arriving, the noise started too, and the rooms didn’t do much to keep it out.

I’d be glad to stay here again if I’m in the area, and maybe see whether breakfast has improved. The location is spot on, and the rooms and bathrooms are fairly spacious for a three-star hotel in Paris. Everything was very clean. I didn’t see bed bugs or anything like that, and those sorts of problems can depend on bad luck or a previous guest. Staff were friendly and always had a kind word, even the receptionist who tends to stay in his office, though he’s friendly if you approach him. Breakfast was the main reason I gave it four stars. At 12 euros, it felt expensive for a viennoiserie, a small piece of bread and coffee. There’s no hot food or eggs, and the choice is limited, so I didn’t think it was worth the price.

The price was a big part of why we were happy: €65 for one night in August for a room for four, or about €20 per person. I’m demanding about comfort and service, and I’m not shy about saying when something bothers me, so here’s how it went for my husband, our two girls and me. The staff were kind and helpful. Our first-floor room was very clean, including the mattresses, and we found no bed bugs. It looked onto the street, but the double glazing kept out noise, and the street itself was quiet. The room was a good size for Paris, the beds were comfortable, and having air conditioning was great. The bathroom was okay, though small, and water splashed out of the shower a bit if you weren’t careful. The area felt quiet, with cute streets, and didn’t seem dangerous to us. We stayed away from the part closer to Pigalle at night with the girls, as you’d expect, and anyone unfamiliar with Paris should look into that area. The location was otherwise great. There were a few downsides. I found and killed a cockroach in the shower without telling the children. Since we were on the first floor, I thought it might have come up through the drain. It can happen in Paris sometimes. I covered the drain with a towel and didn’t see another one. The walls are thin, so we could hear noisy guests in other rooms. I’m not sure what the hotel can do short of rebuilding the walls. The chairs were old and unattractive and could use replacing. At 9 a.m. the cleaner knocked, I answered in French that we were asleep, but she came in anyway and apologized afterward. This isn’t a fancy hotel, but for what we paid, we were very pleased. At a busy time, it may be hard to find something cheaper in the city center. If you just need a place to sleep near things to do and would rather save your money for shopping and activities, it’s a good option. I’ve stayed in hotels that were much worse value for money.