Hotel de l'Europe

I’ve stayed at many hotels in Paris, and this was the worst one I’ve had. I paid a decent amount too, roughly 80euro/night. I booked through booking.com at the last minute because I needed somewhere near this hotel, and the experience was really unpleasant. The neighborhood was OK, but the hallways were dark, old, and smelly. Almost everywhere in the hotel smelled like someone had just been smoking. The room had little beyond a bed, a table, and a monitor on the wall. The curtain was broken, the bathroom was very old, and the lighting was unpleasant. I’d say this was below 0 star. If you have another option, stay elsewhere.

For a very basic hotel, the location is useful. Porte d'Orléans and Alesia metro stations are about 12-15 minutes away on foot, and from Porte d'Orléans you can get to most Zone 1 tourist landmarks. Check-in went smoothly, and the staff at reception were pleasant, courteous, and helpful, even though the older men there don’t speak fluent English. The entrance locks late at night, but the hotel gives you a door pass code. My room was on the third floor. The elevator is extremely compact, just about enough for two people with two backpacks or small suitcases. The room and bed were small, with two large windows overlooking the street, a little desk, and an alcove for luggage. The tiny bathroom meant constantly squeezing around and bumping into walls and fixtures, though basic toiletries were provided. Wi-Fi worked alright, housekeeping came daily, and there was no fridge or minibar and no air-conditioning. The narrow hallways stay dark when you enter, so you have to carry a flashlight or feel your way to the elevator. There’s no hotel restaurant or kitchen. Nearby you’ll find restaurants, cafés, and convenience stores, but I wouldn’t recommend those restaurants unless there’s no other choice. In short, a basic place in a good location.

I’m still shocked and sick over what happened. Staff stole 600 euros and my apple airpods from my backpack while I was out in Paris. When I confronted them, they ignored me and did nothing to help. The rooms were dirty, as was the bathroom, and you could hear people in other rooms talking as if they were in yours. They never made the beds, and we didn’t get fresh towels or toilet paper. I hadn’t expected much from the room service, but this was horrible. I’ve never had a worse experience. Please stay away. I’d rather pay 200 euros more for a better hotel than spend even one night here. They should be ashamed, and it makes me sick that the place is still open.

NO WIFI, NO PRIVACY, NO REFUND. If you’re put in the disabled access room, cancel right away unless you need that room, and expect a bad experience in general. I was made to stay in it. The door is right beside check-in, so there’s no privacy, and I could hear the owner talking and watching TV all day and night. I felt really uncomfortable, and there was no Wi-Fi in range. It wasn’t even that cheap, despite the owner suggesting that was why I’d been given that room. Never again.