Hotel du Cygne Paris

For my first ever visit to Paris as a solo traveller, this place worked perfectly. I chose a basic room with a shared bathroom, and everything was very clean with good facilities. The staff were all friendly, and having reception open 24/7 was a real plus. Most of the sights I wanted to see were within walking distance too. I’ll definitely book here again next time.

There’s no lift, so the 24 hour reception is especially helpful. On my second stay, the staff were again very helpful when things were difficult. They put me on the 3rd floor, apparently not knowing I’m 80, but they do offer a first floor room if you ask, which is useful for anyone with limited mobility. The pedestrian area is lively and right in the middle of Paris, and the continental breakfast is excellent. My room was clean and comfortable, though a bit cramped, and the building has plenty of character. I’d come back if I can afford it.

The staff are lovely, and the hotel itself is beautiful, with very comfortable rooms. It’s a fantastic base for Paris sights: the Louvre is a 10-15 min walk away, Notre Dame takes 7-10 minutes, and the Seine is just 5 minutes on foot. There are great restaurants in every direction, and we walked to the Eiffel Tower in 40 minutes. We loved our stay and plan to come back on future trips.

The reception staff were friendly and helpful, and the location is excellent. I stayed two nights, but the room felt extremely dry because there was no way to adjust the heating. At night I left the bathroom door open so moisture could spread into the room and make it a little more humid. I also had doubts about how clean the bedding was. Afterward, the dryness and questionable hygiene together left me with moderate skin irritation and itching, which was unpleasant.