Hotel Esperance

The only good part was the good Japanese restaurant downstairs. I had a big suitcase and was staying on the fourth floor, so climbing the swirling stairs was tough. They're the only stairs.

My room was tiny, but spotlessly clean. It's a brilliant spot for Gare Montparnasse, with lots of restaurants and bars an easy walk away. Good for a night, or if you don't expect to spend much time in your room.

The rooms are small, but the design is really tasteful and creative. There's a great breakfast spread, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. A class act for a boutique Paris hotel.

The low price, clean room, and friendly, helpful staff made for a pretty good stay. The room was extremely small, though, and noise carried through the walls. I also found the key rule odd. We had to leave it with staff whenever we went out, and that made me uneasy about leaving valuables in the room.