Hôtel Sleeping Belle - Gare de Lyon Bastille

We slept really well during our stay at Sleeping Belle. The room was clean, the beds were very comfortable, and the staff made us feel welcome. We could also choose two free drinks from the minibar, which was a generous touch. The rooms are compact, though thoughtfully designed and have what you need. There’s an elevator too. The location is central and pretty, handy for exploring the city. We found Voi bikes much better quality than Lime, so would recommend renting those. Breakfast was simple but nice. We were happy with everything and would gladly stay here again.

I was charged for an extra breakfast when I left, even though I had paid for three and eaten three. They said it was because I’d had two on the second morning. After I asked for a quiet room, I was first put on the 1st floor facing the street, with so much noise it felt like being outside. They said all rooms were booked. I waited a long time and insisted, then was moved to the 3rd floor, where apparently a room had become available. That one still wasn’t quiet. The hotel has no soundproofing. The receptionists said they couldn’t make decisions and blamed everything on the director. Sinks and showers need repairs, they have mold and don’t work properly. It also took ages to get a legal receipt, and the receptionist didn’t know how to print one. In the end they said they’d email it.

We only had a few hours in Paris, and this took two of them. We arrived at 8.30pm and were told there was a problem with our room and we’d have to find somewhere else. I said they should arrange accommodation for us, since they’d had all day, but at first they said they could only find more expensive hotels and we’d have to pay the difference. After a lot of discussion, they finally booked another place. While we waited, another guest came down saying there were no towels in their room, and a woman told us she’d had a bad experience so far. I’ve never had such poor customer service. They claimed they’d booked us into a 4 star hotel, but it was a cheaper 3 star one, and we weren’t refunded the price difference. Avoid.

The staff were pleasant, and the location next to the train station is ideal. Still, I’d ask for any room other than 007. That room faces the street, so there’s constant noise from people walking by, buses, cars and everything else. The air conditioning didn’t work, and without proper bathroom ventilation, condensation built up and left a musty water smell. The blackout curtains also let light into the room. My photo was taken at 12:00am, and you can see it.