Tolbiac Hotel

I had a frustrating booking experience because the hotel tried to make an odd debit card charge before the stay. My banks kept blocking it as fraud, even after I tried several cards, and the hotel didn’t respond. I suspect they were running the card number through a payment machine, an old-fashioned method that often doesn’t work now. Maybe it’s a way to avoid a Booking fee, which I can understand for a budget place. Still, if prepayment isn’t needed, my advice is to let guests pay on arrival instead of preauthorizing cards. Turning people away because their banks have fraud controls will surely cost more business than guests who show up unable to pay for the first night.

The staff were incredibly rude and disrespectful, and the rooms and bathrooms were so dirty you could hardly stand in them. They took advantage of our need for a room and raised the prices. Do yourself a favor and choose another hotel, even if it costs more. Just not this one.

The staff were rude, and I felt they were trying to rob me. On the first night, my room had a leak. They suggested they simply wouldn’t put anyone in the room above me. When I insisted on moving because I had things I didn’t want to get wet, they put me in the room directly above the old one. They only tried to fix the leak by applying clear silicone in the shower. The next day they said I had to leave my key at reception because it was policy, though they hadn’t said that at check-in or the day before. They pointed to a sign and claimed it said so, but I used chat gpt to translate it and it didn’t. They said it was for room service, which I told them I didn’t need. The following day my towels had been changed. Fortunately, I’d taken anything valuable with me.

The stay went smoothly. I booked a single room with a shared toilet and shower, and both the room and facilities were clean. The staff were kind, and I had no issues. It’s also well located for getting to the sights and Orly.