ibis Styles Paris Gare Saint Lazare

My room was small, but since I was on my own, it was just right. Breakfast was included, the staff were very nice, and they kept my luggage after checkout at no extra charge. The hotel is well placed for walking around and close to several metro lines. The only downside was hearing noise from outside late at night.

The room felt claustrophobic, and I didn't like the overall feel of the hotel enough to stay in, even in the rain. The way there was like a maze: I had to go around the hotel and through the breakfast room to reach a tiny lift that only fits one person with luggage. Then I had to take a second lift to get to my room, after staff showed me the way. It seems more like a budget hotel, so I'm not sure why it's promoted as Ibis Styles.

At least the breakfast was decent. The room on the top floor was uncomfortably tiny, and I had to bend down to move around the bed. The shower was so cramped that washing my feet was difficult. Cleaning was the worst part: there was a piece of rubbish on the floor when I arrived, and on one day the room wasn't cleaned at all, even though I was out all day and hadn't put up a “do not disturb” sign.

We booked IBIS STYLES PARIS GARE SAINT LAZARE on July 24. One of our companions has limited mobility, so we tried to contact the hotel with a few questions, but got no reply from anyone, just an automated virtual assistant. We eventually cancelled and booked somewhere else. Even though we never checked in on September 2, they charged the full $217.60. The reservation hadn't clearly said it was non-refundable when we booked; that “non-cancellation” policy only showed up after the confirmation email. This is clearly a scam, so be cautious when booking through this platform. I've already filed a complaint with the government!