Ideal Hotel

My girlfriend and I stayed here while working in Paris for a few days, and it was an easy place to stay. The staff didn’t speak much English, but they were nice, funny, and good hosts. We got back around 12:30 one night, rang the bell on the side, and our host opened the door in under 30 seconds. So being locked out wasn’t our experience. It’s a good place to sleep if you’ll be out most of the time. I wouldn’t choose it for a long stay or if I planned to spend much time in the hotel. The people were very nice, and I’d recommend it.

The sheets and towels were clean, somehow, but the room itself was dirty and had mold from floor to ceiling. Furniture had been patched with adhesive tape, and an old used bandage was stuck to one of the chairs. No idea how long it had been there. There was no sound insulation between rooms or from outside. With a bar on either side of the street, the noise made sleep impossible. The windows didn’t shut properly either, and there was no way to adjust the radiators.

I’ve visited Paris seven times and lived in Bordeaux 15 years ago while teaching, so I know Parisienne hotels. This room was very, very clean, including the private bathroom. The concierge was friendly and accommodating, and everything else seemed tip-top. I can’t find anything bad to say. I’m planning another trip for January, just three months from now, and don’t want to stay anywhere else. It’s sad that some people had things to complain about.

There were bed bugs, and the staff weren’t helpful. We got only 20 euro back because they wouldn’t refund us without keeping the cancellation charge. The general cleanliness also wasn’t up to standard. When we asked why they wouldn’t refund us, they said they hadn’t filled the room. I’d be worried they might put someone else in a room right after bed bugs had been found.