Masséna Hôtel

I came back from a morning coffee to find my bag’s zipper broken and $200 in emergency cash missing. I believe someone entered my room and took it while I was out. The hotel has no safe and requires guests to leave their key when they go out, so they know when rooms are empty. The staff were no help and even said $200 wasn’t much money. From conversations I had with them, it seemed like this may have happened before, though I haven’t recovered the money. I’m heading to the police station to file an official complaint. When I first raised the issue, they said there were cameras. But when I asked them to check, they said there were no cameras in the corridor. The whole situation feels very sketchy and scary. I wish I’d known, because I never would have stayed here. Protect yourself.

The location was hard to beat, with several metro stops a few blocks away and many major sights within walking distance. I spent five nights here. My room was a good size, larger than at other European hotels I’ve visited, and the fourth-floor view was really nice. The desk staff were friendly and breakfast was decent. I booked directly on the hotel website and got free breakfast, though I’m not sure if that deal is still available. It was also substantially cheaper than booking through a travel site. Beforehand, I exchanged a few emails with the hotel and they answered everything I needed to know. If you’re booking from somewhere like the US, call your credit card company ahead of time to authorize charges from France, which can save hassle. I’d happily stay here again.

The location was decent, but the hotel was dirty, with trash on the floor, and the room looked outdated. What made it worse was the staff’s poor, arrogant attitude. This was my worst experience in this part of Paris, and I won’t return.

There’s a lift, which is useful if you have heavy or bulky luggage, and the hotel wasn’t too noisy. The rooms, especially those facing the courtyard, are small, but cozy. Everything was clean, including the bathrooms and bedding, and the staff were friendly and happy to help. The location is very central, between Bvd Haussmann and Bvd des Capucines, about five minutes on foot from two metro stations. Place Vendome and Palais Garnier are around ten minutes away, while Place de la Concorde and the river Seine take about fifteen minutes. There are plenty of places to eat and shop in every direction. From Gare du Nord, it’s about 15-20 minutes by metro, or a similar time in an Uber when traffic is normal. It isn’t especially cheap, but being right in the heart of Paris probably explains the room sizes.