Hotel Pavillon Opera Lafayette

The staff were polite and helpful, and they kept my luggage after checkout. Being able to check in at 11 a.m. without an extra charge was especially convenient after traveling. The room and bathroom were very clean, the shower was nice, and everything seemed maintained. The location is another plus, in a cute neighborhood near the subway and main train stations. Still, I paid €100 and don’t think the hotel is worth that or really deserves three stars. At €30 a night, it might feel fair. My first key card opened somebody else’s room, and the replacement kept deactivating, so I had to ask twice to have it reactivated. The front entrance is always open, and you don’t need a room card for the lift, which made the place feel less secure. Noise was a problem too: I heard the next room’s light switches, snoring, loud music, singing, and eventually very private activity. Street noise carried up to the fourth floor as well. The bed was uncomfortable and gave me back pain.

We checked in at 2 p.m. on August 31 and left before an hour had passed because the room was unbearable. There was mold all over the ceiling, stains on the sheets, a horrible smell in the washroom, and not even basic hand soap. We went to reception several times to ask for a refund. Each time, they gave us a false story about whether the manager was available and wouldn’t help. The staff, especially the woman at the front desk, were shockingly rude. When we tried one last time to talk to them, they told us to leave and called a man who shoved my boyfriend. He also took my boyfriend’s phone to stop him recording a video for his own protection. It was the worst hotel stay we’ve had, and the behavior felt completely unsafe and unacceptable. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through this, so I strongly urge people not to book here.

The online photos make this place look far better than it is. For three nights I paid over £400, which felt like a rip-off for the quality. Maybe at £30 a night I could have put up with it, but I left extremely disappointed and frustrated. This was probably the worst three-star hotel I’ve stayed in, and I won’t return. The room was tiny and got unbearably hot, with no air conditioning and an unpleasant smell throughout. There was only a sheet, not a proper duvet, and the lack of sound insulation meant I could clearly hear people snoring in other rooms. The bathroom was around 2 m², so washing your face meant opening the door. Its shower was moldy, leaked, and felt unhygienic.

The staff were friendly and so helpful, and the rooms were clean. I had a good stay and no real complaints. Sure, it’s noisy, but I didn’t find it as bad as some people make out. The rooms and bathrooms are small, like in many Paris flats, so keep your expectations in check without assuming the worst. The breakfast was tasty and enough for an average person. It isn’t all-you-can-eat, but you won’t go hungry. It’s a cheap hotel, and you get a fair enough place for what you pay. The location is good too.