Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel

The location is great, and the breakfast waitress was the best part of our stay. She was hilarious every morning. The property badly needs renovating, though. The elevators were out for four of our five days, and carrying luggage down five flights of stairs at the end of the stay was no fun.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the concierge went out of their way to get us two restaurant reservations. The location really can't be beat. We also loved the “speakeasy”-like bar, with its great atmosphere and professional, welcoming staff. The room was extremely small, barely leaving space for luggage or to move around the bed, and the air conditioning struggled, so it was often uncomfortably warm on hot days. Towels and robes were frayed and overused, and the strange art above the bed felt creepy rather than stylish. Both the rooms and bathrooms badly need renovation. The fitness center was another letdown, tucked into a dark, uninviting area and feeling neglected. It didn't feel like a five-star hotel. Serious updates to the facilities could make this a much better stay. For now, you're paying for the location and service, but not the comfort.

We barely needed transport to see Paris. The hotel is just off Rivoli and the Tuilleries, with the Louvre, D'Orsey, Champs Ellyses, ND and Vendome a short walk away. We also walked to the Eiffel Tower and Trocodero. The staff were really helpful with restaurant suggestions and wine options, and the rooms had that Marriott quality. Highly recommend.

The room was compact, as you'd expect in a city like Paris, but clean and practical. We found the staff welcoming and consistently helpful, and the hotel is well placed for the Louvre and Musée D’Orsay, with several metro lines nearby for getting around. One of the two elevators was out during our visit, so waits were longer. We'd happily return.