Oh, where do I even begin? This “hotel” was a total disaster. It wasn’t even a hotel; it was a run-down apartment complex. The night before my arrival, they called me at 10:30 PM to tell me they had “mixed up” my room. Instead of the luxurious Concorde Executive Suite I booked three weeks prior, they were giving me the “Eiffel Room,” a downgrade! I demanded a full refund, as this was not what I had agreed to. They claimed it was a “new person” who had double-booked the room.
Booking.com came to my rescue. After explaining the situation, they contacted the manager. Two hours later, I finally got a call saying they would give me the original room. This was not a great start to my Parisian adventure!
Finding the Hotel: A Lost in Translation Experience
The next day, I arrived in Paris, and finding the “hotel” was a real challenge. It was hidden away in an apartment complex, and the code I had been given was incorrect. I stood outside for two hours, unable to get in, and they wouldn’t answer the phone.
A Dirty, Disappointing Welcome
Finally, I got in, but the place looked nothing like the pictures. It was dark, dirty, and frankly, horrible. They told me I couldn’t check in yet but could leave my bags and come back at 3 PM. The cleaner gave me a phone and said it was the manager. He laughed when I told him about the situation and said someone else had already checked into the room I booked! I found this quite amusing, especially considering the circumstances.
A Rude Reception and a Horrifying Suite
When I came back at 3 PM, the owner was sitting at the reception, looking very flashy and quite rude. He showed us the “suite,” which was nothing like the pictures. It was a small, dark room with marks on the walls and a damaged door.
I told him I didn’t want to stay and asked for my money back. He told me to go stay at the Four Seasons and that I would never get my money back. He then proceeded to throw me out into the street! This was after I had paid £1100! Disgusting!
Avoid this place at all costs! It’s not a hotel, it’s a nightmare! Homeless people were begging outside, which only added to the overall unpleasant experience.
A Mixed Bag: Ibis Sacre Coeur – Good Location, Poor Service
Okay, let’s try to find some positives. The receptionist was friendly when we arrived on Friday night, which was nice. He pointed us towards some good places to eat. The location itself was good, even though the street was very busy due to a metro strike. There were some nice shops and restaurants on the side streets, and it was about a 30-minute walk to the Louvre. The Moulin Rouge is also nearby, but the walk is through a seedy area. There’s a metro station nearby, which would have been great if it hadn’t been for the strike.
Now for the negatives. The rooms were nothing like the pictures. They were small, grubby, and dirty. The bathroom door was broken and the hairdryer kept cutting out. The air conditioning units were filthy, and the shower cubicles were tiny.
Breakfast was continental and okay. However, the lady serving breakfast was surly and unhelpful. It took her 20 minutes to get some gluten-free bread, and another 20 minutes to refill the orange juice when it ran out. The other reception staff were also less than helpful. One was constantly on his phone or watching Tik Tok videos, and the other was unable to book us a taxi. Overall, the hotel was dated, run-down, and in need of TLC.
A Positive Stay: Hotel du Nord Bercy
I had a much better experience at the Hotel du Nord Bercy. It is located in a lovely area of Paris, with good shops and restaurants across the square in Bercy Village. The metro station is a two-minute walk away, and the area is well lit and pleasant.
We booked a taxi from the airport directly to the hotel for a set price, and the staff were helpful and had arranged our family rooms together. The room had a balcony with a view of the Eiffel Tower, which was lovely, especially at night.
We had booked breakfast, which was fresh and high-quality with a good selection of hot cooked food, eggs, sausages, pancakes, cereals, fruit, and pastries. There was something for everyone! The hotel even booked our return taxi and was helpful printing out boarding passes and attraction tickets. The WiFi was good throughout the hotel.
This was my second stay at this hotel, and it was just as nice as before. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good hotel in Paris.
