Choosing a Hotel Perfect for Our Paris Stay
After extensive research and careful consideration of various factors, we finally decided on our hotel, and Iโm happy to say we were pleased with our choice. We used a map to eliminate areas based on budget to narrow down our options. The green, orange, and purple zones were outside our price range, so we focused on the yellow zone. Given the attractions we wanted to visit and accessibility, we zeroed in on the 9th and 10th arrondissements as the best areas for our stay.
Key Factors Considered
1. Access to Public Transportation
We prioritized proximity to metro and bus lines to easily reach major attractions. Additionally, we factored in access to the Big Bus tour route and the Gare du Nord station for our onward travel to Brussels.
2. Private Bathroom
Many Paris hotels, especially budget options, have a hostel-style setup with shared bathrooms. For convenience, we needed a family room with a private bath and washroom.
3. Separate Bed for Our Child
Our child needed to have his own bed for a comfortable stay.
4. Lift and Air Conditioning
Small boutique hotels or older buildings, particularly in historic areas like Montmartre or Le Marais, often lack elevators or air conditioning. While May is generally pleasant in Paris, we needed air conditioning for a comfortable night’s sleep.
5. Budget
Initially, we hoped to find a hotel in the Euro 120 to 150 per night. However, after further research, we realized that for our requirementsโfamily room, free cancellation, and breakfastโwe needed to increase our budget to around approx. Euro 200 to 220 per night.
6. Neighborhood
Since Mihir is a light sleeper, we looked for a peaceful area. We also considered the convenience of having restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, and a pharmacy nearby.
7. Google Reviews
We cross-referenced all the above points with Google and social media reviews to ensure we were making an informed decision.
With the above considerations, we shortlisted the following hotels and finalized Libertel Montmartre Opรฉra…
- Hotel Libertel Montmartre Opera
- Hรดtel Saint-Louis Pigalle
- Hotel Astoria
- Hotel Lorette
- NH Paris Gare de l’Est
Booking
We compared rates, cancellation policies, and refund options on Booking.com, Agoda, MakeMyTrip, and the hotelโs official website. Ultimately, we found the best deal directly through the hotelโs website, and the booking process was simple and straightforward. The hotel cost us around Euro 225 per night, and we appreciated the convenience of the pay-at-hotel option.
A few days before our arrival, the hotel emailed us requesting some details and our estimated check-in time. They also informed us about an early check-in option at an additional charge, which we opted not to use.
Arrival and Check-in
We took a government-approved cab from the Charles de Gaulle Airport and reached the hotel in an hour. The cab ride cost us Euro 56 – a fixed rate from CDG to any location on the right bank of the river Seine.
We arrived at the hotel around noon and were pleasantly surprised to get our room by 12:30 PM, much earlier than we expected. Before check-in, the hotel required full payment, including the additional city taxes per night per guest.
The reception area was clean and tidy, with a luggage room available for storage. The elevator was quite small and very slow but functional.
Location
The hotel is located in the South Pigalle neighborhood, just 100 meters from Boulevard de Clichy, where the lively tourist area begins.
It sits nearly equidistant (about 300 meters) between Blanche (Metro line 2)โhome of the iconic Moulin Rougeโand Pigalle (Metro lines 2 and 12), making it easy to hop on a train to Abesses or LamarckโCaulaincourt on line 12, providing quick access to Montmartre and the Sacrรฉ-Cลur.
Several bus stops are also within walking distance, offering direct connections to the city center and major landmarks.
A small caution: the stretch between Blanche and Pigalle metro stations may not feel entirely family-friendly for those with young children, as it features several adult lifestyle stores along the route.
Room and Amenities
The family room initially felt smaller than expected compared to the pictures, and we wondered how we would manage for four nights. However, we soon realized that by Parisian standards, the room was quite spacious. It had a double bed, and a single bed, and still left some room to move around. There wasnโt a wardrobe, but the room provided compartments with shelves, hangers, and coat hooks. A small table, chair, coffee machine, kettle, and mini-fridge were also available.
Our room had a large window overlooking the Instagram-famous restaurant โPink Mama.โ The bathroom was sufficient, equipped with an electric rack for drying clothes. One minor issue was the sliding bathroom door, which didnโt lock. We initially thought it was broken and requested a handyman, but the staff explained that this was the intended design for family rooms. While we accepted it, it felt a bit awkward, especially since the door didnโt provide complete privacy.
Breakfast
Breakfast was served in a cozy underground cafรฉ, offering a decent spread of fruits, tea, coffee, cereal, milk, juice, bread, butter, croissants, marmalades, honey, yogurt, various kinds of cheese, eggs, pancakes or waffles, muffins, ham, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and more. It was more than enough to start the day.
Overall Service
The hotel staff were attentive and responsive. After 5 p.m., housekeeping services were unavailable, but the receptionist was very helpful, assisting us in communicating with our French-speaking Uber driver and recommending a few local restaurants.
Overall, we enjoyed a pleasant and comfortable stay at the hotel.
Summary
Booking process and check-in: Smooth
Room and amenities: Small but well-appointed
Housekeeping & Service: Excellent but not flawless
Location: Great
Value for Money: Who says Paris is budget-friendly!
Overall Rating: Will certainly consider it for my next visit
You may also want to read about our experiences of Paris…
https://oneplusone3.in/category/city/france-%f0%9f%87%ab%f0%9f%87%b7/paris/
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