Hotel Reviews Paris Thursday 5th July 2007
Review: Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse
If you’re looking for a good value, modern and conveniently located hotel in the centre of Paris (and why wouldn’t you), look no further than the Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse.
Design and Decor
The building itself was finished in 2006, so it still smells and looks brand new. From the moment you walk in through the revolving doors, you’re greeted by a smart looking bar and reception which are both very stylish and modern. The style even extends to the corridors with atmospheric lighting and curved ceilings. The rooms are clean, bright and large. Plus, because the hotel is purpose built, the rooms are very well sound-proofed. Once in your room, you won’t hear anything other than your air-conditioning.
Location
The hotel is a 5-10min walk from the bustling Gare Montparnasse with shops, restaurants, cafes and cinemas. The nearest metro station is Pasteur on line 6 (walk straight out of the hotel and cross the road at the crossing, turn right and then take the second left. The station entrance can be found in the centre of the road carriageways). From Pasteur you can catch a train directly to the Eiffel Tower. The road the hotel is on is very quiet with very little traffic. The area is safe to walk around in at night.
The Room
The room is large, clean, bright and well lit. In the batheroom, there is a sink, shower cubicle and bathtub (with another shower nossel for washing hair while in the tub).The toilet is seperate from the bathroom. A hair dryer, towels and toiletries are provided. There’s a safe which can store a laptop, a mini fridge (with a free bottle of Vittel water put in it each day) and tea and coffee making facilities. The flat-screen LCD TV provides pay-per-view movies and sport (in a variety of languages) plus a selection of TV Channels (TF1, France2, Canal+, Sport+, BBC World, Al Jazeera, Disney Channel, and channels in Chinese and Polish to name but a few). There’s around 15 channels in all. The bed is massive (king or queen), firm and comfortable. Also in the room is a desk and sofa bed. The room is cleaned daily and they do a very good job too.
Service
The hotel staff are very helpful and friendly. They answered all my questions and served me to a high standard. They all spoke excellent english. Security seemed high while I was there with a permanant guard on the main entrance and your room key card necessary for using the lifts to the rooms.
The Good
- Sound-proofing is excellent. Once you’re in your room, you won’t hear anything.
- Beds are firm, comfortable and huge.
- Room sizes vary, but are on the whole very spacious, particularly for a city centre hotel.
- Transport links are excellent. Two metro stations and a mainline train station are within walking distance.
- Excellent value. It’s not difficult to find sub-€100 rooms.
- Superb bathroom facilities.
- In-room tea and coffee making facilities.
The Bad
- No free Wifi. Internet access, even wired, is expensive.
- Breakfast is not included as standard and is also expensive.
- Generic Novotel rooms. No Parisian charm.
Conclusion
This hotel won’t win any prizes for offering a truly Parisian experience. The rooms are generic in style and the location, a business zone, could be anywhere in the world. That said, the Novotel Gare Montparnasse does offer clean, quiet, large and comfortable rooms with plenty of amenities and all, if you hunt around, for an excellent price. Getting to all of Paris’ tourist hotspots is a breeze with metro and train stations within ten minutes walk. The nearby centre of Montparnasse offers an abundance of shops and places to eat and drink. If all you’re looking for is a safe, quiet and comfortable place to sleep while you explore this great city, the Novotel Gare Montparnasse is the hotel for you.
Hotel Information
Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse
17 rue du Cotentin, 75015 Paris, France
http://www.accorhotels.com/
