Mrs. E.
Yelp
Amazing hotel right in the heart of Saint Germain des Pres. We loved our stay here and would recommend it to anybody who likes boutique hotels with excellent service.
Don't get me wrong, we were nervous to stay here because all of our friends had horror stories about French hotels: tiny rooms, dirty rooms, no air conditioning, unexpected room charges (possibly for being American), mean hotel staffers, difficulty communicating. Some friends even said that we should stick to American chain hotels to make sure we get air conditioning which is absolutely necessary for us - we get hot very easily.
However, we like boutique hotels and are not really chain hotel people. We believe that boutiques give you a better idea of the neighborhood/city you are visiting. We also like their quirky personalities and staying in more off-the-beaten path-type places.
So Hotel Bel Ami conquered all of our fears pretty much immediately. Yes the room is small but I'd bet you a lot of money that most French hotel rooms are small compared to the ones in America. It was immaculately cleaned. It had air conditioning. There were no unexpected room charges. There were very nice common areas for drinks and breakfast. We loved the style and the splash of green accents everywhere. Very much our style.
With regards to the hotel staff, they couldn't have been nicer. Does it help that I speak French a bit? Yes, probably. But when it got to a point where they were speaking too quickly or saying words I didn't understand, they switched to English without a hint of snottiness and helped us with whatever we needed. As soon as we arrived to check-in, somebody recognized our name and immediately said that we had a package (we pre-ordered the Museum Pass and had it delivered to the hotel). He handed us the package about 30 seconds later. Wow, that's service. I didn't even ask for it, it just appeared.
The concierge helped us with a restaurant reservation along with tickets to Versailles and a Seine boat tour. So convenient and so easy.
Most taxi drivers/uber drivers knew Hotel Bel Ami by name, but it was also easy to explain in French where it was located. No problem at all.
If we go back to Paris, we will most definitely stay here. Loved the location, loved the hotel, loved the staff. Well done, Hotel Bel Ami!