Richard N.
Yelp
Parisian Experience On Steroids.....
Pros: Charming Building. Central location. Top-notch manager.
Cons: Several odd and ends.
Suggestion: Book well in advance by e-mail. They are very responsive.
Ratings:
- Overall: 5
- Room Quality: 4
- Housekeeping: 4
- Interior of the Building: 5
- Breakfast: 4
- Location: 5
- Commotion: 3
- Outside Appearance: 5
- Service: 5
- Value: 5
The question everyone asks about Paris ( at least the people who need a place to stay ) is "which hotel to choose"? After a ton of research, my wife and I agreed on the Hotel Relais Saint Germain. It was an excellent choice.
Location: One half block south of Blvd St Germain, a bustling street cutting east-west through the northern part of the Left Bank.
Many major attractions, such as the Louvre, D'Orsay museum, Notre Dame, the Sorbonne and Latin Quarter are 1/2 to 1 mile away...easy walking distance. The Marais and Montparnasse neighborhoods are about a mile while the Eiffel Tower is 2 miles away. All very manageable for those without mobility issues. And of course, for anyone...watch those cobblestone streets!
The flip side of being in the middle of things is BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS. Relais St Germain faces an intersection of at least 3 streets...and 5 if you make a small allowance. Restaurants and cafes stretch along each corner with a steady hum and occasional screech from the cars and carousers. The noise reaches a fever pitch between 8 PM and midnight, but revelers were heard as late as 3 AM. It's best to get a room above the 3rd floor (we were on the 5th of 6 stories), but our friends were on the 2nd and simply closed their windows.
Exterior: Bright, French and beautiful. Pictures on the website do it justice.
Interior: Charming. The reception area is small, but it's a small hotel. Left of the lobby is a gathering spot for several people...and left of that is the adjoining restaurant, Le Comptoir du Relais. A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning from 7 - 10 AM for the guests. Food was the same each day of our week-long stay - A basket of breads, 4 choices of jam, small cup of orange slices, small cup of fresh prunes, glass of juice, one egg and coffee or tea. While the quantity was on the limited side, quality was high and service more prompt and friendly than in other Paris venues.
One other noteworthy item. There is an elevator, but the size is rather....compact. A notice on the wall states capacity is 3 people, but that's probably with one person on the shoulders of another. It's tight, though serviceable. The alternative is a narrow, winding staircase which I'd only recommend for the most nimble of foot.
Room: More charm. Our room, #52, had a king size bed, sitting area, separate bathroom and a front row seat facing a very French street scene. Essentially everything we needed for a week-long stay. The mattress was comfortable, TV workable (though only 4 of 40+ channels were in English) and shower pressure sufficient. However, controls for getting it started were among the most confounding ever seen. When we asked the hotel staff for assistance, we got a personal tutorial and the comment "almost everyone says the same thing".
There were a few other downsides. The safe "broke" on the next to last day. Requested number of towels were not always present. Sofa cushions were a bit threadbare. The internet connection was inconsistent and speed rather slow.
Housekeeping: Good and unobtrusive. However, if you appreciate a good vacuuming of the carpets each day, there may be disappointment. Maybe it was done with eyes closed?
Service: Admirable. Marie, the manager, was angelic. Always with a smile. Always inquiring if something had to be done. Always lending a helping hand. She is what every business needs. Marie's staff was very capable and generally followed in her footsteps. Reservations in restaurants, requests for additional towels and answers to questions about neighborhood resources all went smoothly. When I mentioned to Marie an issue with one of her employees, she listened intently. Next time we dealt with that person, there was a definite change in attitude.
Cost and Value: Worth it. We paid 319 Euros per night for our 7 night stay.
Would we stay here again? If in the Left Bank...yes. However, we'll probably try another part of town next time.