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Most people would book this hotel for the price and location alone. But this friendly, family-run hotel straddling the Marais and Bastille districts is also full of old-fashioned Parisian character—something usually missing in hotels of this price range.
The building itself is 400 years old and has been a hotel for more than two centuries. Guests enter through a small, sky-lit lobby with exposed stone walls and a mosaic-tiled fountain. Beyond is a spacious reception area and lounge with exposed wooden beams separating the breakfast area from the sitting area and computer station.
A steep stone staircase winds its way up to the 35 rooms painted in pale blue, rose, or yellow with a mix of basic modern furnishings and a few vintage pieces thrown in for good measure. The rooms are by no means luxurious or even stylish, but little touches such as the real marble mantelpieces in some rooms add a certain charm.
In 2006 all of the carpet was replaced, the walls freshly painted, and the bathrooms retiled. All rooms are equipped with a televisions, telephones, and hair dryers. Some have private bathrooms with shower or bathtub and toilet, while others have a tiled corner with a sink. Free showers and toilets are on each floor.
Rooms overlook the bustling rue St-Antoine or the fountain in the hotel lobby. Wi-Fi is available for free, and there is a large luggage storage room downstairs. A public parking garage is next door.
But the real bonus is the hotel's friendly, welcoming demeanor. The staff can readily recommend places to visit in the Marais and around Paris, and can reserve restaurants, theater, or sightseeing excursions. They speak English and German in addition to French.
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