Opinione dettagliata di Fritzthecat
Fritzthecat(44)
Essex, Regno Unito95%
I booked the Paris Ibis Montmartre when we needed a crash pad for a short trip in December 2009. My brother-in-law wanted to fulfil his wife's dream of visiting the Eiffel Tower and we agreed to accompany them. As they only stayed in the UK for a short time the trip had to happen right before Christmas and it was clear from the start that we would stay for only one night. There was no need to search for special comforts, we literally only needed a bed for the night and a shower at an affordable hotel.
I knew the Ibis hotels from the past and was aware that they are nothing special and not really geared for the family market (we were travelling with two children), but they are usually contemporary, clean and run by young and friendly personnel.
A few days before our trip the big snow set in and news that the Channel Tunnel would be closed and/or journeys severely delayed came up. The brother-in-law decided that we would still try to go on the trip and so I called the hotel one day before our departure to confirm our arrival.
The young lady on the phone spoke excellent English and I found out that Paris so far didn't have any snow at all and that we shouldn't worry about parking as there was a large public indoor garage directly under the hotel which always had capacities available. The later was a huge relief as parking in Paris, like in most major cities, can be a nightmare.
Either we were plainly lucky or the news about the tunnel delays were exaggerated to keep travellers away, our trip went smooth and we experienced only a waiting time of 25 minutes and made it to Paris more or less as planned.
We arrived at the hotel at around 3.30 pm, thanks to the satellite navigation system without any problems. If you arrive by public transport you also shouldn't have trouble finding it as it is just a few metres from the Place de Clichy.
To find the garage was easy as it was not only exactly where the receptionist had told me, under the hotel, but also signed out well. Check in went equally smooth and within minutes after arriving we were on the way to our rooms on the second floor.
The Ibis hotels don't offer rooms for more than 3 people and the plan was that one of our girls would sleep in our room and the other with their aunt and uncle.
Nice plan but it didn't work as both of our kids were tired from the journey and not in the mood to stay with anyone but us. Change of plan and we decided that the older daughter would get the spare bed and the little one would have to sleep in the middle a decision we regretted as soon as we entered the room and saw the size of the bed ! As I said earlier, they don't do rooms for four and the reason was obvious there simply wasn't enough space and the bed would have been just about fine for two but not for three. Well, I guess there are worse things you have to suffer through if you have kids and we survived the night
The spare bed was a nifty construction under the window that could fold away totally and be turned into a workspace. The wardrobe is open, no door, and consist of several shelves and a small hanging space (in which we also found the chair that would have usually stood in front of the workspace)
The plasma TV is fixed at the wall opposite the main bed but showed only French programmes (not too surprising if you are in Paris) but managed to keep the girls entertained with some cartoons while we each took a quick shower and got changed for dinner. There is a menu for room service which might be fine if you are travelling alone or as a couple but for us, with the only table in the room turned into an extra bed, no option.
The bathroom is compact with a shower, basin and toilet. The whole room was compact, not really big enough to swing a cat, but everything was spotlessly clean. The only niggle I have is that the shower gel in the shower cabin was almost empty, which was a shame as it actually smelled very nice and I would have liked to use more than just the few drops I managed to squeeze out of the spender. Good thing we brought our own or we would have had to ask the reception desk for a refill.
About an hour later we were ready to go out and the receptionists were more than happy to give us directions towards the Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur. Given the fact that there was so little time we wanted to put some more sightseeing, apart from the Eiffel Tower, into the trip.
It had started to rain by now and we dismissed the walking directions we were given and went straight for the metro, which was around a two minutes walk from the hotel. In no time at all we were at the Place Blanche and from there made our way up to Sacre Coeur. So if you want to opt for this hotel, attractions are plentiful nearby and connection to the public transport is not an issue.
Later we found a nice restaurant at the Place du Tertre and from there walked back to the hotel as the rain had stopped. This took around 10 minutes so you don't even have to spend money on the metro if you want to see around Montmatre.
Back at the hotel we decided to go for a drink in the bar. We were the only guests and served quickly but didn't feel like hanging around too long. The place was just too quiet and rather brightly lit. The restaurant, which is located on the same level, was already shut although it was just 8.30 pm but I guess they didn't have all that many guests 3 days before Christmas.
By 9 pm I took the kids upstairs while the husband and his brother ordered another drink. Being awake since 4 am we were very tired and the bed was really comfy until the husband appeared half an hour later and space became an issue. The beds they feature are queen size and really not made for 2 adults and a 7 year old and it wasn't the most comfortable night of my life. Not that I can blame the hotel for it, they never rented us the room for 4.
By 5am I was very awake and decided to check out the 24-hr bar they advertise for a cup of coffee and a newspaper. Surprise, surprise the bar was closed and there also wasn't a newspaper. Well, they don't advertise the papers but they do state that the bar is open 24hrs a day. Not on this day though
I opted for a can of orange juice from the vending machine in the reception and a tourist information magazine instead and managed to pass an hour before going back upstairs. I guess I would have managed to get a cup of coffee if I'd made a fuss and bothered the night receptionist but at 5am I'm not the most talkative person in the world and just wanted some peace without a forever turning little girl at my side.
I don't remember the timetable for the breakfast, we went at 8am and all was set. There is a small reception in front of the breakfast area where you need to show your room card and then you are ready to go.
Breakfast in French budget hotels can be a sad affair consisting of just a piece of baguette and some jam but the Ibis offered a real proper buffet with a nice selection. You won't find a proper English breakfast, not even a boiled egg, but they had a variety of cheeses and cooked meat, several types of jam and honey, yogurts and fruit. There were croissants and a really very good selection of different types of bread, and, what was a really nice extra, pancakes and tortilla.
For drinks there is a variety of fresh fruit juices, milk, several types of coffee and a good selection of teas.
After breakfast we were ready to make our way to the Eiffel Tower and, when we finally entered our room to get our luggage and saw it for the first time in full daylight, realised that our room overlooked the Montmatre Cemetery no wonder the neighbours were so quiet !
Conclusion:
A cheap and cheerful option for all who aren't looking for too many creature comforts but want an affordable hotel in an area that is not only near to some of the main tourist attractions but also offers great connectivity to the public transport. Being so close to Place Clichy there are plenty of restaurants and bars around so getting bored in the evening is not something you need to be afraid of.
The staff was all very friendly and helpful and the garage beneath the hotel was a great relief. Personally I probably wouldn't use this hotel again. Not because we were disappointed but plainly because we need a bigger accommodation for the four of us to be comfortable. I'd recommend it for single travellers and couples, for families, even only with one child; it is rather cramped, especially if you'd like to stay for more than just one night.
Ibis Paris Montmartre 18ème7
