ibis budget Courbevoie Paris La Défense 1 — Hotel in Arrondissement of Nanterre

We stayed for 5 nights for a whistle stop trip to Paris. We had a triple room (with bunk bed) on the 6th floor over looking the Seine with views to Eiffel Tower, a view which I don't think we could ever tire of! The hotel, as expected, was basic yet functional. We were only staying to sleep, and wanted to put our money more towards sight seeing.

*The room Warm, clean, room service each day with a refresh of toilet roll, liquid soap/body wash, bath towels if required. One pillow pp provided (I am sure we could have requested another if needed). Sink is in room, separate toilet, and separate shower with good strength of plentiful hot water. Free WiFi, always had a really good connection. About 3-4 plug sockets (bring adapters / USB sockets). We didn't even have time to watch TV, but did note that we weren't able to access to HDMI port if we had needed it, due to how the TV is fitted to the wall. Some guests mention about only having one key card - we requested an additional key card which was provided with no problems at all.

Reception/Facilities Friendly and helpful staff. There is a coffee machine, microwave and vending machine with essentials, all at a reasonable price. Breakfast available 5.30am-10am. There is also a terminal where you can order in takeaway from a range of cuisines. 2 lifts, one operates down to the car park. We liked that there was pedestrian access onto Rue Victor Hugo. Carparking in an underground secure parking is €10 per 24 hours, payable on exit. The standard Ibis is also right next door which offers additional facilities.

In the area. There is a small FranPrix across the road, a bit like a small Co-Op. A lovely creperie and a Pizza Hut (for takeaway, not restauarant - although we sat in) within 5 minutes walk. Also plenty of eateries around La Defence and in the older part of Courbevoie.

*Getting around. Yes, the hotel is some distance from the metro, but this is the trade off for staying out of the city centre. Download the RATP app for live updates on travel options. There are buses that go into the city within 10 minutes walk. The RER, trams and SNCF trains (eg for Versailles/Givernay) are also excellent. La Defence is on RER A which goes direct to Disney (approx 1hr journey). We mostly used Uber to get us to/from either La Defence (or Esplanade) and we always got one within 4 minutes of requesting. Typical fare to La Defense was €12. It was only €15-€20 to Uber direct to the Eiffel Tower and other tourist attractions within the city. Word of warning that the business district around both La Defense and the Esplanade are pedestrianised, so if you are planning on getting an Uber/Bolt etc to the area to expect to walk a short distance to the station, and to plan your exit so that you can get to road level at, say, a nearby hotel for pick-up.

Would we stay again? Yes, absolutely!! You know what you get with Ibis Budget. Yes, it was out of the tourist area and generally quiet. However, for us it was ideal. We didn't want to be in a super busy touristy area. We drove over so wanted to know our car was secure. We researched, read the reviews and planned ahead. We brought a travel kettle and some basic supplies; we prefer bath sheets to bath towels, and had read about the 'tiny towels' (they are standard size btw, so didn't really need to have brought ours). Yes, we would have struggled with walking to the metro every day, but there are so many other transport options if you do your research. We felt very safe with our six year old, and made to feel very welcome in Paris.

Merci bien, Ibis, for the excellent stay. We look forward to...

While the location was a definite advantage, the overall experience was quite disappointing. The room had no ventilation, making it difficult to breathe, especially given the 36°C heat in Paris. Shockingly, there was no air conditioning or even a fan provided, which is surprising considering even budget accommodations like Travelodge in London, where temperatures rarely exceed 30°C, offer fans.

The check-in process was underwhelming; the staff member I encountered was indifferent and did not even offer a smile. Additionally, there was no one present at the desk upon arrival—I had to call out loudly to get someone’s attention from another room.

The room itself had several odd features. The sink was placed directly beside the bed, which was unusual but manageable. However, whenever I turned on the tap, the entire room reeked of sewage for about 20 minutes. Although the toilet was exceptionally clean, it emitted a smell far worse than a public restroom, which was both puzzling and unpleasant.

One of the most perplexing aspects was the complete lack of air conditioning, not just in the hotel, but seemingly across Paris. Despite the extreme summer temperatures, I found no air conditioning at the airport, major train stations like Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon, or even in most restaurants. Even high-end shops along the Champs-Élysées were largely without air conditioning. The overcrowded train stations had a noticeable odor, likely due to the heat and lack of ventilation.

On a positive note, every Tesla Uber I used had air conditioning, and the drivers were consistently pleasant. However, it's baffling that a city with such high temperatures lacks basic amenities like air conditioning, which significantly impacted the comfort of my stay. While studying world history, we were taught about France's vast influence across the world, from its dominance over large regions to its contributions to fashion, art, architecture, and cuisine. Given this rich heritage, it's surprising to find a lack of basic amenities such as air conditioning, fans, or even proper ventilation in present-day France.

Despite the high prices charged for accommodations, dining, and other services, which often seem unreasonable, the absence of these essential comforts raises questions. It's puzzling that a country with such a significant historical and cultural legacy would neglect such basic necessities, especially considering the extreme summer temperatures. It leads one to wonder about the priorities and economic situation in...

I'll be straight honest, this is by far one of the worst hotels I have ever stayed and the fact that I have to stay 2 more nights here is a pur joke.

Starting up with the check-in where we were informed that the wifi in the hotel isn't working due some strange government problems. We'll ok I asked how long the problem has been, answer was a few days. So no information to the customers, via email before, no solution for this problem. We booked this especially because of the wifi and location. Funny on this is the hotel ibis right next to this one has no problems at all. I talked somehow to the manager who told me to use the lobby wifi of the other ibis. Wait for the joke..

So they put us in the 7th floor with 2 of 2 NOT working elevators. Feels great, I had a huge operation on the leg few weeks ago and my wife just cured from cancer. So I tried to get the wifi thru 1 building and 7 floors, obviously isn't working.

The room overall looks OK but if u look closer, you'll see some disgusting stuff like giant spiders splattered on the walls where still some legs hang around, don't believe? As hotel tester we made photos of everything, as it's our job.

There's exactly 1 towel for each of us in the room. So 1 towel to wash hands, face, shower and whatsoever. I haven't seen this in 40 years.

The most annoying thing is that the room lights go on when they want. We were laying like 3 hours in bed and the lights go on automatically like 15 times.

We pointed that out at the reception and the only thing what seems to can be done is waving around with the hands and constantly saying "I'm sorry". Yeah that rly helps the customer the fact that not even a part refund is offered is just a total no go.

Best answer was, that wifi is not included in the price, but commercialing those rooms on the website where it clearly says it has wifi is the definition of a scam.

To be honest again. Paris completely feels like a scam. The tourist stuff is mostly not more of 50 % what they actually promised.

After that ibis, I'll never gonna checkup in one of those again ever.

Good job u lost 2...