Hôtel Arc de Triomphe Etoile — Hotel in Paris

This was hands down one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had. The reception staff were cold and unhelpful, management was nowhere to be found when things went wrong, and the room let’s just say I’ve stayed in cleaner hostels. Customer service? Nonexistent. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone, not even for a quick layover. Stay literally anywhere else.

Dear to whom it may concern,

Thank you for your response.

However, I must firmly and unequivocally clarify that the statements outlined in your message do not reflect the reality of our experience during our stay.

Contrary to your assertion, the reception desk was not consistently staffed by trained personnel. On several occasions, guests myself included were assisted by individuals who appeared to be neither employees nor professionally trained, but acquaintances or unofficial representatives. This practice is not only unprofessional but compromises the standards expected of a hotel carrying your name.

With regard to your claim about a "strict payment protocol," I regret to inform you that no such procedure was observed. The handling of payment was disorganized, lacking transparency, and led to a double charge on our account for which no proper explanation or rectification has been provided. As for the hygiene protocol mentioned, the state of the facilities directly contradicts any notion of rigorous standards. I would suggest a thorough internal review before making such claims publicly.

Further, your statement that a discussion with management was conducted is factually incorrect. No such meeting took place, nor was any attempt made to offer appropriate compensation for the considerable inconveniences we encountered.

The only merit to highlight is your location, which admittedly is convenient. However, location alone does not compensate for the serious deficiencies in service, hospitality, and integrity that we experienced.

I urge you to reflect earnestly on this feedback and refrain from issuing misleading replies that contradict the documented and witnessed reality. Glossing over guest grievances with templated statements does no service to...

Absolutely Horrible Experience – BEWARE of Paying Cash!||||Do NOT EVER PAY CASH to this hotel — you will deeply regret it like I did!||||I booked a stay through Expedia with the “pay at the property” option. Upon arrival with two friends, we were told we had to pay the full amount €1242.45 upfront at check-in. Teo and Meline were at the front desk, and Teo handled the payment. I specifically asked him to split the total into three payments of €414.15 each. Two of us paid in cash, and I paid my portion by card.||||However, after leaving, I noticed an additional €405 charge on my card, which they took using the pre-authorization without my consent. When I called to resolve the issue, they falsely claimed that only one person paid in cash (€423) and that the “remaining balance” was charged to my card.||||Pascal, the so-called director, was completely unhelpful and insisted they had not received the other payments. They even gave me a receipt at check-in — but later claimed it was just a proforma (whatever that means!). I repeatedly asked for security footage from September 17th at 1:00 PM to prove our payment, but Pascal refused, saying that only the police could request the videos.||||Now, I’m stuck dealing with Expedia to try and get my money back. What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation turned into a nightmare — they ruined the rest of my trip because I had to deal with this mess every single day.||||This was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had. I will NEVER stay here again, and I strongly warn others to avoid this place...

This review is quite disappointing, but here are the positives: The hotel is centrally located, the rooms are clean, and the beds are comfortable—meeting the standard expectations for a check-in.||However, there are notable drawbacks. Despite being in my 40s, the hotel requires patrons to surrender their room keys at the front desk each time they leave, an unusual and inconvenient practice. Failure to comply results in staff pursuing guests even outside the premises. Upon return, they don't request identification when providing the room number, giving an unsettling impression similar to a hostel or dormitory.||Moreover, the staff lacks coherence. During check-in, a female attendant informed me about an unexpected tax on the room, not mentioned on booking.com. I paid without issue. Yet, at check-out two days later, a male staff member claimed I hadn't paid the tax. The evident lack of communication among the staff extends beyond room key procedures. When I sought a receipt on the second occasion, the printer malfunctioned, leaving me without proof of payment—a situation that raises concerns about the hotel's integrity... A SCAM. ||This experience has been disappointing, and I am inclined to dispute the double tax charge through a chargeback at my earliest...