Tilsitt Etoile — Hotel in Paris

I booked a week in advance at a very good price—less than 100 euros for a room with breakfast. Once I paid the non-refundable rate, I received an email informing me that the hotel was undergoing renovations but assuring me that everything was set up to keep the hotel fully operational.

Let me tell you what it’s really like.

First, there is no proper front desk. Instead, a nice receptionist was sitting at a tiny desk with a folding chair in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by dust and construction materials. She gave me my key and told me breakfast would be served downstairs. She also mentioned my room number but didn’t explain how to access it… and yes, that information would have been necessary.

Upon arriving at my floor and after getting used to the horrible smell, I couldn't find my room. I noticed a door that seemed to lead to another corridor, but there was a construction worker behind it who was not happy with me trying to open it. So, I went back downstairs and explained that I couldn't find my room.

They led me there and it was, indeed, behind that door with the worker, then behind another door, past a staircase that was also under construction (dust everywhere, strong paint smell, etc.).

Now, to be fair, the room itself was great, super clean and well arranged with everything you need and a cute deco. On the plus side, the WiFi was strong and free, and breakfast was delicious in a very cute setting.

But the renovation work didn’t stop until 7 PM and started again at 7 AM, yes even on weekends.

In the morning, getting out of my room was a struggle. Due to the ongoing construction, the floor was uneven, and the door leading to the staircase wouldn’t open properly. When I finally left, the hallway was blocked by a cleaning cart right in front of the door. The horrible smell from the night before? yeah still there.

The elevator didn’t feel safe not just because of the bad smell but also because it looked old enough to belong to my great-grandmother’s era.

To top it all off, I was unexpectedly charged an additional 150 euros for my stay. When I asked why, they explained it was a pre-authorization on my credit card "just in case." But since I had already paid in full, I asked what exactly this was for—there was no minibar in the room, no on-demand TV, nothing extra to be charged for. Instead of a proper explanation, I was met with a dismissive "nevermind," which was unprofessional at best, rude at worst. (I was charged back right after my stay)

Pros: The hotel is clean, breakfast is great, and the location is ideal. Cons: The renovations make the stay uncomfortable, access to rooms is chaotic, there’s a persistent bad smell, the elevator is questionable, and the pre-authorization charge was unexplained.

I’m glad I only paid 100 euros because I wouldn’t have paid more given...

Found this hotel when I had to leave the place I was in. It is in a very quaint little street 5 minutes walk away from the Arc de Triomphe!

The rooms are small (aren’t all Paris hotels) but they are clean and warm, with daily service. I had a baby with me, so they put a pack and play in my room and I still had space for my large suitcase to be opened.

Their continental breakfast is amazing, and their coffee is strong and not bitter, absolutely worth the visit. Because of the small amount of rooms, there was no rush or wait for breakfast.

It’s a small hotel, and the staff are lovely. Emilio, who was the night manager, went above and beyond for us from the very first night. He was just the best!

It’s a 10 minute walk to the Champs Elysee, and there are great bistros around the area with great food and not too expensive.

The added perk: a laundromat (immaculate and well lit) on the corner of the street and a little supermarket that sells everything, including fresh squeezed orange juice for €2!!

It was a great find, cost is not too high for the area; I felt safe and loved walking around and trying the local food places.

Enjoy! (I took a video of the breakfast spread but I cannot post it, but believe me it will set you up...

The location of this hotel is genuinely excellent, if you’re visiting Paris and want to be in a well-connected, central area, this place is ideal.However, the biggest downside for me was the complete lack of sound isolation between rooms. Unfortunately, I had neighbors who were very loud, and I could hear everything as if they were in my own room. On top of that, I had specifically requested a room away from the elevator, but was given one right next to it and I could hear the elevator every single time it arrived at the floor. These two factors really impacted the quality of my stay.In short: fantastic location, visually appealing, and clean, but thin walls, poor soundproofing, and mediocre service made it hard to fully...