Finding a hotel in a foreign city can be a minefield, but at least we no longer have to rely on a travel agent to choose and hope they've got it right.
Tripadvisor list a whopping 1827 hotels in Paris – 700 more than London – but at least we are able to sort the wheat from the chaff as each one rated and reviewed by users.
We thought we’d make it even easier and bring you the three best-reviewed hotels in each star rating category – from 5-star luxury down to 2-star value, because there really is somewhere worth staying for every budget.
Oh, and we threw in a couple of stinkers to avoid... Skip to the end for those.
FIVE STAR
1. Maison Souquet
10 Rue de Bruxelles, 75009 Paris
Where is it?
Pigalle, in the north of the city – home to theatres and opera houses. In fact, the Moulin Rouge is just round the corner.
Why’s it so good?
It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but that all changes as soon as you step inside Maison Souquet. The plush, decadent interior was designed by famous designer Jacques Garcia, intended to evoke the pre-war Belle Époque, when Paris was a byword for prosperity and hedonism. The foyer is anything but subtle, and rooms are lavishly decorated with heavily patterned fabrics in greens, golds and reds. Fans of minimalism should look elsewhere.
2. Le Bristol Paris
112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
Where is it?
The location is fantastic, just off the Champs Élysées, so you can explore central Paris with ease.
Why’s it so good?
Bright and airy, with marble floors and high ceilings, Le Bristol is nothing less than palatial – with a price tag to match. And that’s not to mention its restaurant with no less than three Michelin stars. For pure indulgence in the French capital, this is the place to go.
3. Hôtel Grand Powers
52 Rue François 1er, 75008 Paris
Where is it?
This place is located in the most desirable area of Paris – the Golden Triangle between the Champs Élysées and the Seine, home to fashion houses including Chanel, Saint Laurent and Dior and some of the city’s most prestigious restaurants.
Why’s it so good?
The watchword here is elegance – spacious rooms, recently refurbished and tastefully decorated, many of them with a balcony and a view of the Eiffel Tower – in a hotel that has been welcoming visitors for almost a century.
FOUR STAR
1. Hôtel Monge
55 Rue Monge, 75005 Paris
Where is it?
Just across from Notre Dame Cathedral on the Left Bank of the Seine, in Paris’s Latin Quarter – traditionally home to students, artists and intellectuals.
Why’s it so good?
A beautifully appointed boutique hotel with some nice touches. They offer free bottled water to guests, and every evening there are complimentary tea, coffee and snacks. There’s also the added bonus of a Roman amphitheatre, surrounded by a leafy garden, which is just round the corner – as is the nearest Métro stop.
2. Hôtel Fabric
31 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris
Where is it?
The 11th arrondissement in the east of the city, well known for its nightlife. Worth noting that the Bataclan music venue is a five-minute walk away.
Why’s it so good?
Industrial chic is the order of the day at Hotel Fabric, with lots of metal fittings, exposed pipes and bare brick in the communal areas, a reminder of its former life as a workshop. The bedrooms are much softer, with bright and colourful decor inspired by the allotments that were kept by the workers of the area. Residents appreciated the excellent Métro connections in the area – and the superb boulangeries.
3. Hôtel de JoBo
10 Rue d'Ormesson, 75004 Paris
Where is it?
Hotel de JoBo is in the trendy Marais area of the city, home to large Jewish, Chinese and LGBT communities as well as lots of art galleries, fashion houses and cool places to eat and drink. Notre Dame cathedral and the Picasso Museum are both a short distance away
Why’s it so good?
Named after Joséphine Bonaparte, first wife of Napoleon, the hotel has a perfect location and it is small but perfectly formed, with lavish interior design and top-class service.
THREE STAR
1. Hôtel Signature Saint Germain des Prés
5 Rue Chomel, 75007 Paris
Where is it?
Located in the cool Saint Germain des Prés neighbourhood, it’s close to most of the major attractions – Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Latin Quarter are all within walking distance – and the local area is famed for its classic Parisian cafes, including Café de Flore and Brasserie Lipp.
Why’s it so good?
Set in an 18 century townhouse, this is a beautiful boutique hotel of 26 stylish, individually designed rooms and service to die for.
2. Le Relais des Halles
26 Rue Pierre Lescot, 75001 Paris
Where is it?
The Les Halles area is named after the large food market that stood there until it was demolished in 1971 and replaced by a large shopping centre, the Forum des Halles. It’s a great location for visitors – close to the Pompidou Centre, Louvre, Notre Dame and the Right Bank of the Seine.
Why’s it so good?
This is a perfect hotel for travellers looking for an intimate experience in the centre of the city – it only has nine rooms, and is very quiet considering the busy location. Travellers report good service and excellent breakfasts.
3. Hôtel Helussi
22 Bis Rue de Bellefond, 75009 Paris
Where is it?
In the 9 arrondissement in the north of the city, not far from the large railway stations Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est. The lively Montmartre and Pigalle areas, and the huge department store Galaries Lafayette, are also nearby.
Why’s it so good?
This hotel was completely renovated in 2014, so expect modern, stylish comfort and a very warm welcome. It even has its own sauna.
TWO STAR
1. Hôtel Darcet
4 Rue Darcet, 75017 Paris
Where is it?
In the quiet but up-and-coming Batignolles area of north-west Paris, filled with bohemian shops, cafés and bars and close to the tourist meccas of Montmartre and Pigalle.
Why’s it so good?
Don’t expect any frills, but Hôtel Darcet is clean, modern, comfortable and staffed by a team that will, by all accounts, go out of its way to help.
2. Hôtel du College de France
7 Rue Thénard, 75005 Paris
Where is it?
This is a budget gem in the heart of the Latin Quarter, very central and close to Notre Dame, Sorbonne university and the Jardin du Luxembourg – Luxembourg Gardens.
Why’s it so good?
It’s all about the location with this one – combine that with clean, comfortable rooms and a warm welcome and travellers are very happy indeed.
3. Hôtel du Printemps
80 Boulevard de Picpus, 75012 Paris
Where is it?
This hotel is in the south-east of the city. You can’t walk to the main attractions but it is in a nice area, close to the Picpus Métro stop and convenient for the very large park Bois de Vincennes and the Parc Zoologique de Paris – one of two zoos in the city.
Why’s it so good?
For a two-star place, Hotel du Printemps is elegantly designed, with lots of natural light, pleasant furnishings and spotlessly clean according to the reviews. Travellers are also very impressed by the staff’s welcome and service, and there’s a bar and breakfast room – not guaranteed at this end of the market.
AND TWO TO AVOID
1. Modern's Hotel
11 rue d'Austerlitz, 75012 Paris
Where is it?
It’s fairly central, in the Quinze-Vingts area – between Place de la Bastille and Gare de Lyon.
Why’s it so bad?
From the reviews it sounds like a veritable house of horrors – dirty, dangerous and staffed by rude, disinterested staff. That’s very much in contrast to the description and photos posted by hotel management – reviews and user pics give the real story.
2. Hipotel Paris Bordeaux Menilmontant
3 rue Lemon, 75020 Paris
Where is it?
In the Belleville area of north-east Paris, in the 20th arrondissement – not far from the famous Père Lachaise cemetery.
Why’s it so bad?
Bed bugs and cockroaches. Multiple reviews report creepy-crawlies literally crawling over them when they woke up. Nightmarish.
