Quote: I love the neighbourhood and the easy access to the Metro Chateau Landon station (Line 7) and Gare de L'est and Gare du Nord! You can't imagine how much of a money and time-saver just being near a metro can be.

Plus-points:

1. Stephanie, the Front Office Staff and the Manager at the Breakfast Room were absolute darlings. Friendly and ever-ready to serve despite the fact that the hotel is very popular and busy between serving individual walk-in customers and travel groups, they were kept on their toes but able to keep their cool and smiles! They were even kind enough to allow for a late check-out cos my flight was in the evening. Kudos!

2. The neighbourhood (at the doorsteps of the hotel on Rue Fauborg Saint-Martin) had a variety of eateries ranging from Arabic to Chinese to French and a number of fromageries (cheese shops), boulangeries/patisseries (bakeries), primeurs and supermarkets. Awesome!

3. The Chateau Landon Metro station leads directly to the city centre's key sights including Chausee d'Antin La Fayette (5 stops to shopping at Galleries Lafayette!), Opera Garnier (6th stop) where you can change to the Red RER Line A to Etoile (for Arche de Triomphe & more shopping at Champs Elysees) or Grande Arche-La Defense to enjoy the contemporary sculptures at the Esplanade or to over-dose on masterpieces, you can get off at Palais Royal Musee du Louvre Metro station! Forget about taking a cab in Paris when you have the Metro Pink (my favourite colour) Line 7!

I don't really consider the following downsides cos I could live with them but some might though:
1. I am not a light sleeper and as I was on the 5th floor, I don't get so much of the noise of the trains/metro as those on the lower floors experience. However you can feel the hotel shake each time the TGV arrives! It's like a minor earthquake I kid you not but everything in the hotel room stays in place and doesn't rock so that's not too bad. =P

2. Forget about paying extra for the hotel's breakfast if you are not into continental brekkie (i.e. croissant, juice, coffee and tea). I don't mind it cos nothing beats a French-made croissant! The frozen ham thaws as you peel the slices off and the cheese is hard and tasteless but you can squeeze your own orange juice and the espresso isn't half bad. You can pay extra for a "hot breakfast" but it's just a couple of mini-weiners served in a bowl of scrambled eggs and a couple of packets of ketchup. =P

3. The rooms are a bit tired and run-down with mould on the corners of the ceiling in the bathroom but at least there is a bath-tub and the water flow is good. The room is bright and spacious by Parisien standards though the carpet looks stained and the paint is peeling from the wall but it's not disgusting and at least the the sheets are clean and there are no bed-bugs. My room faces Rue Faub. St-Martin and is quite interesting as you peer into the homes of people living in the area. =P

OVERALL: I would certainly stay here again just based on it's location alone cos I can overlook everything else since I hardly spend time in the hotel anyways and just there to sleep/rest/pack my bag. With the time and money saved, I can enjoy so much more of Paris! =)))

Room Tip: Ask for a room on the higher floor if available and preferably facing the street side rather than the train tracks.