Best Western Hotel de Neuville Review

Known as the city of love, Paris is a popular destination for romantics, families, artists, backpackers and food fanatics, putting it among the most visited cities in Europe.

The images that come to mind when we think of Paris are usually the Eiffel Tower, sipping espresso in cafés and artists painting beside the River Seine. With such allure, there are few who can resist the City of Lights. However, when the time comes to book that dream holiday, you inevitably make a discouraging realisation: Paris is expensive!

As an educated traveller, you want to know that you’re getting the best quality for the best price and that‘s exactly the appeal of Best Western’s Hotel de Neuville.

Hotel de Neuville is located in the 17th Arrondissement, slightly removed from the busiest tourist areas of Paris. Like most buildings in Paris, the Best Western has only a small sliver of coveted real estate but has managed to maximise the space well.

The lobby was smartly laid out, clean and bright. A few tables with drink menus were spread out over the split-level lobby and a small bar, offering basic drinks and snacks for purchase, made it a comfortable environment to wait while checking in.

There were several different receptionists during my stay and every one of them was friendly, understanding, spoke fluent English and never laughed when I tried to speak French (although I knew it must have been funny!)

If you have a room on one of the lower levels and decide to take the stairs instead of the elevator, a word of caution: do not make this attempt if you brought anything more than a small backpack. The stairway and halls are very narrow. So narrow, in fact, that you will sincerely regret the decadent crepe you had for dessert if you need to squeeze by someone travelling in the opposite direction.

The elevator is also a tight squeeze and a family of four with their luggage may have trouble fitting in. It doesn’t cause many problems, though. The building only has five floors with a total of 28 rooms, so there is little traffic in the hallways and elevators anyway. It may be a discouraging first impression, as it forces you to wonder what the rooms must be like if the stairway is so tight. Have no fear; the rooms are a comfortable size and the bathrooms come equipped with a full bath.

A television and room service menu come standard in every room, and free wi-fi is offered throughout the hotel. If you know you’ll need access to the Internet during your stay, consider asking for a login and password when you check-in, as it is required to connect.

The rooms have a distinct Paris-feel to them and perhaps the feature that contributes to them the most is the Juliette balcony that opens onto the street below. It was very pleasant unpacking while a Parisian breeze wafted through with the sunlight.

Of course the height of the tourist season is during the summer and, if the breeze isn’t enough to keep you cool, there is also air-conditioning.

If you’re looking for a view, don’t expect to see the Eiffel Tower outside your window. Most of the rooms face a small, concrete park and avenues lined with trees, although there is supposed to be a good view of Sacre-Couer from the top floor.

It was refreshing to catch a glimpse of what life is like for real Parisians and, on a weekday morning, to see plenty of people on their way to work or dropping off their children at the nearby school.

The location was surprisingly convenient. Pereire-Lavallios Metro station and Pereire RER station are a short walk up the road, as is Place du Marechal Juin, a roundabout lined with restaurants. These restaurants were very reasonably priced and offered a good variety in a convenient location. After dinner, consider walking to the Arc de Triomph at sunset. The hotel is only about one kilometre away and in 15 minutes you’ll be standing at Place Charles de Gaul. If you time it right, you’ll also be able to see the Eiffel Tower’s first light show of the evening. Not a bad location for a hotel allegedly removed from the tourist area!

Hotel de Neuville also offered a continental breakfast for an additional fee. It is served downstairs in, what could be called, the basement although it is positioned in a way that still lets in a little sunlight, preventing it from feeling below street level. They served a modest selection of hot items, pastries, fruits and spreads, set out on a white, linen tablecloth. There was one waitress who ensured that the buffet was well stocked and prepared the coffee to order in a very large, white cup. It was a wonderfully relaxing way to start the day.

If I am ever fortunate enough to return to Paris, I would certainly consider staying at the Best Western: Hotel de Neuville again. The attributes of this three-star hotel are impressive and the friendly staff is certainly an added bonus. To make sure you’re getting the best deal, book ahead of time online as the “walk-in” price is much more expensive.

3 Rue Verniquet, Paris, FR 75017