When I travel outside the US, I look for places that are inexpensive, conveniently located, and that have character. This place was all of those things: cheap nightly rates, located down the street from the Moulin Rouge and very close to the Place de Clichy Metro stop, and it had character in the sense that I'm 85% certain it is a rehabbed brothel. My friend and I stayed here for 4 nights back in March, and we had a fantastic time. However, this place is not for everyone.
Things you should be aware of:
-No lift. This didn't really affect me much, even though I stayed on the top floor, because I had a teensy suitcase. If I had traveled with more ample luggage, I would have been sadly put-out.
-Wi-fi is free, but spotty. I had enormous difficulty getting my ipad to connect. However, they do have a computer on the first floor that is free to use.
-Only some of the staff speak English. The woman that checked me in during the daytime spoke only French, but we made it work. The gentleman that worked the front desk in the evening could speak English very well. I will say, they were incredibly amiable and eager to give assistance.
-Smoking is allowed in the rooms. Consequently, they smell like stale cigarettes. As a sometimes-smoker, it didn't bother me. What did bother me a little was that my blanket had cigarette holes in it. C'est la vie. I just slept on the comforter.
-The bathrooms are SUPER TINY. And by SUPER TINY, I mean, there was only enough room for me to stand sideways between the sink and the door when it was closed. The gentleman I was traveling with who was, needless to say, larger than me, had a much more difficult time with this than I did.
-I don't believe Hippodrome is air conditioned. This would only be a problème in the summer time when it is balls-hot outside. And Paris does get mighty hot.
In summary, the lodgings were adequate for my needs. Frankly, my expectations were incredibly low based on what I paid, but I found my stay to be uniquely pleasant and I was satisfied in most respects. Also, the staff was totally darling. I actually would stay here again because baby girl ain't made of money, and I had a blast. read more