Le Relais du Marais

The Le Relais du Marais is housed in a quintessentially Parisian block with a traditional turn-of-the-century facade complete with wrought iron railings and neoclassical touches. Inside, however, the vibe is instantly far from old-fashioned, sporting a fun and funky front desk set in a lobby full of colorful, contemporary pop-style decor and furnishings. While the hotel's interiors are playful and modern, the feel is still that of a budget property, especially in comparatively drab hallways and occasional signs of poor maintenance. Clientele veer largely towards younger tourists attracted to the unstuffy ambience and willing to overlook slightly shabby presentation for a good deal. 

The hotel is located on a fairly busy road that runs through the historic and increasingly trendy Marais district. Set in the northern side of the 3rd arrondissement, the location gives easy access to many of Paris's main tourist attractions via the Temple Metro station right next door. The République Metro stop is just a few minutes' walk away, with train connections throughout the capital -- the Louvre is about 20 to 25 minutes away by metro. As well as some of the city's most picturesque historical buildings, the area has plenty in the way of bars and restaurants as well as a thriving gay community. 

Interiors of the hotel's 36 rooms mirror the funky vibe of the lobby, though each room is individually decorated with touches ranging from garish pink flocked wallpaper to playful patterns and fun lighting. Typical for Paris, rooms are on the small side, and some bathrooms are tiny, while signs of wear and tear are not uncommon and thin walls can make noise an issue. The glass bathroom doors may leave something to be desired, privacy-wise; some bathrooms also have stall showers that tend to flood the room, while others have shower/tub combos. All rooms are air-conditioned however -- which is far from guaranteed at this level of hotel -- and amenities include free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. 

The hotel's dining room is bright, colorful, and a little over the top: black-and-white checkerboard floors, chairs in various shades of translucent plastic, and neon room dividers. But the room opens to a more subdued, small terrace courtyard with brown wicker seating where breakfast can be enjoyed in warmer weather (though breakfast is not generally included in the rate). There's not much else on offer besides the free Wi-Fi and the fact that, with a bit of furniture shuffling, the breakfast room can be transformed into a meeting room.