Best Western Jardin De Cluny

Housed in an 1890 building, this hotel
makes a chic, boutique-like first impression. The lobby has an elegant vibe,
with warm oak floors, heavy walnut furniture, and tan retro chairs all abutting
windows that look out onto the charming street. Mirrored ceilings are a risky
design choice, but they actually add a glittery, expansive element to the space,
and there are plenty of intimate nooks to relax in and wait for
fellow guests. An additional, extremely cozy lounge is located downstairs, replete
with overstuffed gray couches and chairs as well as a TV and honor bar. The
hotel is ideal for couples, though families and business travelers pass through
here as well.

The Latin Quarter is one of Paris’
legendary neighborhoods, retaining most of its charm despite being a tourist
magnet. The hotel is on a quiet side street away from most of the hordes; the neighborhood is packed with cafes, bars, and restaurants, and be
prepared for a healthy mark up at any of those venues. Notre Dame Cathedral is
a five-minute walk northeast from the hotel as is the scenic Seine River, while
the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens are 10 minutes southeast, and the legendary
Sorbonne is just around the corner, a three-minute walk. The Pompidou Center, a
striking museum that holds the city’s contemporary art collections, is a 15- to
20-minute walk across the river, as is the fringe of the Marais, the city’s
trendy arts district. Maubert-Mutualite Metro station is around the corner from
the hotel for easy access to almost any destination throughout the city. Orly
Airport to the south takes about 25 minutes to reach by taxi, while Charles de
Gaulle Airport is a 40 minute ride northeast depending on traffic.

There are several room categories for
guests to choose from here, with decor varying significantly. Deluxe Rooms are
by far the nicest, with retro-futuristic elements juxtaposed against
eye-catching details like a pond’s-edge mural of stones and wild grass above comfortable
king-sized beds that seem to float. Light wood laminate dominates these rooms
and the gray-and-tan color scheme feels modern and fresh, with furnishings
relying upon Scandinavian minimalism. Superior Rooms are muddled, with
red faux-alligator accents walls that could be sexy if not for furniture straight
from the late ’80s, stuffy floral drapes, and wall-to-wall carpets. Classic Rooms are
stylish and simple with grays throughout, from the wood laminate floors to bed
skirts and walls. With no wall art to speak of, the only pops of color come
from velvet desk chairs and ottomans in a warm tan color.All rooms include free bottled water,
desks, electric kettles with coffee or tea, mini-fridges with minibars,
electric safes, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and telephones, while Deluxe
Rooms also have iPod docks. En-suite bathrooms also vary in quality. Classic
Rooms have stand-up showers and toiletries, with large white marble vanities
and tiled floors. Superior Room bathrooms look a bit outdated, with dark marble
vanities and older fixtures, while Deluxe Room bathrooms are thoroughly contemporary
with tub/shower combos, though these bathrooms are only separated from the rest
of the room by curtains. All guest units are on the small side, though Deluxe
Rooms and Junior Suites have a bit more space.

This
hotel is Ecolabel certified by the EU for meeting a variety of green milestones
relating to water, energy, and sustainability. The Best Western offers a
free breakfast buffet to guests if rooms are booked directly through its
website. The buffet includes hot and cold options, and the breakfast room is an
atmospheric way to start the day amidst vaulted stone walls and ceilings. There’s
no on-site bar or restaurant, though, but the Latin Quarter is bursting with
options on both fronts. Babysitting services are available for guests with
small children and laundry and dry cleaning services can also be arranged. The
24-hour front desk provides concierge services and there are free newspapers
available in the lobby, which also has an honor bar and computer station. Wi-Fi
is free throughout the property.