Campanile Paris 19 - La Villette

The hotel’s unremarkable modern facade
houses a purely functional lobby that’s dominated by a wood-paneled front desk
and an electronic express check-in station. Le Lounge Bar and Le Restaurant
both open off of the lobby and are reasonably attractive (if generic) places
for a meal, coffee, or drink. The restaurant has a cafeteria vibe, with plastic
furniture, wood laminate tables, and buffet stations looking out onto the busy
street, while the bar is filled with large pleather chairs and has a massive
flat-screen TV showing local and international news. The Campanile brand is
known throughout France for no-frills, often-discounted venues and this outpost
is a decent choice for business travelers, couples, and families, though couples
looking for a distinctly romantic vibe will want to look elsewhere.

To be clear, this hotel’s La Villette
neighborhood isn’t the Beaux-Arts dream many visitors have when they
visit Paris. The area immediately around the property can be a little dodgy,
though there are many international, casual eateries in the area as well as a
supermarket next door. The neighborhood is known for Villette Park, a space
suited for families that’s home to the Cite des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the
largest science museum in Europe. The Crimee and Corentin Cariou Metro stations
are both less than a five-minute walk in opposite directions from the hotel for trips to
central Paris landmarks, including the Louvre (30 minutes), Luxembourg Gardens
(40 minutes), and the Eiffel Tower (50 minutes). Gare du Nord, one of the city’s
main train stations, is 20 minutes southwest by metro, while Orly and Charles de
Gaulle airports are both 20-30 minutes away by taxi.

It’s a cliche to remark on the less-than-generous
size of hotel rooms in cities like Paris, but these units take cozy to a new
level. Reminiscent of cruise ship cabins, guest rooms are outfitted in a modern
combination of neutral tans and dark grays while throw pillows and open
“closet” areas provide bursts of lime green. Padded headboards give the rooms a
soft touch that’s amplified by dark, striped carpets, and there are some other interesting
design elements, like metal bedside light fixtures that wrap in on themselves
and retro walnut desk chairs. There’s little in the way of hanging art besides one
wall-mounted light fixture that serves a semi-sculptural function, but all
rooms include flat-screen TVs, desks, telephones, individually controlled
air-conditioning, and electric kettles for coffee or tea. Small en-suite
bathrooms have white tiled walls and gray tiled floors, with narrow walk-in
showers or tub/shower combos, contemporary sinks, small wooden vanities,
pump-dispensed toiletries, and hairdryers. Triple Rooms are significantly larger
than other categories, but the design scheme is identical across all units.

Like
many mid-range hotels in Paris, this property’s features are limited, but there
is an on-site eatery and bar for guests in need of a meal or nightcap.
The restaurant serves a run-of-the-mill breakfast buffet with pastry options
and cold meats, though it’s a reasonable bargain by Parisian hotel standards.
It also opens for lunch and dinner, with a la carte options and buffets; room
service is available as well. The bar has beer, wine, and cocktail options and
serves coffee during the day. Self-parking is available, though there are fees
attached, and the hotel has one meeting room with audiovisual services and a capacity of 70 people. Wi-Fi is free, though it can be touch-and-go in certain
areas, and the 24-hour front desk provides concierge services. Laundry and dry
cleaning are also available.