Europe Hotel Paris Eiffel

Flower boxes brighten up the hotel’s anonymous, white facade, cluing guests into the warm and inviting details of the simple, straightforward interior. The lobby’s deep red walls stand out against neutral, contemporary sofas and chairs and off-white tiled floors, while retro wood coffee tables are set with local and international newspapers. The lobby lounge, to the left of the dark wood paneled front desk, is done in red and burgundy stripes, a motif that repeats in the guest rooms, while the small bar is ideal for recharging or relaxing. The breakfast room in the hotel’s basement has bright yellow walls, giving guests -- who are predominantly couples, families, and solo travelers -- a cheerful way to start the day.

This hotel is well situated for a leisurely stroll to two major Parisian sights: the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River promenade. The walk to the Eiffel Tower takes 15 minutes, most of which consists of passing through manicured French gardens to then north, while the Seine River promenade is just a 10-minute walk northwest. An elevated portion of the metro passes over the busy road outside, which isn’t the most charming, but the posh shops, cafes, and restaurants of the 7th Arrondissement, home to the Musee d’Orsay, are just 10 minutes north of the hotel by foot. (The museum itself is much farther away.) The La Motte-Picquet-Grenelle metro station is just at the end of the block for destinations like Notre Dame, the Louvre, and Montparnasse. Orly Airport takes 20 to 25 minutes to reach by cab, or 50 minutes to an hour by public transportation for a fraction of the cost. Charles de Gaulle Airport can be reached in one hour via the RER station at Champs Mars-Tour Eiffel, a trip that takes around 45 minutes by cab.

The simple, bright guest units here won’t win any awards for space, as the largest room on the property tops out at just 18 square meters (less than 200 square feet -- a space that’s supposed to be shared by three people, no less). However, rooms are clean and comfortable, with red and burgundy striped carpets playing off of goldenrod accent walls to create a warm vibe enhanced by velvet throw pillows and bed runners. Oak veneer desks and headboards on duvet-covered beds look outdated and cheap, and rooms offer no additional seating beyond a desk chair. Wall art is the generically abstract kind found in any big box store around the world and unfortunately doesn’t add any character. Some guest rooms look onto the busy street and elevated metro line outside, and noise can be a minor issue, though there are quieter units at the back of the hotel that look onto a courtyard. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, safes, mini-fridges with minibars, wardrobes, electric kettles for coffee or tea, telephones, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Additionally, all units have spotless en suite bathrooms with maroon and white tiling, narrow stand-up showers, and DAMANA toiletries, though hairdryers and faucets are slightly outdated. There are also easily accessible rooms available on the ground floor for guests with mobility issues.

Like most three-pearl properties in Paris, the features here aren’t extensive, but the hotel does handle a few things quite well. A morning repast with hot and cold options is available and served in a cheerful breakfast room, though the meal is only included with certain bookings and can be expensive otherwise. The hotel also has a small, cozy bar adjacent to the lobby that’s a fine place to relax with a mid-day coffee or a drink at night. Business guests can use a small on-site meeting room with space for up to 15 people and typical audiovisual and Internet amenities. The front desk is staffed 24 hours and can provide concierge services that include ticket bookings and car rentals. The Paris also offers a reasonably priced airport shuttle with advanced reservations. Dry cleaning and luggage storage services are available as well. Wi-Fi is free and there are always free newspapers in the lobby as well as an Internet station with a single Mac computer for guest use.