Grand Hôtel Doré

The Grand Hotel Dore is a budget-friendly, mid-range hotel that’s decorated in comfy, traditional furnishings with clean facilities and ethnic paintings hung throughout. The no-frills hotel attracts mostly budget-minded couples. Built in 1889, the six-story hotel has a small entrance directly on Avenue Daumesnil with two “Hotel” signs fixed over the lobby windows. In the small stone tiled lobby there is a wooden front desk. Old-fashioned, narrow hallways are clean with red carpeting. There’s a charming antique spiral staircase -- common in Paris boutiques -- with iron handrails and an old-fashioned elevator that can fit a maximum of two people.The lobby lounge is casual and bright, with red vinyl chairs, a mounted flat-screen TV, stone tiled floors, and windows facing the street. Overall, the atmosphere is no-frills but clean and welcoming.

The hotel is in the Daumesnil area on the same block as restaurants, shops, and markets, and in two minutes walking distance to the Daumesnil Metro station, with access to the 6 and 8 lines. It’s a slightly removed location, but most of the Paris sights -- Champs-Elysees, the Louvre Museum, and the Eiffel Tower -- are reachable via the Metro in 30 minutes or less. The Notre Dame Cathedral is 35 minutes away on the RER C. It’s a 25-minute walk to the Air France bus terminal at Gare de Lyon. Versailles is a 42-minute car trip. The Paris Orly Airport is a 24-minute drive away.

Single, Double, and Superior Double rooms are decorated in red patterned carpeting, light wood furniture, tribal artwork, and burgundy furnishings. All rooms include mini-fridges, safes, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, small wardrobe closets, electric kettles, and windows that face the street or other buildings. Rooms are small, clean and decorated in traditional and somewhat outdated furnishings. Hairdryers, slippers, and showers or shower/tub combos are all standard in compact bathrooms. Free water bottles in the minibars on the first night are a nice touch. Double and Superior Double rooms have writing desks. Superior Double rooms also have two windows.

Breakfast supplies are stocked on a small counter in the lobby, across from the dining room that has walls painted with rust-colored faux finishing, ethnic artwork, street-facing windows, and light wood chairs and tables. French fare -- croissants, au chocolat sweets, and more -- is offered at breakfast time. A mounted flat-screen TV, newspapers, and magazines are available in the small breakfast room. Snacks and drinks are also available in the lobby bar.The front desk also offers luggage storage and safety deposit boxes. Wi-Fi throughout is free.