Holiday Inn Paris-St. Germain Des Pres

While most hotels in central Paris occupy historic buildings, the Holiday Inn Paris-St. Germain Des Pres was built as a hotel from the ground-up in the late '80s. Though its last full renovation was completed in 2010, the hotel makes a surprisingly fresh first appearance, with a seasonal flower display (white orchids and orange gourds, on our autumn visit) and lobby seating with deep pink carpeting, mid-century-style gray sofas, and peach chairs. A back-lit cubby wall showcases art books, fresh flowers, and a flat-screen TV typically set to sport events. In 2017, the hotel made updates to all seven of its floors, installing things like new purple-and-fuchsia-striped carpeting and dark tiled wall covering in the halls. Overall, it's a solid option for travelers who want a walkable Left Bank location, reasonable rates for reasonably sized rooms, and standard chain amenities.

The hotel's central location in Saint Germain is a big attraction for both business and leisure travelers. It’s in a relatively quiet area that’s just a short walk to the metro; Saint Placide metro station and the Rennes metro station are both nearby. A plethora of restaurants, shops, and cafes are equally close. The Luxembourg Gardens are also in walking distance, while the Montparnasse Tower and metro hub can be reached in 11 minutes. The drive to/from Orly Airport (or about 40 minutes by public transport) and the drive to/from Charles de Gaulle International Airport takes about 40 minutes (or about an hour by public transport).

Room decor at the Holiday Inn Paris is slightly dark, with similarly beige carpeting and walls and dark-wood headboards, desks, nightstands, and armoires. Fuchsia bed runners, bed skirts, desk chairs, and foot-of-bed benches (in the suites) brighten things up, and black-and-white photos of Paris landmarks decorate the walls. There are four basic room categories: Twin, Double, Superior, and Executive Deluxe. Double rooms and up have queen-size beds.Standard amenities in all rooms include free coffee and tea, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges. Upper room categories have minibars stocked with sodas, water, beer, and snacks. Electronic safes and free Wi-Fi are provided. Bathrooms have dark slate tile and either walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. Some bathrooms have peek-a-boo windows into the bedroom. Windows are double-glazed and can open up for fresh air. Note that top-floor rooms have slanting ceilings that some guests find claustrophobic. Executive rooms come with extra perks, like sofa beds, Bose speakers, free mineral water, and bathrobes and slippers.Wheelchair-accessible rooms equipped with wider entrances, alarms, rails, lower sinks, and Murphy beds are available. On each floor are twin rooms that interconnect with a double room, allowing for a party of four people. The hotel also has triple rooms connecting to doubles, which can accommodate up to five guests.

The amenities in this full-service hotel appeal to both business and leisure travelers, starting with the daily hot breakfast buffet served at the restaurant. Included in certain room rates, the buffet features scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, green beans, baked beans, roasted potatoes, mini crepes, and prepared and natural yogurts. Little jars of honey and chocolate-hazelnut spread are available to accompany toast, croissants, pastries, and cakes. Coffee and juices (apple, grapefruit, cranberry) are available.There is also a lobby bar, Le 92 Bar, that serves Starbucks coffee, as well as cheese and charcuterie plates, crispy pizzas, and traditional French dishes (duck and lentils, beef bourguignon). Le 92 Bar hosts a happy hour featuring beer and wine specials and a daily cocktail.Two meeting rooms can be combined to accommodate up to 50 people (1,184 square feet). Both spaces are equipped with Nespresso machines, dimmer lights, and audio-visual projection capabilities.Concierge, valet dry cleaning, and laundry services are available. There is an underground parking deck with 20 spots, which guests can reserve for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the nonsmoking property that has a safe deposit box for guest use at the front desk. The hotel offers airport shuttles for up to three guests for a flat fee.