Hotel Apollinaire

The Hotel Apollinaire is a classic mid-range Parisian hotel, from its quintessential town house exterior with wrought-iron balconies to its tiny elevator. The common areas, though limited, feel more thoughtfully put together than ones at many other mid-level properties. The lobby welcomes guests with a warm classic look: dark wood wainscoting, a rich red rug, and nooks with plush, microsuede couches surrounding coffee tables. The mezzanine-style breakfast room is a charming alternative to the windowless, basement breakfast areas so common in Paris. This one pairs hardwood floors with a glass window wall that looks out into a pretty garden greenhouse. A broad range of travelers come to stay at the Apollinaire, attracted by the convenient location, reasonable price, and variety of room sizes that can accommodate solo travelers and small families alike.

Hotel Apollinaire is situated in the 14th Arrondissement's bustling Montparnasse neighborhood. It's an easy walk to bars, shops, restaurants, and theaters, many of which are situated on Rue de La Gaité and Rue du Montparnasse, the crossroads of which are at the end of the block, just a one-minute walk from the hotel. Guests can also walk to the Montparnasse Tower (three-minute walk), Montparnasse Cemetery (five-minute walk), Luxembourg Gardens (10-minute walk), and the Catacombs (15-minute walk). To reach sights farther out, the nearest metro station, Edgar Quinet (line 6) is just a two-minute walk and Gare Montparnasse, a major transport hub with local and regional service, is a six-minute walk. While Paris' major tourist attractions aren't in the immediate neighborhood, sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre are reachable in about 25 minutes via public transit. Charles de Gaulle Airport can be reached in about an hour via public transport and Orly Airport in about 35 minutes. 

Rooms are tiny (typical for Paris) and straightforward, but they're tastefully put together, with a neutral color palette and nice hardwood floors. Updated rooms get extra style points for suede gray bedspreads, contemporary headboards, and more modern furniture. However, some non-renovated rooms have brown comforters and slightly dated light-brown wood headboard strips. Bathrooms vary slightly, but tend to be small with neutral tiling and narrow wet-room style showers, though upgraded rooms may have combination showers and tubs.

Categories include Single, Double/Twin, and Triple Rooms. Rooms are air-conditioned and have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, safes, free Wi-Fi, and lightly stocked minibars, but no coffee/tea service. Bathrooms include magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and a combination of individual toiletries and in-shower dispensers.

Like the majority of mid-range Parisian hotels, Apollinaire's extra features are limited to a lobby and a breakfast room. The breakfast room is stylish, though, particularly for this price point, with wood floors and a window-wall showing off a greenhouse-style garden. A nice breakfast is offered daily, though it's not necessarily included in the room rate, and breakfast room service is available.

The front desk is staffed 24 hours and can provide luggage storage, laundry service, and some concierge services, like reserving taxis or airport shuttles. For guests traveling with children, the hotel offers cribs and high chairs. Wi-Fi is free throughout.