Hotel de la Bretonnerie

The Hotel de la Bretonnerie is a characterful hotel with a rich, period style. This impression starts right away, with the traditionally patterned carpets in the lobby that area accented by dark wood beams and regal columns. There's also a cozy nook that's outfitted with antique furniture, shelves of books, and classic paintings. Green velvet curtains make for an intimate sitting area. The style continues throughout the hotel, where candelabra lamps light the way up red-carpeted stairs, and a cellar with exposed stone walls houses the breakfast room. It's a busy hotel, but the mood is relaxed, and guests tend to be tourists. The individual style and varying sizes of the rooms appeals to a range of travelers, from couples to families. 

The Hotel de la Bretonnerie is located in the Marais district of Paris, with plenty of shops all around, from designer names to supermarkets and department stores. It's a 10-minute walk to pretty Place de Vosges, and a 15-minute walk across the river to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The nearest metro station is City Hall, which is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. It links to attractions like the Louvre in 15 minutes and the Arc de Triomphe in 20, door to door. There's also a bus from City Hall to the Eiffel Tower, which takes about 40 minutes. The metro connects to Chatelet station for journeys to Gare du Nord and to Charles de Gaulle Airport, with transit times of 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Budget an hour by train to reach Orly Airport as well.

As with the rest of the hotel, rooms at the Hotel de la Bretonnerie are traditionally styled. Decor varies a great deal from one to the next, but expect details to include floral or striped wallpaper and bedspreads coupled with heavy oak furniture. It's an old-fashioned style and can be overbearing -- as when red walls and green bedding are paired together -- so it might not suit everyone. Some Charming Rooms have four-poster beds, some are in the attic with sloped ceilings, and others have two double beds. Junior Suites have two rooms -- one with a double and the other with a single day bed -- and a few of these have mezzanine levels. All rooms have minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and electric fans, but no air-conditioning. Street-side rooms pick up some road noise. Bathrooms also vary considerably in style, and many are wallpapered. All have shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and Damana organic products, with Junior Suites adding dual basins. 

This city-center hotel has a limited set of amenities, with a guest PC and printer in the lobby and a wide selection of books available to borrow. The underground breakfast room serves a buffet breakfast, including eggs made on request, and this is included in room rates when booking directly with the hotel. Breakfast can also be taken in the rooms. There's baggage storage and laundry service, plus Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.