Hotel Eiffel Seine

From its traditional limestone facade to its touches of 1920s Austrian art and design and its contemporary furnishings, the Hotel Eiffel Seine conveys both elegance and whimsy. The boutique property has a small honesty bar in its lobby with plush charcoal sofas and crisp black-and-white striped chairs, offering views of the street and a cute little interior courtyard. The bar has cherry red and white accents against chocolate brown walls, the same color as the hotel's hallways. Kids are welcome at this hotel, but given its relatively snug rooms and chic decor, it seems a better fit for adults. 

True to its name, this property is walking distance to the Eiffel Tower (an eight-minute stroll away) and offers an excellent location. Other sights, like the Trocadero Gardens and the Palais de Chaillot, with its collection of architecture, ethnography, and marine history, can also be reached in 15 minutes on foot. Though the elevated metro track just outside the Hotel Eiffel Seine lends the otherwise elegant hotel a bit of grit, the metro station and an RER station just a half a block away gives easy access around the city. Popular attractions like the Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Champs Elysees can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes via public transportation. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about a 30- to 40-minute drive, while Orly Airport can be reached in about 20 to 25 minutes by car.

The hotel offers a variety of room sizes here, including triples and quads, though in typical Parisian fashion, they're all quite small. Some overlook the busy street below with the Eiffel Tower in the distance, while others look onto a small, pretty courtyard -- some of the ground-floor rooms have frosted-glass doors overlooking the courtyard. Walls are painted shades of chocolate or beige in a sueded finish with white trim, though the color palette means that some rooms can be quite dark. The color scheme is punched up with throws, pillows, and black-out draperies in design patterns inspired by 1920s Austria. Wood floors are covered with jewel-toned rugs in contemporary or Art Nouveau patterns. All rooms have air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. The hotel will provide irons and ironing boards upon request. The fairly sized bathrooms have modern fixtures and white tiles accented by black. Shower/tub combinations have glass doors and individual toiletries are provided.

Though the Hotel Eiffel Seine is a small boutique property, it manages to wedge several on-site features into its small footprint. There is a small, but stylish, fitness room that's open 24-hours and is equipped with three cardio machines and some weights. The lobby's honesty bar provides a chic spot for a post-sightseeing drink. Another spot to linger is the small courtyard filled with topiaries and ivy with a few cafe tables and chairs. And the hotel has a basement room where breakfast is served for a fee; it can also be brought to the hotel's courtyard or guest rooms for no additional charge. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and guests can utilize a computer and a printer, plus free newspapers are available. Luggage storage is free. The front desk is staffed 24-hours and can arrange for airport transfers, rental cars, or laundry and dry cleaning for a fee.