Artsy, modern boutique hotel with playful details
In a quiet residential area, 10-minute walk to the metro
Clean, modern-art inspired rooms with AC, HDTVs, and safes
Trendy, modern bathrooms with CO Bigelow individual toiletries
Daily continental breakfast served in cool breakfast room (extra fee)
Airport shuttle service (extra fee)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Dog and cat friendly (extra fee)
Removed from the tourist area
Entry-level rooms are tiny (perhaps even for Paris)
Limited in-room amenities (no coffee service or mini-fridges)
Few property features (no restaurant, bar, or gym)
Breakfast costs an extra fee
Hotel Gaston is an artsy, modern design-conscious boutique hotel situated in a quiet residential area a 10-minute walk from the metro. For a mid-range option, this hotel is clean, bright, and well-staffed, though it's far from tourist attractions and extra amenities are limited. The lobby doubles as a breakfast room; it's stylish, but the continental breakfast costs an extra fee. Apart from that, there's little else on-site -- the hotel has no full-service restaurant, bar, or wellness facilities. The property's 43 rooms, which are mostly Singles and Doubles, are trendy, clean, and air-conditioned, but they can be downright tiny, and amenities are limited to HDTVs, safes, toiletries, and free Wi-Fi. For a stylish mid-range option closer to sights, guest might consider Hotel des 3 Poussins, situated in the 9th Arrondissement.
Scene
Chic and artsy boutique spot with ample style but few amenities
Situated in a six-story building, the boutique Hotel Gaston has a prim exterior with a classical white facade painted dark gray at street level. Inside, however, decor is funky and modern, with hallways and stairwells featuring bright, playful murals and designs painted by local artists. The whole place, which was renovated in late 2014, has a trendy but casual design-conscious vibe with bright accents (like a lime-green ceiling and shelving in reception), natural wood furniture, and exposed brick accents. The breakfast area doubles as a lobby, with cool plywood walls, pillowed bench seating, and long wood tables accented with bud vases. For a mid-range property in particular, cleanliness levels and staff helpfulness are exceptional. With mostly single and double rooms, guests here tend to be solo travelers or couples who don't mind staying a bit out-of-the-way.
Location
In quiet residential area, 10-minute walk to metro
Hotel Gaston is situated on a quiet tree-lined residential street in the 17th Arrondissement, removed from the tourist hustle-and-bustle that Paris is known for. While there are a handful of restaurants in easy walking distance, the neighborhood is pretty low-key, and guests will likely travel out to other destinations. Strong walkers can reach some sights on foot -- the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées are about a 25-minute walk. For other attractions, the nearest metro stations are about a 10-minute walk, including Pereire station, which includes line 3 of the metro and RER C service. Major attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, and the Louvre, are reachable in a half hour or less via public transit. The hotel offers airport shuttle service for an extra fee.- 20 minutes to Galeries Lafayette via public transit
Rooms
Artsy, modern rooms -- but entry-level rooms are tiny and amenities are limited
Rooms in Paris are often quite small, but even compared with the norm, the Hotel Gaston's feel little. Entry-level Doubles sometimes measure less than 130 square feet. Single rooms are available, as is one Family Room, which can accommodate up to three guests. On the plus side, decor is lively and modern. The look varies by category: In one entry-level room, funky black-and-white striped carpeting meets two-tone walls in white and charcoal gray. Behind the bed, a modern-art canvas is featured on a large mirror, which also helps the room feel a bit larger. Bathrooms are equally trendy and modern with wood-panel-style floors and walls, plus square sinks, but they can be snug. Glass shower stalls maximize the small space. Higher-category rooms add extra space, especially in the bathrooms -- some even have bathtubs.Rooms are air-conditioned and well-insulated from exterior noise, and housekeeping is exceptional. But, amenities are limited to wall-mounted HDTVs, electronic safes, and free Wi-Fi. There is no tea or coffee service or mini-fridges. Bathrooms include hairdryers, courtesy kits, and nice Co. Bigelow individual toiletries.
Features
Trendy breakfast room and great staff, but few other amenities
This hotel has the property features expected for a small, Parisian property -- that is, not many. A daily continental breakfast (the usual suspects: cereal, bread, fruit, and cold cuts) is served in a casual but trendy breakfast room which doubles as a lobby, though the breakfast may cost an extra fee. There's no full-service restaurant, bar, or wellness facilities.Guests go out of their way to mention the helpful and friendly staff. The front desk is open 24 hours, and the hotel offers laundry and dry cleaning service, ironing service, luggage storage, and airport shuttle service (for extra fees). Pets (dogs or cats) are welcome in specific rooms for extra fees. Wi-Fi is free throughout.