Hotel le Tourville

Built in 1930, the hotel was last renovated in 2012, and like the other Inwood Hotels around town, Hotel le Tourville emphasizes an aspect of French culture -- in this case the literary arts. Some guests may find the interpretation a little off -- the desk nestled into a bookshelf with a flower vase isn't exactly an authentic recreation of a writer's study, and the Proust quotes scrawled on the walls feel more college classroom than boutique chic. Still, the overall atmosphere is one of reflective calm, with a dash of trendy style. The lobby's warm decor is done in gray and orange, with a few midcentury modern chairs that mingle well with the wood veneer and tripod floor lamps. The hotel draws travelers from across the spectrum -- tourists (couples, families, and solo voyagers), and those visiting the city on business.

The hotel is located on a quiet street in the residential 7th Arrondissement, and is a three-minute walk to the Ecole Militaire Metro station and a 15-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower through the pretty Champ de Mars. The hotel's location should appeal to history-lovers, as there are many excellent museums and historic sights within a 10-minute walk, including the Army Museum, Charles de Gaulle Museum, Tomb of Napoleon, and Musee des Plans-Reliefs, which has rare models of military towns. The Musee Rodin is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Not to be missed in this city of gastronomy is the Rue Cler street market, which is a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport is a 31-minute drive, while Orly Airport is a 26-minute drive from the hotel.

The Hotel de Tourville's 30 rooms are on the small side, but they manage to fit in armchairs and small work desks. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with iPod docks, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with international channels, and kettles with coffee and tea; mini-fridges are available on request. Touches of red (from the desk chairs and duvets and the decorative apples under glass) accent the neutral, gray decor. Quotes by French literary icons grace the walls in italicized script. The small bathrooms have marble vanities with shower/tub combos. All but the Classic Rooms have free smartphones for guests' use, and Family and Junior Suites add jetted tubs and pod-style espresso machines. Rooms face either the wide Avenue de Tourville, or a small courtyard at the back of the building. 

Like many small, boutique properties, the hotel lacks such heavy-duty facilities as a fitness center or full restaurant. The small reception area opens into a lobby lounge with an honesty bar where guests can help themselves to alcoholic beverages, coffee, and free snacks. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and there's an internet corner with a computer and a printer for guests' use. Although it's not included in standard rates, a breakfast buffet of smoked salmon, cheeses, cold cuts, and Viennese pastries is served in a basement dining room under a vaulted ceiling.