Victoria Palace

A doorman at the Victoria ushers guests into the ornate marble lobby with trompe l'oeil-painted ceilings and fussy, fringed sofas. It's not hard to guess what kind of hotel one is dealing with, and these historically inclined properties are crammed throughout all of the old capitals of Europe. Still, the look is executed in a pleasing enough way, with plenty of pops of color and eye-catching pieces set throughout the hotel's intimate interiors. Through one pillared doorway is the reception desk, while another leads to a small lounge area with an assortment of traditional chairs and sofas in a palette of reds and blues. Dramatically painted crown moldings, streaked marble columns, and crystal chandeliers abound. There isn't much in the way of a social vibe here, which is precisely what many guests want. The refined, quiet, and traditional atmosphere draws plenty of couples and families.

The Victoria Palace is situated in a classic seven-story building on a short side street just south of the official boundary of the Saint Germain neighborhood, in Paris' 6th Arrondissement. The hotel is around the corner from Rue de Rennes, a chic street filled with high-end boutiques, and a four-minute walk from Boulevard du Montparnasse, where historic cafes frequented by Hemingway and Picasso still thrive. The hotel is within walking distance of Luxembourg Gardens (12 minutes), the Montparnasse Tower (nine minutes), and a Bon Marche department store (eight minutes), and it will take five minutes on foot to reach the Saint-Placide or Notre-Dame-des-Champs Metro stations. It's a 15-minute walk to Place Saint-Germain-des-Pres, and most area attractions can be reached in around 20 minutes by public transportation, including Notre Dame, the Musee d'Orsay, and the Louvre. The Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe take closer to half an hour to reach by public transport. Expect a one-hour drive to Charles De Gaulle Airport and 30 minutes to Orly Airport, though traffic can change these travel times. Budget an hour to reach either airport by train.

The 62 air-conditioned rooms range from Standard Rooms to Two-Bedroom Suites, and a few rooms on upper floors offer Eiffel Tower views. All are generously sized (by Parisian standards), well-soundproofed, and traditionally decorated. Expect to see lots of French Provincial wallpaper, floral textiles, and dark carpets. There is an abundance of pink and red, as well as white antique parlor-style furniture, further contributing to the frilly effect. Classical etchings and lithographs hang on the walls, giving guests even more to look at. It's an aesthetic that certainly has its enthusiasts -- indeed many guests here do love it -- but we found it to appear dated at times, including details like the white-and-pink upholstered headboards that look lifted out of any of the generically "historic" budget and mid-range hotels that are scattered throughout Paris. Rooms come with safes, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and chocolates on the pillow with nightly turndown service. Bathrooms bedecked in dramatic ochre, beige, and/or green marble are large and include shower/tub combos and robes and slippers. The color combinations and dark look of the bathrooms does make them look older, and while they are clean, details including pink granite counter tops are dated rather than historical.

Features are few and far between at this hotel, which flies in the face of its claims to being a luxury property. The hotel doesn't have a proper restaurant and there is no spa or fitness room either. A decent breakfast buffet is served in the mornings and included hot and cold options plus standard continental fare, though it comes at an extra fee. The breakfast room is an ornate, elegant space that makes for a fine way to start the day. Room service is available for breakfast and for light meals until midnight. The hotel also has a small bar. There is no dedicated concierge, though the 24-hour front desk staff are equipped to make restaurant reservations, book tickets, and provide directions. There is a free lobby computer for guest use and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The Victoria Palace offers parking for a daily fee and a gift bag of treats for young guests.