We booked one night with the hope of extending our stay but they were fully booked. This is a popular small hotel in the Marais area with no elevator, but nice rooms and a very friendly staff.
The staff was very helpful and thankfully spoke English. When we were unable to extend our stay they recommended the nearby Hotel Lyon Mulhouse and called for us. We found their recommendation to be excellent. We stayed there a second time.
The staff is courteous, most speak English (not a problem for me), breakfast is inexpensive. Rooms are small and exceedingly clean.
Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Directions: 5, rue Castex This is in the Marais district. It is a 10-minute walk to Notre Dame cathedral. The Bastille Opera and Metro are 2 blocks away.
This was our first time to stay in a European hotel, so we were terribly excited. The location is in the middle of three metro stations and just blocks from the bastille- which is full of lively cafes and public spaces. The staff in 2002 was splendid and very helpful and the rooms themselves ( in 2002) were basic, but very clean. We passed through the hotel again in 2003 and looked at the new rooms which now have a distinct Spanish feel and have been upgraded commensurate with their new prices. My income has increased significantly since 2002 and I would consider staying at the Castex hotel again, but I still like to find bargains and would probably find a place just a bit cheaper. There was a cafe called cafe Poste just a few doors down from the hotel that was so very delicious and had the cutest, most attentive staff. The location and staff of the Castex were fantastic . Rates now start about $185 a night. When we stayed there in 2002 we paid about $55 a night for a double, of course the dollar was stronger than the euro and Castex was just on the verge of remodeling.
Good views of Paris street life. Basic breakfast was served in 2002.
Directions: A few blocks from the bastille. In between Rue Saint Antoine and Bld Henri IV. Very near Sully-Morland, Saint- Paul, and the bastille metro stations.