Hotel Michelet Odeon

WE STAYED 3 NIGHTS OVER THE EASTER WEEKEND. I WAS DISAPPOINTED FROM THE LOOK THEIR WEBSITE HAD GIVEN OF THE HOTEL. IT SEEMED NOT SO BRIGHT AND FRESH, BUT ACTUALLY RATHER ORDINARY. CERTAINLY OUR ROOM WAS THE USUAL TINY PARIS ROOM. ALTHOUGH THE BATHROOM FIXTURES WERE NEW AND UPGRADED AND THEY HAD A HAIRDRYER. ALSO THE ROOM TV HAD THE CNN INTERNATIONAL CHANNEL, WHICH WAS APPRECIATED.
THE WINDOW OF OUR ROOM WAS DIRECTLY OVER A PARKING AREA FOR MOTORCYCLES, AND CONSEQUENTLY WE HAD TO ENDURE A LOT OF LAUGHING AND ENGINE NOISE VERY LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THEY WERE RETRIEVED.
WE DID NOT EAT BREAKFAST THERE AS THE FOOD LISTED FOR THE 12 Euros WAS LIMITED.

Unique Quality: VERY WELL LOCATED.

I cannot recommend this hotel based on my experience. It seemed like a 'too good to be true' choice. It was.

The negative feeling began upon arrival as we arrived and stepped into the lobby which was really not a lobby at all. It was a reception desk with guests' luggage thrown to one side of where the receptionist sits. There were just two chairs and a tiny table in front of the reception desk. The 'breakfast room' was just a small area off to the right of the reception. Clearly one of the reasons we hated this place was due to the unfriendly 'welcome' we received. Apparently this particular receptionist is equal minded as she treated all guests in the same manner as though the guests were just numbers to her and not paying patrons. I must say that the night receptionist was more welcoming, but we had nothing much to do with him except retrieving the room key.

This was the beginning of things going downhill. The room we were assigned (#12) was on the second floor (French) and had a view of the Theatre de l' Odeon. However, as it was in full view of the public, opening the curtains were with some drawback as doing so would put you on display to the many passersby outside.

The room itself was renovated with zebra patterned carpeting, flat screen TV, fresh paint, and a new bathroom. However, the floor is slanted by the window making it impossible to place any heavy object flat on the small desk, the room is sparsely furnished, and there were just three wall lamps all equipped with dim fluorescent bulbs. The bathroom was modernized and renovated yet there were spots that were unfinished or broken such as the faucet handle and the carpet separator between the tile and carpet leading to the bathroom door. The heater was on but the room felt cold when one stood near the windows. The hallways were being renovated with new grass matting and fresh paint.

Unique Quality: For convenience the hotel is in St. Germain des Pres, a short walk over to the Seine, nearby some excellent restaurants like La Bastide Odeon, and various shops.

Going back to the rate information, it's extremely challenging to find a Parisian hotel that's clean, charming, comfortable, well-located, and has an obliging staff for a little over 100 euro.

However, when you pay cheap you get cheap in some ways. The location is excellent and the rate is excellent for St. Germain des Pres. But you trade off with the unispiring hotel lobby and rooms and unwelcoming reception staff. I did read about how friendly the staff were but it could be that the former guests were mixing up this hotel with the Odeon Hotel where we ended up moving to.

Directions: In front of the Theatre de l' Odeon