Port-Royal Hotel

Between Montparnasse & Mouffetard

It's extremely affordable, ultra-clean, a little grandma hotel as my friend calls it because of the old-fashioned décor. The hotel is really nice, ultra-clean, room was small but charming. Bed was fairly comfortable and very cozy and toasty, with lots of blankets to keep you warm in bed. I was very satisfied in that respect.

The hotel was great except that during the transit strike I had trouble getting reliable info on the strikes. The only exception was Simon, the night clerk, and he was the bomb. He helped me find someone to share a taxi with back to the airport Sunday morning (my share was 26€, not too bad, about $38). Also, I didn't get most of my messages. Mr. Connolly & my friend, Michael, the tour guide, said they called for me a BUNCH of times but always was told I was out. And maybe I was but I was never told upon return that I'd had phone calls (except for from Simon).

Other problems I experienced included being charged for an extra breakfast & for shower tokens! Tokens are 2€ or 2.50€ for 5 minutes' worth of showering. Of course, I'm a French hotelier's worst nightmare as I'd easily want at least 20 minutes' worth so that'd be an 10€ shower! I just showered at the in-room sink. In their defense, though, Mme Claudine deducted the charges (after speaking to 4 people about this before gaining satisfaction).

I think all in all, I'd stay here again but never again during a transit strike!

Port-Royal Hotel is ultra-budget (41 euros/night for a single). The most expensive room is 89 euros. Breakfast is 5.50 euros but I don't think it's worth the price as it only consists of tartine (sliced baguette), butter, jam, and coffee. Too many excellent bakeries in the vicinity to bother with breakfast here.

Unique Quality: They have A/C on the ground floor!!

Rue Mouffetard, one of the most famous and best of the street markets in Paris is just around the corner a few blocks. Walk north 2-3 blocks on avenue de Gobelins and you'll find yourself at the bottom of rue Mouffetard where Eglise St-Medard sits.

Man, there's EVERYTHING close by! If you wish to stay in a typical Parisian neighborhood with few tourists this would be the place!

It's in a great spot with:
several bakeries
grocery store across the street
at least 4 movie theaters within 5 mins walk including Cinéma Escurial across the street
several great little restaurants such as Le Languedoc & Au Petit Marguery
cafés
banks (ATMs) in the immediate vicinity
dry cleaners and laundromat in the immediate area
a McDonald's just across from the hotel if that's your thing.

The métro is across the street, several bus lines are across another street, the RER is a 10 minute walk west on bd Port-Royal and also a taxi stand nearby.

Sadaharu Aoki's patissierie is 3 blocks west at 56, bd Port-Royal (corner of rue Flatters). It's one of the newer pastry shops in Paris garnering a great deal of buzz over his green tea (macha) madeleines.

There's a nice little bakery across the street that has excellent almond croissants. I tried their sugar doughnuts but they were a bit dry.

There's a nice brasserie across the street, L'Interlude, where I dined on the most fabulous dinner of boeuf bourguignon, haricots vert and carafe of Beaujolais nouveau.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Budget Travel, Women's Travel, Singles

Port-Royal Hotel Photo: Port-Royal Hotel Facade at night

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