Hotel Bastille Baudelaire

The hotel is conveniently located - 2 min's walk from the Ledru Rollin metro station and 5 min from the Bastille station. The frontdesk staff, though polite, were generally indifferent to hotel guests. BEWARE travellers anticipating heavy luggage. There is no lift in this multi-storey building. We stayed on the 4th floor (that's the 5th level). So, unless you have a fetish for heaving your suitcases up narrow winding stairs and dragging them through cramped corridors, give this place a miss (or somehow make sure your room is on the lower levels). When we asked for hot water to make tea at night (our own, not provided by the hotel), the frontdesk guy told us we can only have it in the morning (which totally defeats the purpose). Who'd expect hot water to be such a rarity in the middle of Paris? Centrally located no less. The room was small and furbished in a minimalistic manner but clean and rather well-maintained. No air conditioning and the floor was tilted dangerously (no kidding) as if Obelix were standing at the far corner. The saving grace was the newly renovated bathroom (I could still smell the paint!).

Although I had to walk up five short flights (it was really part of the fun), I enjoyed my stay, and hope on my next visit to Paris to stay at the Bastille Baudelaire again. My room was spotlessly clean and charming. The breakfast was good; the price was right, and the dining area was cozy. I left with the feeling that French people know how to create comfortable living on a budget. One customer, I noted, complained about the noise. Hey, this is a densely populated area and quite alive. Really, continuous noise bothers me, but this outside noise didn't bother me at all! The Bastille area is wonderful, and full of surprises! Thank you for such a nice reception and a good place to stay!