“I feel at home”
says “parisencore” from San Francisco – (Tripadvisor)
Location, interior architecture, service, ambiance. I feel at home when I arrive at the Jeu de Paume. I’ve stayed there 3 times.
Admittedly, I have a background in architecture, and design is important to me. The JDP is an amazing renovation of an historic building! The street entrance has one of those traditional blue-painted doorways and the main entrance is off the courtyard off the street, making it very private. The downstairs has a small front desk and is primarily a series of comforatable, distinctive sitting areas (where you can have a drink) and a breakfast area punctuated by a glass elevator which allows the user to view and appreciate the half-timber space. It feels like a series of mini living rooms that are shared by all the guests. There is an upstairs sitting area, too. So you don’t have to stay in your typically small Paris hotel room all the time.
Rooms are small and the reservation confirmations from the hotel all state this fact to level expectations. I’ve stayed in 3 different rooms and all had nicely redone baths with marble accents and robes. Bathtubs were standard American sized and deep. One bath had the toilet in a separate room. All rooms had fabric-covered walls with a little piece of artwork–nothing fancy. Rooms come with a small TV and minifridge that I use for snacks I get at the open air markets.
Walls are thin yet no thinner than at other Paris hotels. Occasionally this is a problem if the neighbors are noisy, but it all depends on your neighbors. I always bring earplugs for travel anyway. I love the ability to watch CNN International and regular BBC, neither of which I get at home.
A friend stayed in a room here and said the floor sloped. I never had that problem or at least I never noticed it.
On my first stay there I could not get consecutive nights for the length of my stay, which I extended after arrival due to loving it so much, and the staff graciously called all the hotels in the area to get me a room for the one night the JDP could not accommodate me. Gotta love that!
The staff has always been willing to make dinner reservations for me and recommend restaurants that locals go to. Through the staff I found an amazing seafood place that impressed my European friends multiple times. I usually have to depart early before breakfast service starts and the front desk person will make me a coffe to get me going.
Upon returning to the hotel after a day of Paris I am always greeted with a “bonjour mmle parisencore”.
Those foil packages of shampoo that another reviewer mentioned are Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien shampoo and bubble bath. Yum! You don’t get this quality of product except at top tier places like the Crillon. Visit the AG store; it’s not cheap but the scents are wonderfully French.
Part of what you pay for is location on the Ile St Louis. This is a quiet street that has a number of interesting shops and boutiques. You step out your door and it feels like Paris should feel. It’s easy walking distance to the Marais and a healthy walk to the Latin Quarter. I’ve had decent meals at the restaurants down the street.
I’m a big shopper and one of the best aspects of this location is the Pont Marie Metro Station. It’s 2 minutes from the hotel and a short direct ride to the department stores (mo: Chaussee d’Antin) without having to change at the dreaded Chatelet! If you are carrying a lot of shopping bags you will appreciate this. It’s also a direct route to the Louvre/Tuileries/Palais Royale (and A Priori The).
The only real issue I have with the JDP is that the breakfast is overpriced, minimal, and has Viennoiserie rather than a lovely flakey French croissant. This is a shame as the breakfast area in the hotel is quite lovely and comfortable, and would be given justice with a fresh OJ, and egg or yogurt, a croissant, along with their nice strong coffee. I usually get fresh OJ at the market around the cornet and keep it in my minifridge.
Now that the USD is so weak, all French hotels are expensive. I first stayed here when the dollar was stronger and the JDP was a bargain. Relative to what you get for the price, I do love the JDP and I can’t imagine a stay in Paris without it.
They also organised a special champagne breakfast with flowers for a birthday for us at short notice and booked a beautiful meal for us in the evening to celebrate at a great restaurant (la place de michel if my memory serves me well). It isnt cheap ($220 i think for a double and $159 for a single excluding breakfast) but if its a one off trip and you want a good time then this is perfect and very parisien; which makes a change from what the average hotel chains have to offer..