Sevres Montparnasse - Paris, France     

Well, I have an experience that changes everything I read about this hotel on TripAdvisor.com. I could not believe what happened. We must have go the bad room on a bad day, with the bad manager on duty…….. We travelled half way around the world and stayed at Hotel Sevres Montparnasse based on previous reviews. Big mistake. We arrived after 15 hours flying and the first thing we wanted was a shower mid-afternoon. Our room had a blocked shower drain and blocked toilet. After letting the manager know, he said it would be fixed 'later'. Later meant the next day apparently. I asked if we could have another room seeing we could not shower or use toilet after a 15 hour trip. He said no, as the hotel was fully booked. I then quizzed him on how the hell we were supposed to shower and use basic amenities. He said it would be fixed the following day…… We needed a shower and used it anyway. The shower cubicle filled up in less than 2 minutes (see photos I have uploaded) and the shower was so small that each movement knocked the shower control tap. While my fiancée showered, I used a bucket to constantly bail water out of the cubicle and pour it down a drain. The shower was dirty and mouldy and the wood surround was rotted (see photos attached ) We went out for a look around and I decided this was unacceptable. I checked us into the Novotel at 3 times the price per night for the next 3 nights. When I returned I told the night manager (another guy was on reception at this stage) what we had done and why - he said fair enough. We stayed the first night in our original room. When we went to check out the same original manager said we had to pay 4 nights. I said I was only prepared to pay one and he had to get realistc (he was still saying shower and toilet would be fixed 'later'. When I asked when ‘later’ likely to be, he couldn’t answer me. I put MORE than the first nights accommodation cost in cash on the counter and said we were leaving. I want to make it clear that throughout this whole ordeal and what came next, I NEVER once raised my voice or was intimidating to him. I just wanted out of that place and to pay for what we had used. He then 'locked down' the reception area and we could not physically leave. There were a number of people checking out and the reception is right next to the breakfast area that was full of other guests. He became animated and loud. I remained calm and quiet and didn't 'bait' him despite the temptation. Other people wanted to leave so he had to unlock the electronic door. We followed them out and he ran out and snatched a bag off a woman who I presume he thought was with me, and he went back into the hotel. Me and my fiancée kept walking and about 30 seconds later he came outside and yelled and started running down the street after us with a large black woman that I guess worked in the kitchen. We stopped walking (we were walking, not ‘running away’and when he caught up, he was screaming at us and the woman was as well. I said I was paying one night and no more, and he had already been paid. He then grabbed my shoulder and pulled his arm back in a fist to punch me in the face. I put my right arm up to block the punch and my fiancée screamed something at him. He stopped. The woman continued screaming at me and I pulled my fiancee back and told her to go across the road where it was safer. They basically left then but the woman screamed about getting the police - I agreed she should. In hind sight, we should have gone to the police ourselves. I have never had an experience like that before in my life, and I have stayed at many, many hotels in my time. Don't go cheap in Paris.