Villa Alessandra - Paris, France 

"Keep coming back here"
Posted: Mon, Nov 23 2009
We've been here 5 times now over the last three years and are going back again. It's a lovely hotel in a brilliantly quiet area - surprising to read some of these reviews, the "smelly" market is a charming French local street market, great for getting things for the day bread, cheese, wine and fish! The staff are very friendly and if you make the effort to communicate will do anything for you - flowers/champagne etc. - the rooms admittedly do not have American style interstellar air conditioning but it is perfectly adequate, even in Summer heatwaves. Only minor complaint has been that I've never yet managed to get room service here! - you're always directed to a high class takeaway/delivery brochure, but - you're in Paris! - what do you want room service for anyway! We can't wait to go back.

HS
Posted: Wed, May 20 2009
Very nice hotel, quiet and charming, excellent location. Most convenient access from airport is by airport-bus to Charles de Gaulle-Étoile + 15 minutes walk to the hotel. Our triple-room was small, but OK. Some more international TV-channels would have been nice.

A two-star hotel at best
Posted: Sat, Jun 28 2008
I would rate it average for two stars. Small room, tiny closet, dysfunctional shower, threadbare towels, and (at least for the past five days) no air-conditioning: our room has been not been below 85 degrees! Good location, quiet, but don't pay a four-star price for this two-star hotel. As others have noted, most taxi drivers don't know where it is, and some of those that do don't know that the market does not block access. If you arrive during market hours, tell the taxi driver to go around the block.

Declined standards
Posted: Sun, Jun 15 2008
We stayed here a total of five times because we enjoyed the ambiance and the location. The staff were always friendly. However, on a special visit for my 30th, where we had booked a suite it all went a bit wrong. When we arrived we were shown to a twin room which reeked of smoke. I asked to go back to reception and pointed out that we had booked a suite - but it seems that this had been "given to someone else" - so for the first night a double was rustled up for us. Room was OK, but not what I had booked - and front facing rooms get the 0530 dustbin men wake up call! Second night we were moved to the suite - which was OK - a small sitting room with standard size bedroom. Other reviews on here are pretty accurate on room quality. When we went to check out, I queried the price for the first night, as we had not had the suite, there was a discrepancy of some 50? I was informed that the box of (very nice) chocolates given to us as an apology for cocking up was in fact my refund! - So I had had to pay for my own apology chocolates. all in all, not unbearable, but that was the last time we would stay there - unless we were to hear it had been taken over and refurbished. Summer visits definitely not recommended as the Air-Con is v. poor and rooms are rather small for the class of hotel. Watch out for Farouk the porter - he likes tips... And he is keen to loiter to get them, even when not required. Oh and no room service (despite the menus) on any of our visits - instead the reception gives you a takeaway selection when you have to wait for over an hour for a chinese - not really a good advert for the city of romance and gastonomie!

Fantastic location within walking distance of the Arc
Posted: Sun, Jun 15 2008
We stayed with this hotel at the beginning of May. The hotel was pretty good for Paris, but not the star rating they say it is. The location is fabulous, you are a 10 minute walk to the arc and subsequent Champs Elysees. I feel that the hotels rates are very expensive for what it actually is, however that's typically Paris. The rooms and bathrooms are fine, clean and fine, but not of exceptional quality. Personally next time I do Paris (which is in 2 weeks) I'm opting for an apartment rather than a hotel, as I find that the standards are always better, and the rates are always far more cost effective. If you stay at this hotel you'll find a couple of little cafe's within a two minute walk where you can grab breakfast. Paul's is a chain, but has great croissants and pain e chocolate and coffee etc, and at 2 euros for breakfast is far better than what they offer at the hotel. The staff were also very nice and helpful