Hotel Opal - Paris, France     

PARIS... Need I say anything more? The Hotel Opal was a nice little hotel that was in a great area. The furnishings were pretty old and the beds were not that great. However, I must say I got my monies worth. The subway station was a 3 minute walk to the right of the hotel and the transit system was really easy to use. We had a great time. The one thing I would recommend to all travelers is to make sure you map out what you want to do before you arrive because everything is so spreadout. Here is what we did and staying at the Hotel Opal made it possible: Day 1 - Arrived and shopped Boulevard Haussment (expensive) went to Les Bain Douche (Hip Hop Club) Day 2 - All day at Versaille (catched the subway) had dinner at the Buddha Bar (10 minute walk from Hotel) Day 3 - Invalides (Napolean's Tomb), Eiffel Tower, Arch De Triumphe, Champs Elysees (dinner La Madeleine - best restaurant EVER... outside the hotel in small alley on right) Day 4 - The Louvre (dinner at ManRay - John Depp's Restaurant) Day 5 - Flea Market - La puces marche Please keep in mind there is NOWHERE to eat breakfast on SUNDAY....

I was a little apprehensive after seeing the other reviews here but our experience was very good. On arrival the english speaking staff were very friendly. Our room was very nice if a little shabby but in a charming 'french' way! We had real silk wallcoverings and the bathroom was lovely. There was a bit of a noise problem as there was a (locked) door joining our room to the next and you could basically hear everything they said but they were a young family and so all was quiet by about 11pm anyway. The noise from the Metro was just a distant rumble (we were on the 2nd floor) and certainly no more than anyone living in London hears all the time! Breakfast was included in our package and was a very sweet room packed with pastries, bread, cheese, sliced meats, cereal, yoghurt etc. The lady keeping everything stocked is a little 'casual' about refilling things but we never had any problems getting a nice brekkie, I wouldn't pay extra for breakfast if not included thou, turn left out the hotel and on the second corner is a Paul's bakery that does lovely brekkie for much less. I would thoroughlly recomend this place for it's charm, friendly staff and value for money. HOWEVER the actual room rates posted on the hotel were a lot more than what we paid when booking a hotel/Eurostar package through the Eurostar website so check packages carefully. Our holiday cost £300 in total for 2 people including Eurostar and 2 nights in the hotel with breakfast included. Bargain! This is an ideal hotel for anyone that wants a hotel just as a pleasant base from which to explore Paris. If the hotel is the point of the holiday for you then maybe go elsewhere but if the point is getting out and seeing the city itself then you can't get much better for location or atmosphere.