Hôtel Maison Traversière

I had made plans to stay one night close to Gare de Lyon, before traveling on to Switzerland the next day. I’d made a free-cancellation reservation at another hotel, but later found I’d made a mistake by booking 2 nights. I cancelled this, but found the price had shot up when I tried to re-book . I searched again and the Hotel du Midi, at £138 non-refundable, seemed the least expensive option for the date I wanted. I made the booking without paying too much attention to the hotel’s description. I later realized that a Parisian 2-star hotel is unlikely to have a functioning lift. On checking in I was allocated a room on the second floor. I am 69 and getting up a narrow winding staircase with a suitcase was an ordeal. The corridors were dark and dingy, and the whole ambience of the hotel was unwelcoming. The hotel marketed itself as “artisanale”, roughly translated as “designer shabby”. The room itself would have been acceptable, but for water dripping from the ceiling on to the lintel of the bathroom door. A puddle of water had accumulated on the bathroom floor, making it hazardous. I reported this to reception, but was told the hotel was full and I could not have another room as the hotel was full, nor could the problem be fixed until the morning. I was given some towels to cover the floor so I could use the bathroom safely. The receptionist agreed I could have a free breakfast (9 Euros), but this was paltry compensation for one of worst hotel stays I have ever experienced. I did ask the receptionist to deduct 25% from my bill and he agreed, but I suspect he did not have the power to authorize this. In retrospect, a full refund would have been justified if the hotel was unable to accommodate me in another room. I note that other reviews are more positive. Given the age range of other guests at breakfast, I think the hotel’s core clientele are backpackers and younger persons on a budget. Nonetheless, it is wholly unacceptable to expect any guest to sleep in a room with water dripping from the ceiling. If this cannot be remedied immediately, then a full refund is the only alternative.

A very nice cosy hotel at a good location in Paris! (near by station Gare de Lyon) Nice staff, good interior, clean room, good beds and a parking place near by the hotel. I dunnot understand why the reviews are bad; I really liked the hotel and they deserve a good recent review. It were hot days in Paris so I only missed an airco in the room.