Review of Hôtel des Buttes Chaumont 2*

PROS — Reasonably priced — Recently remodeled — Located right across the street from the Metro, with easy access to downtown — Lively neighborhood with minorities — Private underground parking available at 15 Euros/night, with only about 4 tight spaces, so you need to make a separate reservation — A personal safe where you can enter your own security code, large enough to fit a 15" laptop. The safes are located in a private closet right in front of the front desk for added protection and supervision. Since there are only 2 of them, you may want to make a reservation. — Free Wi-Fi — Flat-screen TV, with CNN being the only English speaking channel I noticed — Quiet rooms on the side facing the court, with comfortable beds — Strong air conditioning (but automatically shuts itself off after a few hours) — The best continental breakfast I have had in years — Heated mirror in the bathroom, so you can see yourself after taking a shower CONS — When arriving by car, there is no space to stop the vehicle and unload the luggage, so you need to stop the vehicle and block traffic, then go and park your car elsewhere — You need to carry your luggage from street level up a flight of 20 narrow steps to reach the reception area — There were two employees at the reception desk but none of them helped me unlock the parking gate, open the garage door, or carry my luggage from the basement up to the reception area. My check-in experience was so stressful that I considered leaving immediately to look for another hotel! — Minuscule elevator starting in the reception area, barely large enough for 2 people without any luggage — Small rooms with cheap furniture, not very tasteful.