Review of Mercure Paris Bercy Bibliothèque 4*

Stay from 19/06/2015 to 22/06/2015 (3 nights) As for the NOVOTEL Gare de Lyon, we wanted to test this hotel since a long time due to positive reviews. As we are a family of 3, it’s always difficult to get suitable rooms in MERCURE hotels (NOVOTEL are more suited to families). However this time we got the junior suite for 2 to 4 persons. We arrived at around midnight which is no big deal as reception is opened 24/24. No welcome drinks despite the fact that we are A|Club Platinum member (and early users of ACCOR hotels for the last 30 years now). We jumped on the elevator up to 7th floor and immediately noticed a strong smell from some air freshener. Situation is even worse on the 7th floor but hopefully not in the room. This is due to the use of carpets. Therefore this hotel is not for you if you have allergy issues! which is very unfortunately our case. Junior suite is rather small; you will have problems storing your suitcase even though we have rather small suitcases. Walls are very thin; you will hear quite well all activity in and especially the slamming doors (what a shock when you discover this especially early in the morning, I literally stood up in my bed). The HD TV set is great with rear light system. Bathroom is also fine with rain shower. There is an excellent noise insulation from the outside that works really well with the metro noise but not with cars on boulevard Vincent Auriol. There is a boulangerie (closed during weekends) besides the hotel and a small FRANPRIX supermarket (opened every day including Sundays with freshly squeezed orange juice) just across. Hotel breakfast buffet is extremely expensive at 18€ / person. There is a tiny tiny refrigerator in the room with soft beverages (no refill during our stay). There is a rather large safe suitable for laptop up to 15”. Free Wi-Fi available although very slow. Connection to public transport is straightforward with metro station “Quai de la Gare” just in front of the hotel although line 6 will lead you to Trocadéro, Champs Elysées and Denfert Rochereau for airports connection (CDG or ORY). Pros — 24/24 reception — Good bathroom equipment — Nice HD TV — Free Wi-Fi (although slow at 2Mb/s download measured at 5am in the morning) Cons — Rather small rooms (and junior suite is the largest one) — Very strong air freshener smell in elevator and corridors due to carpets (strong warning to people with allergies) — Noise from other rooms (external noise insulation very good though) and slamming doors — Location is so-so considering that Métro line 6 does not lead to many major hot spots apart from Trocadéro and Champs Elysées (although good connection for airports at Denfert Rochereau) — Free soft beverages but NO refill! great if you stay 1 night, not so great for the others…