Hotel Bellevue Paris Montmartre

Despite its name meaning "beautiful view," the Hotel Bellevue doesn't offer much of one despite its proximity to one of Paris's finest views and sites on the Butte Montmartre -- nor is it a sight to behold, itself. This no-nonsense budget hotel shares its ground floor of a blocky five-floored building with a fabric shop and is unremarkable in almost every way. Low ceilings and white walls give the lobby a functional vibe, encouraged by a rack of travel pamphlets and a couple scuffed vintage velvet armchairs. As such, there's really nowhere for guests to hang out and enjoy a bit of leisure time. Even the cramped breakfast room -- with its plastic seating -- feels like a teacher's lounge in Midwestern suburbia. Worn burgundy carpeting lines the spiral staircase that leads to the guest rooms, and the door to the small elevator match, for a cohesively lived-in and cozy feel. Its reasonable prices, proximity to Sacre Coeur, and no-frills approach to hospitality makes this hotel popular with solo travelers, groups of friends, and couples, all of whom plan on spending most of their time out and about, day and night.

The hotel is located just down the hill from Montmartre (18th Arrondissement), a bohemian neighborhood that boomed during its heyday of the Belle Epoque when artists like Picasso, Mondrian, and Monet used to live and work here. These days, it's all a bit touristy, and souvenir peddlers abound. Additionally, some find the area to feel a bit dodgy at night. Many films are set in this part of town, including "Moulin Rouge" and "Amelie"; in fact, the hotel is located a short block away from the carousel of Square Louise-Michel at the base of Sacre Coeur, made popular by the latter film. The basilica itself is an eight-minute walk, with the option of taking a funicular instead of the steep climb through the park. The Dali Museum, the Wall of Love, and the Abesses Metro station are all within a 10-minute walk as well. Alternatively, the closer Anvers Metro station services Line 2, putting the Moulin Rouge within a 10-minute metro ride. Destinations like the Arc de Triomphe and Pere-Lachaise Cemetery will take closer to 20 minutes to reach. Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, can be accessed via transfers to other lines in 15 and 25 minutes respectively. Trips to the Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports are estimated around 70 minutes by public transit, or 40 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Hotel Bellevue offers 35 rooms with single, double, or triple beds, all of which look well past their prime. Beds with Denantes-brand mattresses are made with crisp white sheets that offset the burgundy or navy carpeting and curtains that show some wear and tear. Framed photography of New York skylines, Mondrian-inspired paintings, and seascapes of faraway, decidedly non-Parisian lands give rooms a dated, generic feel. All rooms feature work desks, 19-inch LED flat-screen TVs, and bedside lamps. Bathrooms could do with a few touchups but are otherwise functional with standing showers (triples have bathtub/shower combos) and a hairdryer. There are no coffee/tea facilities or mini-fridges for food storage, and all rooms lack air-conditioning. Large soundproofed windows help combat sound from the nocturnal neighborhood, with views of either the street or back courtyard. During our visit, we did notice a few non-working light fixtures and other maintenance issues as well. 

There aren't many extras at this hotel, even for its tow-pearl category. A simple  continental breakfast is offered for a fee in the breakfast room just off the main lobby. A vending machine and a public computer with printer are both also located in the breakfast room. The 24-hour front desk has a safe-deposit for smaller valuables that guests wish to have stored during their stay. Ironing services are also available upon request. Free Wi-Fi is consistent and available throughout the hotel.