Hôtel des Académies et des Arts

The Hotel des Academies et des Arts is a self-described design hotel with contemporary art integrated throughout its interiors, a style inspired by the Montparnasse neighborhood's historic popularity with such artists as Gaugin and Modigliani. Decor in both rooms and common areas (the latter including a bright library, a small breakfast room, and a salon style screening room) includes murals by Parisian artist Jerome Mesnager, featuring his signature white figures, which resemble the small wooden figures artists often use for drawing humans. The common areas are decorated with sculptures by Sophie de Watrigant, whose designs of white acrobatic figures are in a similar vein. The hotel attracts younger couples, including many from the United States.

The Hotel des Academies et des Arts is located in Paris' 6th arrondissement, just off the Boulevard Montparnasse, next to the Vavin metro station, and a short walk from the Port Royal RER station, which offers direct train lines to both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. Like most of Paris, the street has a high concentration of bakeries, cafes, and small shops, with a mix of office buildings and residences. The Luxembourg Gardens are less than a 10-minute walk away and the Place Saint Michel is another 10 minutes away on foot. It's a 15-minute metro ride to Notre Dame cathedral, a 20-minute metro ride to the Louvre (with one change), and it takes about half an hour to reach the Eiffel Tower on the metro.

The hotel offers three room types: Classic, Club, and Superior. Classic Rooms have street views, double beds, and walk-in showers, whereas Club Rooms have street or courtyard views and either one queen bed or two twins, as well as shower/tub combinations. Superior Rooms are the largest and have street views and queen beds, as well as separate nooks with small seating areas. Connecting rooms are available on request. Decor is a mix of classical, ornate Parisian furniture with modern touches, such as faint images of Parisian artist Jerome Mesnager's signature white figures on some walls. Color schemes vary from room to room, but most have faded-tan walls and carpets to match, and either burgundy, tan, or black accents (or a mix of them all). All rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with French cable and English-language channels, safes, minibars, and hairdryers. Bathrooms are small but modern, with tan and maroon tile-work and Pascal Morabito toiletries. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Some rooms also have balconies.

The hotel has a small spa room with a massage table where massage and limited beauty treatments can be arranged. A breakfast of bread and baked goods is served daily -- included in some rates, but not all -- and can be delivered to rooms or taken in the small but elegant breakfast room. The hotel also has a tea room next door -- Chez Charlotte -- that serves macarons from famous confectioner Pierre Herme alongside tea from Le Palais des Thés. The library has plush sofas and a selection of coffee table books for guests to flip through as well as a small Internet corner with a flat-screen PC. There's also a small screening room for viewings of DVDs on a big screen. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and room service is available in the evenings.