Hotel Waldorf Montparnasse

From the street, the compact, seven-story Hotel Waldorf Montparnasse is classic Paris, with wrought-iron Juliet balconies lacing up its front, and top dormer windows peeping out its rooftop. Inside, fresh, contemporary lobby decor suggests a somewhat higher category of hotel. Wood paneling, plush rugs, velvety upholstery, and glinting metal accents all feel decidedly adult and elegant. Shelving set with books and memorabilia along with a faux fire create a cozy, home-away-from-home ambiance. The back of the lobby overlooks a charmingly snug ivy-covered courtyard with just enough space for two to sit. Alas, this elegant look doesn’t quite extend above to the guest rooms, but these stylish public spaces offer a bonus to a rather solid mid-range property, which suits the business travelers and tourists that come here. Due to the fact that most rooms are double-capacity, there isn't a great deal of families coming here. 

Hotel Waldorf Montparnasse is located in the 14th Arrondissement’s bustling Montparnasse neighborhood, right across from Montparnasse Tower and a Galeries Lafayette department store (though not the famed flagship location). From here, it’s easy to walk to bars, restaurants, shops, and theaters, many of which are a few minutes' walk from the hotel. Guests can also walk to area sights like the Montparnasse Cemetery (eight-minute walk) and Luxembourg Gardens (15-minute walk). The Catacombs are a bit of a hike at 20 minutes on foot, but it's still doable for those that appreciate a good stroll. Reaching Paris' major tourist attractions -- sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre -- requires a ride of about 25 minutes on public transit. Thankfully, the Gare Montparnasse railway hub, with RER and metro trains, is less than a five-minute walk away. Charles de Gaulle Airport can be reached in about 50 minutes via public transport and Orly Airport in about 40 minutes. 

No two ways about it, rooms here are tiny (even, perhaps, for Paris). Entry-level Standard Rooms are only about 140 square feet, while the largest Family Room, which can accommodate up to three guests, is 215 square feet. But all are pleasantly decorated with off-white walls, wood furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling drapes. The furniture and textiles vary from room to room, but colors lean toward soft browns and beiges, and furniture tends to be rather traditional, such as cabriole-leg desks and leather tub chairs. By comparison, bathrooms feel appropriately sized and several feature marbled or beige tiling, combo showers and tubs, or walk-in rainfall showers.Amenities are decent, and rooms are all outfitted with flat-screen TVs featuring a choice of international channels, free Wi-Fi, safes, and minibars (though guests are discouraged from using these as personal fridges). Bathrooms are also stocked with hairdryers and a combination of toiletry dispensers and individual items. However, coffee and tea service is only freely offered in upper-category Superior and Family Rooms and costs an extra fee in other rooms. Note that street-facing rooms can get noisy, particularly if the windows are opened. Light sleepers should request courtyard facing rooms.

Hotel Waldorf has a nice lobby with an honesty bar and a breakfast room -- but little else. That said, this is fairly typical for a mid-range Parisian hotel, where properties are small and space is limited. The breakfast room is pleasant, with a decent but not exceptional daily continental breakfast provided for an extra fee. The buffet covers cold items like cold cuts, cheese, yogurts, bread, cereal, fresh juices, and whole fruit. An honesty bar can also be found in the lobby with a selection that includes coffee (from an espresso machine), spirits, wine, Champagne, beer, and soft drinks. The hotel also has a cute but cramped courtyard with a table and two chairs.The front desk is open 24 hours and the hotel offers concierge services such as restaurant and theater bookings, luggage storage, and extra-fee services like babysitting and dry cleaning. Small pets are permitted for an extra fee. The hotel offers free daily French newspapers, cribs by request, and free Wi-Fi. While the building has an elevator, it is not wheelchair accessible.