Le Parisis Paris Tour Eiffel

Seeing Le Parisis Paris Tour Eiffel from the street doesn't inspire a ton of hope. The bland, white-box building -- formerly a Ramada -- is located on one of the widest, busiest boulevards in this part of Paris, and neighbors are mostly big-box hotels and supermarkets. An elevated metro railway runs over the boulevard, directly in front of the hotel, and while the Belle Epoque-era engineering is beautiful, the structure's presence disrupts the street's sense of community. Inside, the hotel pays tribute to the time of the metro's construction: a hanging birdcage chair in the bar, a historic photograph of the metro covering one wall of glass-roofed breakfast room, and room curtains depicting the metro line are decorative nods to turn-of-the-last-century Paris. Decor is more contemporary than one would expect from the dated exterior and the hotel has a reasonably good number of features, like a sauna and room service. But it's the Eiffel Tower views -- available from two-thirds of the hotel's rooms -- that impress the most. Le Parisis attracts mostly business travelers and couples from Europe, though connecting rooms are good for families or groups of four.

Le Parisis Paris Tour Eiffel is located on the busy Boulevard de Grenelle in the 15th arrondissement. The boulevard is one of the widest in this part of Paris, with an elevated portion of the metro running over it. As a result, the immediate area is charmless, but there are restaurants and supermarkets nearby, and the side streets have a local feel. The location puts hotel guests within a three-minute walk walk to the Dupleix metro station (line 6) and a four-minute walk to La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle metro station (lines 6, 8, and 10). Buses are available at both metro stops. From the hotel, it's a leisurely stroll -- about 12 minutes on foot -- to the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River promenade. Walking to the Invalides takes about 15 minutes. Budget a half-hour to reach Orly Airport by cab (add 10 minutes to reach via public transit) and an hour to reach Charles de Gaulle Airport by cab or the RER/metro.

Le Parisis' 45 rooms fall into four overarching categories: Cosy (single rooms), Classic, Privilege, and Junior Suite. The differences between types are floor space, view (street-slash-Eiffel Tower or courtyard) and the presence of a few extra amenities in the upper levels. Beyond that, rooms are virtually the same. All have contemporary white and gray decor with red accents. Brown-gray carpeting and white walls frame the spaces, which feature tall white headboards, backlighting, and white curtains patterned with red poppies and imagery of the Belle Epoque-era metro line across from the hotel. Every room is soundproofed and equipped with private climate control, a Nespresso machine (even in the Cosy rooms), a flat-screen LED TV, and a safe. Handy phones are provided, allowing guests to place free international calls and use free roaming data while exploring Paris. Wi-Fi in the rooms is free. This being Paris, rooms are small, but their long, narrow shape means that most have enough floor space for a black armchair or two and a wood accent table.Modern bathrooms have mosaic tile walls, rainfall showers, and L'Occitane toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, body lotion, and verbena bar soap); robes and slippers are added in the Privilege level. Full-size BaBybliss are provided.Single rooms come in at only 140 square feet. Classic Rooms range from 183 to 215 square feet; upgraded Classics, located on the 3rd through 6th floors, have Eiffel Tower views. Privilege Rooms range from 215 to 240 square feet (they can accommodate up to three people), and, like the Classics, can be upgraded to ensure Eiffel Tower views. The 290-square-foot Junior Suite has a guaranteed view of the icon. Connecting rooms are available.

For a 45-room hotel in Paris, Le Parisis has a rather admirable number of common features. Breakfast is served in an atrium-style room with a wall of vegetation, framed photographs of Paris, and a skylit cathedral ceiling. Free with direct bookings, breakfast includes scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, meat and cheese plates, fresh baguettes, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Room service is available from midday to late at night, via the Italian/pizza restaurant next to the hotel. Le Parisis' bar offers wine and liquor on an honor-system basis; guests note what they take and the hotel charges upon check-out.On the lower level, the hotel has a workout room with a treadmill and a multi-function station, but no free weights. Bottles of water are up for grabs and there is a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. A cedar sauna opens directly into the space and there is a rainfall shower for post-workouts. A computer station is free for use 24 hours a day, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.