Situated right in the heart of Paris, just steps away from the Latin Quarter and the Notre Dame Cathedral, is the Hotel les Bulles de Paris.
This is a modern boutique hotel with updated facilities, well-equipped rooms, and a pleasant, well-informed staff.
From the moment I walked through the doors into the hotel lobby I was treated very well and any time I had any questions or concerns they were dealt with promptly by the friendly staff working at the time.
The interior takes on a very modern and unique design and depending on the purpose of your visit to Paris there’s even a wellness center where you can take advantage of some private pampering and just further get to relax in the city of lights.
I was lucky enough to be able to spend two nights at the Hotel les Bulles de Paris and I wanted to share the experience that I had while staying there as well as provide an in-depth review to show future visitors to Paris why this is a great hotel in the heart of the city.
I’ve also stayed at two other hotels in Paris – the Hotel du Jeu de Paume and the Hôtel Le Rocroy. I recommend checking out my reviews of those hotels as well. This will give you a better idea of what else you can expect when it comes to hotels in the city.
The Hotel les Bulles de Paris: An In-Depth Review
Check-In and Interior
As soon as I walked into the hotel I immediately noticed the intricate and updated interior design.
It felt very welcoming and the lovely young lady working at receptionist checked me in right away and took my bags since my room wasn’t ready at the time.
With the large windows in the lobby and in the main dining area the entire ground level was very bright and full of natural lighting, which only helped to build on the positive vibe of the interior of the hotel so far.
Off to the side of the main reception area was the dining room where breakfast was held in the morning and further into the hotel was a small seating area that further took on the contemporary design that the hotel was aiming to portray.
Even the elevator took on a unique appearance with a padded design on the walls rather than just your drab and dreary grey elevator interior.
Everything appeared to be clean, well put together, and during my stay I hardly ever noticed any of the cleaning staff and I never once saw any cleaning supplies left behind in the hallways.
The Room
When I opened the door to my room I was immediately surprised by how small it was.
I looked over into the corner and saw a window/balcony so I squeezed by the bed and the awkwardly placed fridge and went to check out the view.
The view towards the Pantheon and over the surrounding streets was incredible and although I couldn’t see the Eiffel Tower directly I could see the spotlight that it was equipped with at night.
After admiring the view for a short while I turned around to check out the rest of the room.
Going with the contemporary design flow there was an interesting piece of artwork design mounted right behind the bed.
It was a very French-like photo of a woman with a backlight and with the light on a nice, indirect glow was cast over the room.
Like I first noticed when I got into the room, the interior space was quite lacking and the bed took up nearly the entirety of the living space.
It was very hard to use the small desk in the corner to get any work done with a laptop and the awkwardly mounted fridge right on the wall took up even more of the room space so it was tricky trying to maneuver around the room without banging into anything.
For one person the room size was suitable but I wouldn’t recommend the room that I had for two people – there just simply wouldn’t be enough space.
There was some storage space at either sides of the bed for clothing and luggage but overall I found the room to be quite cramped.
Thankfully the large window let in plenty of natural lighting and this really helped to make the room seem bigger than it was.
The Bathroom
The bathroom was surprisingly a decent size and was actually split into two different parts – the toilet room and the actual bathroom with a shower and sink.
I didn’t find this to be a problem and I actually prefer it when it comes to the bathroom setup.
The toilet room was simple, just a small room with enough space for the toilet.
The main bathroom area was very impressive, well-designed, and came equipped with any amenities needed for a short term stay.
Not only was there your typical soaps, shower gels, and shampoos, but there was also a robe and slippers available for even more comfort.
I loved the contemporary stylings of the bathroom interior and there was plenty of storage space for toiletries along with a heated towel rack to keep towels warm and dry.
The shower pressure was great and I didn’t run into any problems with the water temperature at all.
Overall, the bathroom was a decent size and in this case it was well-suited for one or two people for a short term stay.
The Details
Cost
Depending on the type of room that you choose you can find rates for the Hotel Les Bulles de Paris starting at around $200 USD.
This is what I would expect to pay for a quality hotel such as this one with such a great location right in the city center.
Some of the rates do include breakfast although I don’t recommend paying for it if it’s not included in your rate – there are plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby offering breakfast for a much more reasonable price.
As always, I recommend booking your room as soon as you have confirmed your travel dates so that you can secure the best possible rate and avoid any issues with availability.
Location
One of the best aspects of the hotel is its central location.
In under 5 minutes on foot it’s possible to reach the Latin Quarter, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Pantheon, and a few different metro stops that will bring you anywhere you want to go in the city.
Surrounding the hotel are a wide range of different cafes, restaurants, small shops, and other interesting storefronts to check out so there is never a shortage of places to eat or drink if that’s what you’re looking for.
In 30-minutes or less you can reach some of the main attractions in the city such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre Museum if you’re using public transportation and there are always Ubers or taxis available nearby as well.
Depending on your fitness level it’s possible to walk to the Gare du Nord train station in under an hour although I would definitely recommend using the metro for that for a better travel experience.
Wi-Fi
The wi-fi at the hotel worked fairly well.
I ran into some issues connecting with my smartphone. I was able to connect with my laptop just fine.
Streaming YouTube videos wasn’t really an option – though I could browse the web, use Skype, and even upload photos to Flickr without any problems.
Given that it’s 2017 I definitely think the hotel needs to make an effort to improve their wifi. These days most guests will need a reliable and fast internet connection.
Parking and Accessibility
The hotel is easily accessible with public transportation. It’s easy to reach from both the airport and any train station in Paris.
Taking the metro in Paris is very easy. There are a few metro stops within a short 5-minute walk from the hotel.
It’s even possible to walk from the train station to the hotel. This would take less than an hour if you packed light or if you’re up for a nice stroll through the city.
As for parking, I’m not too sure since I arrived by train although I would imagine there are plenty of opportunities for parking in Paris nearby for a reasonable fee.
Paris is a very walkable city. It’s possible to walk to just about all of the main attractions. Alternatively, you can use the metro system to get around more quickly.
Final Verdict
I had a good time staying at the Hotel Les Bulles de Paris and I would recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a reasonably priced hotel with a good location.
The only problem I had was that my room was cleaned despite having the do not disturb sign up on the door – something I found unpleasant and very unusual.
However, other than that problem and the issue with the wifi I had quite a pleasant stay and would still personally recommend it.
More Information
- Hotel website
- TripAdvisor
- HotelsCombined (check pricing and availability)
I also suggest taking a look at my article on the Paris Pass review.
This pass can be pretty helpful if you’re spending a few days in the city and you want to experience some of the best things to do in Paris during your trip.
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