Incredible lobby chandelier
Though my arrival into Paris wasn’t as smooth as I had hoped, it all washed away the minute I stepped into the cozy Hotel le Bellechasse. Booked through a Jetsetter flash sale, this hotel also had excellent ratings on TripAdvisor and I can see why. First, it’s in a prime location, just one half of a block from the Musée d’Orsay in the trendy St. Germain neighborhood. But, what would bring me back for another stay was the Hotel le Bellechasse’s excellent service and boutique hotel charm.
The Arrival
Getting to the Hotel le Bellechasse from Charles de Gaulle is pretty easy. Simply take the RER B to the RER C, though it should be noted that the platform onto the RER C train has a pretty generous step up and was a bit of an adventure with heavy bags. Once at the Musée d’Orsay stop, you simply walk across the street and the hotel is on your right. The hotel is located on a narrow street alongside a few tourist shops and restaurants, and blends in so well to the surrounding buildings that I actually missed it the first time.
Entering The Hotel
One step through the sleek motion-censored etched glass door leads to a small, yet cozy entry way with a stunning chandelier (as seen above). The hotel’s interior was decorated by French fashion designer, Christian Lacroix, in a trendy, yet artsy style that is unique to the Hotel le Bellechasse. So chic and hip that the hotel is ranked on TripAdvisor’s 2012 list of the top 25 trendiest hotels in France.
As you enter, there is a charming bar/lounge area to the right, which leads to an outdoor patio that would be fun to enjoy in warmer weather. The bar/lounge area also serves breakfast daily. Though at €18 per day, I just grabbed a few yogurts and apples from the Carrefour market around the street. Carrefour is a chain of small markets in Paris that doesn’t feel like a chain, given the seemingly gourmet selection of cheese, produce, yogurt, and much, more. Par for the course in Paris, I suppose.
My small, but cozy room.
Inside My Room
My room, way up on the fourth or fifth floor (I cannot remember, but thankfully there is a lift, albeit a tiny one), featured a very funky wall mural seemingly inspired by the royal characters on play cards. The collage-like mural was surrounded by colorful pops of lime green and red, which brightened up an otherwise neutral room. Though the room wasn’t huge, it was perfect for a solo traveler and could also work for a couple, providing that you don’t require tons of space to store your clothing. While the closet bar was generous, a couple would have needed more hangers. There also wasn’t much bureau space to leave folded clothing.
View from my room.
Other room amenities included a safe, a proper desk with a makeup mirror (score!), and a mini bar refrigerator with a little space for a few of your own small things like yogurt. It’s worth noting that there are no in-room coffee or tea making facilities, but seriously, if you’re in Paris you should be going out for your espresso and croissant, non? The TV worked very well, but only played French channels (e.g. no BBC English language news).
A whole lotta color for a small bathroom!
The bathroom was also small, with a pretty wacky bright green and red color scheme. There was also a skylight brilliantly placed above the toilet with a remote control to open or close the shade. The shower pressure (note – overhead shower, which is not always found in France) and temperature were both fantastic, so my only small critique is that it would have been nice to have a place to hang hand and body towels. It also would have been nice to have a small bar in the shower for your shampoo, conditioner, etc.
Other than towel and toiletree racks, the other only small irk of my stay was that the free Wi-Fi could only be used on one device at a time (e.g. laptop or phone, but not both). Other than that, I loved the room and didn’t feel that the small quirks detracted from the experience. I would definitely stay at this hotel again, especially if they continue to offer discounted rates on Jetsetter!
Other Good-To Knows:
– Hotel staff is extremely accommodating and all speak several languages, including English. They will provide restaurant recommendations, call taxis, etc.
– The walk to your room from the lift is a little dark, but I never felt unsafe. Same goes for the St. Germain neighborhood at night.
– St. Germain is known by locals to have the best crêpes, so be sure to find a good restaurant to try them at!
– On Sunday nights may of the nearby restaurants/shops close early, so plan accordingly.
– You can easily walk to the Place de la Concorde and The Tuileries in less than 15 minutes from the hotel.
– The hotel is adjacent to the Musée d’Orsay, a lovely, lovely museum. Purchase your tickets and book your visit in advance on their website so you don’t have to wait in the line outside.