Best Western Empire Elysees Hotel

Worst Experience Ever - Avoid if Possible

I stayed at Best Western in Paris for one night and initially considered extending my stay, but my experience was so unpleasant that I decided against it. From the moment I entered, the reception staff was rude, unwelcoming, and outright aggressive. Instead of politely informing me that my room wasn’t ready at 12 PM (check-in was after 2 PM), they didn’t offer early check-in. When I asked for extending one more night they immediately told me the hotel was fully booked. When I pressed further, they offered a room at double the price. I later confirmed that the rate was much cheaper on Trip.com than what they quoted, which felt dishonest. To make matters worse, they attempted to double-charge me.

The room was incredibly small, much smaller than the photos suggested. It was uncomfortable, cold, and not properly clean. The bathroom was tiny—barely a meter wide—making it inconvenient to use. I couldn’t even open my luggage properly due to the cramped space. The view was unremarkable, and the overall layout was poorly designed.

Additionally, the hotel’s key card system was inconvenient. You couldn’t open the door yourself late at night; instead, you had to rely on the receptionist to let you in, which felt intrusive and awkward, especially when seeking privacy.

The food was subpar, and the overall service was disappointing. However, one receptionist, Lhamo, was incredibly kind and helpful, and she was the sole reason we didn’t cancel our booking immediately. Her professionalism was a bright spot in an otherwise dreadful experience.

Lastly, when we were leaving the hotel, the receptionist stared at us without saying goodbye, adding to the unpleasantness of our stay.

Overall, this was the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had, and I cannot recommend this property to anyone.