La Maison Favart Hotel

If I could give this hotel negative stars, I would. Appalling, Executive summary: stay elsewhere.

I stayed here as our small group tour had selected this hotel. Based on reviews I stayed independent of the group two extra nights prior to the tour.

Firstly, a general commentary. The rooms are smallish (not the worst you'll find in Paris though!) and the showers are great! A decent flow of hot water was fabulous.

The towels are out of this world! The best towels I've every experienced. Thick and soft, I'd love to buy some!

It's an old hotel and the single lift is slow. Best to take the stairs if you're body is able.

Breakfast is a small offering and I was disappointed to learn it had been highlighted with our group manager that we had arrived early for breakfast and the staff were not happy. The problem with this is twofold - it wasn't anyone on our group that did this. And in fact, on this day, I arrived about 15 minutes after breakfast was supposed to have started to very little food having been put out. Still by the time I left not all food had been supplied and there were ice bricks waiting in their place. This was about 45 mins after breakfast was supposed to have started.

The central heating is also problematic. Rooms do not have individual temperature controls so I find it gets quite hot. I'd happily open the window but due to noise (see below) that's not an option. In addition to the massive issues detailed below even on a 'good' night you have people calling out throughout the square etc (there are a couple of homeless people that seem to use it too) which kept others awake until they closed their windows.

Now the major issue. Noise.

There is a public square across the road. On my first evening at the hotel I checked in and was told absolutely nothing about this - however, there was a commercial/movie being filmed in this square and it started in the early evening and did not finish until 5am. Having had no sleep I was grateful that it had finally ended. But no, the noise continued with trucks reversing and beeping as they dismantled the set for several more hours.

Now upon my return visit it is a wedding reception. Guests started arriving around 7pm and at 3:45am I am writing this review, once again with no sleep and once again with an abundance of noise coming from this square. People are drinking and loudly chatting on the street immediately in front of the hotel, not inside the marquee though the piano is still getting a workout, possibly by guests, as a poor level of music is being performed eg Chopsticks.

This is an expensive hotel and for this price point there are many superior hotels to stay in. Choose another one.

What is most disappointing is that on both occasions the hotel did not inform me. They could have offered ear plugs, a reduced rate, a free drink etc. Nothing. Why on earth anyone would pay full price to have no sleep I do not know. Who wants to walk around Paris like a zombie?

For it to have happened twice it must be a regular occurrence. I did mention it to hotel staff when I saw the marquee being set up yesterday to which I was told it wouldn't bother me as there are many neighbours and people using the square are not allowed to make noise. When I mentioned that it had kept me away only two weeks ago he replied, "I'll inform my colleague."

As you may imagine, that was the last I heard of it and I'm having my second sleepless night in Fauvart.

Truly, stay elsewhere. Paris is full of marvellous options, this isn't one of them.

(Photo taken at 3:30am. Finally finished at 3:45am. It’s now 6:05am and they’ve been dismantling for the past 2 hours and 20 mins, banging and crashing and yelling the whole time).