Hôtel Raphael

So after visiting I think a lot of these reviews are fake. I have recently returned from our trip and although it was pleasant it is in no way representative of the true experience of the hotel. Firstly we tried to book an Eiffel Tower view room as it was my birthday, we were refused as we had a toddler with us which was fair enough, my husband tried to arrange a breakfast or birthday meal on the rooftop, they said no and to just come and use the rooftop when we were at the hotel (it’s the only reason we picked the hotel.) when we arrived on the Friday they said the rooftop was closed, it was a sunny pleasant day. On Saturday I asked and they said closed again and will not be opening for the rest of our stay, we explained we had emailed and the reason why we booked cos they ensured us we would be able to. We later read that the hotel rooftop has been closed for a while now, false advertising really. Anyway, the corridors are dark and eerie. The rooms, paint peeling off the walls, the mirrors stained and worn- there is a difference between old world Paris (we have stayed in many old beautiful hotels) and this hotel which is very worn. The appliances were old, cables crawling on the floor. The staff were however very friendly and professional and location was good.

I am under the impression that when a hotel has 5 stars, the class should be noticeable in every inch of the building. Honestly, that was not the case at Hotel Raphael. Although we did not have the most expensive rooms, it still is disappointing to get an outdated room where the paint is literally peeling from the bathroom ceiling, sagging chairs, and to find a toilet bowl with noticeable cracks and discoloration. The cleaning crew seems to be slacking as well, as there were hairs (and a cap from a cleaning bottle) on the bathroom floor upon entering that most definitely weren’t ours, and we only had coffee cups in our room, no teabags.

I’m also very disappointed with the check-in procedure. It is good to know that they will reserve a large sum on your creditcard upon checking in (800 euros!) as deposit. I understand the purpose of a deposit, but the large amount creates a feeling of unease, as if the hotel management prefers to act out of an instant distrust for their customers whilst you would expect trustable customers with these kind of prices.

I’d like to end on a positive note: really liked the location, the concierge service, the thick bathroom towels, and the super comfortable beds and pillows. Also our rooms and the hotels surroundings were - despite its central location - very quiet, which meant we could leave the windows open during the nights.

I will not be returning to the hotel Raphael. I’m convinced you can find hotels with better price-quality ratio.