Unbeatable Location near the Eiffel Tower, but Lacks the Polish for the Price
I chose Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel primarily for its location, which is undeniably its strongest asset. However, given the premium price tag—nearly $3,000 NZD for a 5-night stay including breakfast—the facilities and service fell short of expectations.
The Pros:
*Prime Location: It is an easy walk to the Eiffel Tower, with scenic views along the Seine River right nearby.
*Convenient Amenities: The hotel is located right next to a shopping mall with familiar stores like Zara and H&M, as well as plenty of quick food options. Access to the Metro is also just a short walk away.
*Room Size: The room itself was quite large by Paris standards.
The Cons:
*Check-in & Service: After traveling for over 15 hours, arriving to a very busy front desk and a long check-in line was exhausting. When our key cards were issued, they didn't work, requiring another trip back down to reception. While staff seemed to be trying to help, the interaction felt borderline rude and dismissive.
*Room Condition & Layout: Although the room appeared generally tidy, it felt dated and wasn't thoroughly cleaned—there was lingering dust and the floors didn't seem to have been vacuumed during our stay. The bathroom layout was particularly odd, with the toilet situated right by the front entry door, meaning you had to walk across into the main bathroom just to wash your hands (especially inconvenient at night).
*Weak Amenities: The built-in hair dryer in the room was so underpowered it would have taken hours to dry my hair, forcing me to go down to reception to rent an actual hair dryer.
*Chaotic Breakfast: While the breakfast spread had a decent selection, the seating was inadequate for the hotel's capacity, resulting in frequent lines to get a table. Ending breakfast at 10:00 AM also felt surprisingly early for a major international chain.
Final Thoughts: You are primarily paying for the convenience and neighborhood. While the location was great, the outdated facilities, housekeeping oversights, and indifference at reception didn't match the price point. Unfortunately, this seems to be reflective of where the brand is heading, and I likely wouldn't choose to stay here again.
