When my wife and I went to France in August of 2014 for our delayed honeymoon, we did two days on the front and two days on the back end in Paris. Cambrai served as our lodging for our final three days in Paris, and we had a decidedly good experience. Categorically:
Location: 4 out of 5
You really can't beat the location of this hotel. It's within a literal stone's throw away from Gare du Nord, so if you need to get to/from the airport via the RER B or just go out and about on the RER, Metro, or bus system, this is a perfect spot. There's a Monoprix kitty corner from the hotel if you need quick lunch items or bottled water (1.5 liters of their "generic" water is only .29 euro). If you walk about 5 minutes in any direction, you'll find a plethora of quick dining options such as cafes and brasseries. As I mentioned though - you CAN get lunch items from the Monoprix. I would mention that as Suzanne noted, the windows that face Blvd de Magenta are notorious for street noise. If you're used to city street noise, e.g., people talking, ambulances, general hubbub, it won't bother you a bit. Having spent all of my adult life in the hustle and bustle of Chicago and Milwaukee, I found the street noise to be a minor distraction, but was still able to get a good night's rest with the windows open.
Customer Service: 4 out of 5
Towards the end of our trip, all the years of French I took in middle school, high school, and college came back to me, so I was able to converse quickly and efficiently with the staff in French. However, there were still a few moments when I couldn't think of certain words, and I'd have to revert to English. Stereotypes aside, we found that the staff here were extremely gracious, helpful, and friendly towards us.
Amenities: 2.5 out of 5
No frills hotel. There's free wifi in the lobby at all times, and you get a 20 minute voucher if you want to use the wifi in your room. The linens, toiletries, furniture, and bed are what you'd find either at a Motel 6 or Red Roof Inn. Nothing fantastic, bed slightly soft, but hey - if you're young and traveling on a budget, you really can't complain. As a plus, they do have free and secure luggage storage if you arrive early or are leaving late. There's a breakfast buffet available with advance notice, but honestly - either go to the convenience store or a small cafe (make sure to eat at the bar to get the "comptoir", literally "counter" prices) and you'll likely be better off. I don't know if you can request fans, but because this hotel didn't seem to have AC in the rooms, those that are not used to high'ish temperatures or those that are not in the best shape may struggle a bit to be comfortable, particularly if s/he refuses to open the windows due to the street noise.
Value: 4 out of 5
Everything in Paris is expensive, so it's sort of unreasonable to say, "I paid 75$ a night for a double room, I should have a huge room with a jacuzzi, etc. if this were in Sioux Falls, SD." I found 75$/night in the middle of August to be quite reasonable, considering the ease of access to Gare du Nord.
Overall: 4 out of 5. Would return and book here the next time I'm back in Paris. read more