Probably the surprise of my first trip to Paris. The 5 nights that I stayed at the Hotel Franklin Roosevelt met my needs in terms of comfort, safety, wonderful customer service, and prime location to where I wanted to go within the city. The hotel is located within a three minute walk of Champs-Elysees, and probably a 12-15 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower if taking Avenue de New York from George V Boulevard (I've walked it several times- its easy!).
Upon arrival on Rue Clement Marot, you'll find that parking is at a premium, if you have a rental or otherwise. Street parking is very tight & compact. I wouldn't get stupid in upset the locals with bad parking habits, in that a police station is a block away. Just don't do it! Ask the front desk on where to park, if necessary.
The hotel is directly across the street from a cafe, + other restaurants (Chez Andre, Maison de la Truffe). If you can't find anything to eat, you aren't really looking. Cafes & restaurants are everywhere! Expect to pay between 50-60 Euros for a good meal with two people.
Now, the hotel interior. Very chique! You'll see the lobby & bar area completely in ruby red colors and mahogany, which I loved. The front desk agents of Pierre & Olivia were absolutely wonderful. Both agents were genuinely helpful with just about anything that you asked of them, and I certainly appreciated their genuine hospitality!
While there is an elevator that goes as far down as -1 (the lobby is on level 0), we chose to take the stairs everyday to our 2nd floor room. The stairs alone were fairly elegant, in that they had a circular (or curved) motion. The theme once again is ruby red, which tended to remind me of a French Baroque artwork. Upon entering the room, you'll have to use a key that weighs at least over 1 lb (you have to return the key to the front desk everytime that you leave the property).
The room itself is up to European standards- a little on the small size, yet quaint. The lighting system is configured for energy conservation, in that you have to turn on the master switch (shaped like a square) first, then the others accordingly. The room had wallpapering, yet that didn't bother me. The closet area had a TON of hangers to use (I counted 14), which was good considering that a bureau was missing. Two seating chairs, a desk, and one small table were just fine, in addition to two night stands. Yet my favorite room feature? The French doors that opened up to the balcony. The balcony alone is large enough to accommodate two chairs & a table, yet not huge. Just good enough. And the blackout curtains? Absolutely superb. I had no idea what time of day it was whenever these curtains were drawn. Just that good!
Breakfast seems to start late (7:00AM, or 7:30AM), yet ends at 12:30 PM. I was fortunate to have this included within my rate. Otherwise, expect to pay between 20-25 Euros per person. The breakfast is absolutely worth it. A true feast of an assortment of food & beverages that are nourishing. Its not just about style & presentation here- the Franklin Roosevelt also gives you plenty of substance, and sustainment with its food assortment (if you choose what to eat carefully) that you may not have to worry about eating until much later in the day. Magnifique!
I didn't notice any amenities (not that we needed them), but I did check out the bar. Decent prices for the bar (paid 7 Euros per bottle of Carlsburg beer). Good assortment of wine & alcohol, yet beer is limited to Heineken, Carlsburg, and something else. But seriously, do you really come to France for beer? I drank just on a whim, so I didn't mind trying a beer that I wasn't familiar with. It was good, nonethless.
Altogether, this hotel conveys a feeling of being small & intimate, with staff that is genuinely friendly. I never had the feeling of being in a super-large location such as a Westin, Marriott, or Hilton. However, I also never had the feeling of being in a cheap or moderately frugal hotel either. No, this hotel can actually be quite pricey, given the time of year or availability! Though not new in the least, it certainly didn't feel old either. And location-wise? Its just hard to beat.
Will certainly return. read more