Les Bulles de Paris, "The Bubbles of Paris", is a boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter a block down from the Sorbonne. Comprised of only 6 room floors, it has 44 guest rooms. Standard rooms are decorated in 5 different decor and there are 7 different types of suites, but all are decorated around the idea of champagne. We stayed in a gold and silver "Women in Champagne" room.
We were two single women traveling together and chose this hotel among several others offered in a package deal by TripMasters. We paid for an upgrade through the agency based on our getting 1) two beds instead of one and 2) breakfast included. When we checked in, we learned our room had one Double. We explained to desk staff that's not what should have been reserved for us. There was confusion, real or feigned, we could not tell. They said they would make adjustments, and we got the impression they would either move us or come move and remake the beds. Neither happened that first night. Since one of us is a light sleeper, we pulled the beds apart and made due with the linens. The second night of our 2-night stay, they made up the beds as twins.
The room was cutely appointed but very tight for two people who didn't want to be on top of each other, so to speak. The loveseat became the luggage holder such that there was no place to really move let alone sit down. A corner armoire serves as the closet, but we didn't use it because we stayed only the 2 nights. The one-person bathroom had a small shelf and no counter. It was absolutely adorable and we made it work. Luckily the mild Fall weather made opening the doors to the balcony possible so we didn't feel so closed in.
European rooms are typically smaller, so we certainly expected that. But the hotel seemed far from full in November (we were one of only 2-3 parties down in the breakfast room, the bar was never open) such that they might have given us a bigger room having had our request for beds.
Breakfast varied some but was always good with a selection of cold smoked meats and salmon, cheeses, pastry and croissant, eggs, potatoes and sausage or bacon. One day champagne for mimosas was available, the next it wasn't.
Desk staff gave a helpful suggestion for dinner one night upon being asked, but otherwise weren't particularly helpful. I remember being surprised to hear them speaking fluent English due to initial interactions. Apparently, there were champagne events that could be reserved in the bar or perhaps a Happy Hour of some kind. We weren't informed. I saw on their website after returning home that there is a spa in the basement. Massages can be arranged for singles or couples. Who knew.
Based solely on its theme, this hotel lends itself nicely to a romantic couples get-away, anniversary stay, ringing in New Year's Eve, or a Girls' trip. But definitely do your homework on-line; they have a good website. (Relying on the travel agency for info, we saw it only after-the-fact.) Les Bulles might be best for fairly independent, experienced travelers rather than the likes of the helpless and hapless American couple checking out the same morning we did. The hotel was to have called them a taxi to the airport, and they waited well over an hour and (almost?) missed their flight. Our easy-peasy plan to roll our bags 5 blocks to the metro and then transfer to the train to CDG went off without a hitch. read more
