Hotel Sophie Germain, 12, Rue Sophie Germain, 75014 Paris. Tel. 01 43 21 43 75; website: www.hotelsophiegermain.com If being right in the centre of the city is your thing, this hotel could be just the place for you. But if you are looking for frills and a touch of luxury to go with a romantic break, it might pay to look elsewhere.
. How do you get there? We flew with easyJet from Bristol International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle. We pre-booked a taxi from the airport to the city centre with Paris Shuttle (www.parishuttle.com). Our driver spoke very good English and kept us well informed about what to look out for as we travelled through the city centre. The journey from the airport to the hotel took 15 minutes longer than our 45-minute flight
. First impressions: We were a little underwhelmed on arrival, being dropped in a side street. The Hotel Sophie Germain is a three- star traditional hotel built in the style of a town house. The small reception had two bedrooms leading off it. We took the tiny lift to our fifth floor room.
. What are the rooms like? Ours was fine – clean and tidy, if a little basic, with a small bathroom with a shower. The hotel is right in the centre of Paris, where space is at a premium. All 33 rooms have satellite TV, with limited English channels, and a mini bar.
. What else can you do? Nothing much really – except rest your head. But you are right in the centre of a buzzing city, so you’ll find that every attraction is within easy reach.
. What’s on the menu? Only breakfast is offered and this is self service continental. We enjoyed a selection of cereals, toast, yoghurt and pastries. It was simple but substantial. There are plenty of places to eat within 500 yards of the hotel in all directions.
. Any gripes? We were disappointed there was no bar. It would have been nice to sit and relax after a day’s sight-seeing. The hotel’s website paints a better picture than the reality.
. How much does it cost? Our double room cost just under 100 euro per night.
. The verdict: As a base to sleep, it was fine for two nights, but we would have been disappointed if we had booked for longer and would have become fed up with the limited breakfast options.
RL & KL
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