Location, Location, Location
Friday, May 5th, 2006
Hotel Tremoille - Paris
They often say in real estate that only three things matter: Location, Location, Location. Well, the Hotel Tremoille in Paris has these three things going for it, but that’s about all. The hotel is located in Central Paris on a (apparently) little known street called the rue de la Trémoille. When we arrived in Paris and got of the bus from the airport, we asked, in our broken French, where this street was located. The policeman checked his map and told us: “it is not in my guide”.
Hmmm, problem one.
Once we found the hotel, which is situated in between three of the most famous and travelled streets in Paris (Avenue Georges V, The Champ Elysees and Avenue Montainge), we discovered problem two. The hotel is rather shabby. Now, one might object and say that we are just a couple of pampered Americans that don’t understand European elegance. However, the humidity in our room was jungle-like, and the bed was quite possibly the lumpiest bed in any hotel in France. And believe me, I have slept in some pretty lumpy beds in the South of France as a college student including one that I rented in a shack owned by a fisherman in Marseilles.
Now for problem three: the management doesn’t seem to like Americans much. While much has been said of the animosity between the French and the Americans, for us it was palpable. When an Italian couple came it was hugs-and-kisses, but for us, the cold shoulder.
All that being said, the location is unparalleled. Walking distance to the Arch de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower and a short car ride to the Louvre, it really is close to just about everything. It is also quite close to the “memorial” for Princess Di, which we came across completely by chance.
My recommendation: location isn’t everything and avoid the Hotel Tremoille.