Simon's Boutique Hotel

We were there for a concert at the Adidas Arena, which is about 15 minutes away. The area does appear run down, but when you look closer, the graffiti is mainly on the premises that have shutters. It's a busy area, with shops open late, some possibly all night. Shops are only open because people are there to purchase. It's an area with lots of Oriental restaurants, which we had an excellent meal at. The hotel is a couple of minutes walk from the Metro station Marx Dormoy. (Line 12, green). The hotel. Very welcoming reception staff. Our room was as we expected for the price. Roomy enough for an overnight stay. I'd say I would be happy to stay there for longer. The public areas were spotless and there was a free glass of water available in reception. Lifts efficient and clean. The room was clean. The bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was spacious with a large shower. Towels adequate. The aircon worked, but even though we set it for a couple of degrees warmer, it didn't seem to change. However, to be fair, it was probably our error as we have had that problem in other hotels. We compensated by turning on the heated towel rail in the bathroom for a while! We opted for breakfast. Not the cheapest I know, but so convenient. The food was fresh. Scrambled eggs and sausages were the cooked option. It would have been nice to have had some cooked tomatoes or mushrooms, but as you don't have to reserve breakfast, waste could be a problem. Plenty of fresh mixed fruit, cold meats, cereals with fresh mild and a good selection of bread and brioche, plus unlimited hot drinks. We could have gone to the café on the corner, but probably would have paid more. The breakfast room was clean, spacious and welcoming. We were still sitting there after it should have closed and yet the staff member asked us if there was anything else we wanted and could he clear away. Bottom line, we would definitely stay there again if we wanted to be in the area. We arrived by train. Driving would have cost more with the tolls, parking and fuel. It would also have taken more than twice as long as the TGV.