Le Meridien Etoile

“Bland but convenient hotel in Paris”

Filled with tour groups and airline crews, the Meridien is a large modern hotel at the edge of Paris that checks off the boxes of what you need in a hotel but offers very little character or charm. The large lobby feels like an airport (entered through a classic airport revolving door!), hallway... more

Filled with tour groups and airline crews, the Meridien is a large modern hotel at the edge of Paris that checks off the boxes of what you need in a hotel but offers very little character or charm. The large lobby feels like an airport (entered through a classic airport revolving door!), hallways are endlessly long, rooms have low ceilings and my room was dark and decorated in shades of black and gray. While relatively large, the room also was poorly laid out with a large empty space without furnishings or a rack to hold luggage. As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, I was upgraded and given access to the Meridien "lounge" which consisted of a roped off area in the main dining room that was open from breakfast to early evening and included a vey limited buffet spread and access to coffee or drinks that could only be ordered through a single attendant, making it inconvenient to get beverages in a timely manner. I'm not sure if this is the permanent lounge or if this was a temporary set up. It seemed like the latter. On the plus side, the hotel service is attentive, from the front desk to the concierge. There are water dispensers and ice machines (a real rarity in France) on each hallway. The hotel's location seems like it is on the edge of Paris but is actually well connected to the city's excellent transportation network. The Porte Maillot metro stop is at the Palais des Congres across the street and the Etoile is just a 10 minute walk, with access to a huge transit hub (multiple metro lines and RER) as well as the Champs Elysees. Depending on your budget and the differential between rates at hotels in central Paris, the Meridien could be a perfectly good option. Just don't expect to be wowed.

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“Overpriced old hotel”

Platinum elite member here, Rooms are very small, people who have claustrophobia can avoid. Lounge is average but they dont refill unless you tell them to. Breakfast was average as well. They host it in their banquet hall. A bit overpriced for an average stay

“OK if you are attending an event at the Conference Center, otherwise I would opt for another place”

Kind of my own fault but then ... I arrived early at the hotel and was told that my room is not yet available. They made me wait for a full five hours (luckily at the "lounge"; more about that place later) and I thus expected a really nice room for my Platinum Elite status. Well, I was quite a bi... more

Kind of my own fault but then ... I arrived early at the hotel and was told that my room is not yet available. They made me wait for a full five hours (luckily at the "lounge"; more about that place later) and I thus expected a really nice room for my Platinum Elite status. Well, I was quite a bit disappointed. The room is of reasonable size but has a weird set-up with a bathroom (stand-in bathtub shower [which had no water pressure when I checked in so needed several plumber visit until hose was exchanged] and a separate toilet. I liked the fact that they have reusable water bottles which can be refilled at water stations on the floor. The servicing of the room was quite weak, one day no service until I called at 6pm and other times it was quite light touch. My biggest issue with the hotel is its breakfast place and the set-up of the "lounge". Turning to breakfast, the place is very big (and super busy with tour groups during my visit" and just felt like too much of a mass feeding place rather than a cosy Parisian cafe. What I just cannot understand is how they kept the buffet for 5 (!!!) days without a single change in the spread. Come on ... The "lounge" is weird as it seems to be a mix of an area with closed curtains to separate from the bar (?) and similar to the breakfast place 100% the same spread all the time. Another day, the lounge appeared to be the larger part of the bar with (you guessed right!) the same spread. Also, in both "lounges", no direct access to any drinks. Everything needs to be ordered. So negative a review? Sounds a bit like it. On the positive side, the location is great. Not far to the tourist sites if you venture in the direction of the Champs-Elysees and wonderful if you happen to join an event at the conference center which is right across the street. Would I stay here again, yes, if I had a conference to attend. Otherwise, I would happily return to the Marriott.

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