Hotel La Louisiane is a charming old hotel right in the heart of St. Germain des Prés - in a very busy (and very noisy) but exciting area. The accommodations weren't quite as clean as I would have liked but serviceable. We stayed in a one-bedroom suite on the top (6th) floor. The views of the street scene and distant monuments were spectacular, and access to the popular cafes and shops below made the visit special. The staff spoke English well and were very welcoming and accommodating, especially when my husband fell ill from food poisoning and a doctor had to be called (www.sosmedecins.fr is an excellent resource for reasonably priced house calls).
Pros:
- The neighborhood is extremely historic and vibrant, with cafes, shops, markets, Metro access, everything you could need right at your fingertips. The fun, traditional Parisian vibe of the neighborhood is truly special.
- Walking distance to top attractions is a huge plus
- Extremely charming old hotel with a history all its own
- Excellent, helpful staff, English spoken well
- Breakfast is basic and not overpriced for the area. It's very handy to grab a quick bite before heading out (visits to cafes are not cheap and take a very long time if you're in hurry to see the sights)
- A good value compared to other hotel options in the area
- New, dual pane, floor-to-ceiling windows (which opened onto a balcony in our case) were a huge plus
Cons:
- The room is very warm (no air conditioning of course). The temperatures were in the 60s and low 70s during our visit, yet we were sweltering in the room at night. Leaving the windows open helps a bit, but the street noise is a problem. We were provided one fan for our four guests, and an extra fan was not available when we requested it.
- Street noise is extremely loud until 1 am, even on weekdays, and noise started again early in the morning as shops set up on the street. I wore earplugs at night, which I highly recommend, but if you are extremely noise sensitive you will not be happy.
- Rooms were not as clean as I would have liked (4/5 stars)
- Bed/linens/pillows were OK for me but others in our party complained beds/pillows were not comfortable.
We enjoyed our stay at Hotel La Louisiane and were glad to have have an authentic, old Parisian hotel experience in a spectacular area.