Hotel les Arcades

Exit the train station, look up and you’re home. Located in a residential building in the middle of the action, the two-star Hotel les Arcades boasts a friendly staff, reasonable rates and modern décor—and did we mention convenient location? When we took the elevator, which the apartment building’s residents share with hotel guests, we met an octogenarian who said she had lived in the building since the ‘60s. She told us that the hotel was “très correct.”

The hotel’s 28 black-and-white guestrooms are shrouded in neutral tones. Each room is unique, with various tasteful pieces from the past few decades that somehow work together. Each room is equipped with a TV, a telephone, minibar and free Wi-Fi.

The modern color palettes extend into the bathrooms, which vary in size. Some rooms have larger spaces complete with a bathtub, while others only have a tiny shower. And while all are private, the (somewhat claustrophoic) toilets corresponding to some rooms are located outside the rooms in the hallway.

The reception area’s white walls are punctuated by wooden furniture, a heavy mirror and the occasional flower vase. It’s not exactly well-designed, but they try. This space also doubles as an open breakfast room, with upholstered dining chairs and a random mini-palm plant.

You know you’re going to get good service when the chambermaid doesn’t hesitate to tell you that the management is “strict but fair.” For guests, that translates to comfort and convenience, with good service.

Breakfast is included in the room rate. Note: Always take the elevator—the emergency stairs are littered with beer cans and ciggie butts, although you can’t really fault the hotel for it. Also, considering its location, it’s a given that the Hotel les Arcades has some noise problems. Avoid the rooms facing the station, unless you enjoy listening to trains screeching to a halt.