Major cross-streets: Rue Saint-Charles, Avenue Emile Zola
Nearest Metro station: Charles Michels
Taxi to/from Gare de Lyon: 20-25 euros, depending on time of day, traffic, etc
Web: http://www.turquoise.co.uk/Paris/Hotel_Carina_in_Paris.htm
We booked the hotel Carina from the Turquoise web site, above. On a previous trip to Paris we stayed in the Hotel Prince, which we also booked from the Turquoise site; when we tried to book it again for this trip, it was under renovation but the web-site suggested the Hotel Carina instead.
Unfortunately, the Hotel Carina is a poor comparison to the Prince in most respects. Situated in the 15th Arrondissement, the Carina is within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower (everything is walking distance if you have the time) though it takes about 30 minutes at more than meandering speed.
The hotel room itself was clean enough and functional, but was a tad run-down: some of the bathroom floor tiles were cracked or broken and many of the minor fixtures were broken or missing. Twice we had to go to the front desk to request more towels as the maid had left the room supplied for only one person.
Breakfast was served from 0700-0930 and consisted of standard continental fare, with hard boiled eggs and a plate of meats and cheeses available upon request (ask when you check in). Although breakfast was included in our package (as seems to be standard for most accommodation booked from the UK) it is optional when booking directly with the hotel and you can simply pay for any meals you’ve had when you check-out. The area in which the hotel is situated is relatively poor for good restaurants and after scouting around the neighbourhood, we mainly ate in the Latin Quarter and at some of the restaurants near Ecole Militaire.
All-in-all, I’m neutral about recommending this hotel; while there is nothing specifically about the Carina to dissuade a recommendation, there are comparable and slightly better hotels available for the same price in areas that are more centrally located and with better amenities.