Best Western has so many hotels in Paris, I can’t count them. They are all privately
owned, all different, so one doesn’t know what to expect. Fortunately, the chain has a
good website that offers info and pictures that make choosing easier. Our Best Western
Val de Loire in Azay-le-Rideau was a charmer, but the two-star Albert Premier’s
strong point was convenience for the rail traveller.
I wanted a location near a major rail station because we would be dragging our luggage
in and out of Paris to ride east to Alsace and Lorraine and back. (Metro stations do not
have elevators, and my luggage would be heavy--so it must be a national rail station.)
There it was! Best Western had a hotel in the building Gare de
l’Este! When I called to book, I was told it had been sold, and the lady wouldn’t tell
me "To whom?" Nevertheless, her listing found the one closest to it. Albert Premier
was only 200 meters from Gare de l’Este, only 100 meters from Gare du
Nord. This establishment may be exactly what anyone travelling on a railpass wants
in Paris, as long as he doesn’t demand luxury.
Out the front door of Gare du Nord, we turned left and found the triangular
building on the corner a block away. Immediately, I expected a small trapezoid-shaped
room, but the coffeepot would make up for the size of our quarters. Our fifth hotel in
France, this was the only one that let us have a pot for heating water. Front desk arranged
a tray with two cups and packets of coffee, tea, and cream. We had brought filters to pour
hot water through, and this worked well enough that we could have coffee while we were
getting ready to go out.
Our room had a desk and two chairs. I was not fond of the lattice-covered bed and closet,
but everything was clean, including the well-stocked, efficient tiled bath. We had no
trouble in this room repacking our bags and getting ready for our flight. Then we simply
wheeled our luggage to Gare du Nord and got RER B to Terminal 1. Our only
problem concerned noise from the street, as our air wasn’t working. I will ask about
temperature control before I book here again.
A breakfast room was nicely set, and I believe breadfast was 6,5 euro. The room was only 72 euro, hard to
find in downtown Paris.