"We booked this hotel through the BW website, and it turned out to be the most affordable option given its location and proximity to metro and tram stations. The check-in process was smooth, and we are grateful to William for his professionalism. We stayed with our family in two rooms for five nights and were given the highest, 6th floor, as requested during booking.
The triple room, intended to accommodate two adults and a child, smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, so we were offered a free upgrade to a more spacious family room on the second floor, thanks to the forthcoming and helpful approach of the manager, Violet.
The hotel itself is somewhat outdated, with small rooms and tiny bathrooms, half-detached curtains, etc. The tiny elevator, which could fit only two people at a time, added quite a bit of nighttime noise and vibration to one of our rooms located next to it. However, the rooms were equipped with modern air conditioning, which made it unnecessary to open the back windows for fresh air—especially since, instead of fresh air, you could often smell cooking odors from the neighboring buildings’ back doors.
The buffet breakfasts were rather poor and did not meet the standards expected from a BW Plus hotel, nor those of travelers who prefer more than a croissant and a cup of coffee for breakfast—especially considering the price of €18 per person. It was quite annoying to have to ask for bread repeatedly and receive the same nervous reply, “I will check,” only to be given 3–4 slices of bread for several guests. Joceline, the lady in charge of breakfast service, seemed to spend more time staring at guests and waiting for requests rather than replenishing the food. Sometimes, she even declined requests nervously, well before the official breakfast closing time. This was the first time we felt genuinely uncomfortable with BW’s food service, as it almost felt like we were taking Joceline’s personal food rather than enjoying a prepaid hotel breakfast. We believe the management should address this issue promptly if they want to encourage guests to have breakfasts at the Hotel rather than eat elsewhere—which, in fact, many tourists chose to do.
Fortunately, there were several good dining options nearby, as well as a well-stocked supermarket just a one-minute walk away. The neighborhood felt safe, and we had no concerns about security at any time.
The location of the hotel is excellent. It is only a 1–2 minute walk from the Porte de Vincennes Metro station, where you can access Metro Line 1—the main line that easily connects to all the major sights of Paris, including Notre-Dame, the Opera, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and even to trains leading to Versailles and Disneyland (with a simple line change). Metro and tram tickets can be purchased directly at the Porte de Vincennes station entrance. Note that at some busy stations, such as Opera, tourists may be asked to show their tickets, so it’s advisable to buy them in advance to avoid fines.
Overall, Best Western 61 Nation is an average hotel offering decent prices compared to other chain hotels in Paris. Its convenient location and the responsiveness of its management are definite strengths that make it a reasonable choice for budget-conscious travelers."
