Le Meridien Etoile: A Pleasant Stay in the Heart of Paris

Taking the Air France bus from CDG airport to Paris, you are dropped off at Porte Maillot facing the Palais des Congres on one side and Le Meridien Hotel on the other. I have been waiting for the opportunity to try this famous hotel until I finally got the chance last week. I spent five nights in one of Paris's renowned business addresses - a pleasant experience which could have been much better.

A big revolving door, a huge lobby, a concierge desk and many screens around welcome you before reaching the reception. Five receptionists take care of you introducing one of SPG's main brands: Le Meridien. I was appointed to one of the new rooms. What they call "Chambre Urbaine". I imagined something big and relaxing, but instead I entered into one of the smallest rooms any hotel has to offer. It wasn't a big deal though, as the amenities and services were good enough to spend a memorable stay.

The Pluses:

• A newly refurbished hotel making the brand follow the twenty first century's trends
• The technologies this hotel offers especially the lobby screens, projections and lights takes you away from Paris' chaos and into an era of dreams
• A welcoming a smiley staff especially at the reception, a great first impression
• A calm and serene feeling follows you around the premises
• The vibrant jazz bar is the place to end a good night at
• Two computers on each flour offer free Internet and a printer is made available to finish your business

The room amenities and services:

• A working desk
• Slippers and a bathrobe in all bathrooms
• A wide LCD screen
• A loaded mini bar
• Complementary coffee and tea
• Four different pillows, each with a different feel depending on your preferences
• An ice dispenser on the floor with foam buckets
• Coffee vending machine
• Common offerings: shampoo, cotton rolls, cotton and bath gel

I would have expected more. Some missing details the hotel doesn't have:

• A complimentary water bottle is a must in a four star hotel (even though the tap water is drinkable, this should be mentioned as travelers don't know about it)
• A shoe mitt
• A radio station or apple dock
• Free Internet service in your room. Come on! It's the 21st century already. Internet should be free in all hotels. Le Meridien proposes a service by the hour for 7euros. Far too expensive.

Things I enjoyed:

• The jazz bar is a must try. Every night a band plays some famous tunes  from last century making your night enjoyable
• The screens and projections around the lobby are fun
• The bed is very relaxing and the blanket is thick and fluffy

A point to be taken seriously by management: 

In room 3073 - I don't know if it's the same in other rooms as well, the windows leak air and noise - making you hear the city's action by day and makes you cold at night. This point should be fixed as soon as possible. On another hand paying more than 250 euros per night is a bit too much for what you get: no breakfast and a tiny little room.