We spent 5 days in Paris, our first time there. Let me start with the Hotel Splendid Etoile. This was the perfect location, especially if arriving at CDG airport. I was slightly worried about how we would get into central Paris and find the hotel. I didn't want to pay a very costly transfer but I need not have worried. We flew with Air France and on their site I stumbled across their airport coach service. We got an Air France coach (Line 2) right outside the Terminal for 12 euros return and 30 mins later, after one previous stop, it stopped right across the road from the hotel! The hotel also had a metro and RER stop literally outside the front door - via a lift to the underground station - CDG Etoile.

The hotel has charming & clean rooms with a traditional French feel and well equipped - mini bar, safe, bath robe etc. Tea & coffee would have been nice but I appreciate that this is not normally a feature of many European cities. An iron would be helpful for longer than 5 day stays but it wasn't a problem for us. Breakfast was an excellent buffet with a good variety. Staff throughout the hotel were friendly and pleasant. Farooq, the concierge was especially helpful and gave us excellent directions to Palace De Versailles. There was free internet just off the lobby where we could check e-mails and check-in online for our trip home.

The hotel was steps from the L'arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees and there we caught the open top bus tour. We paid for a 2-day ticket and with 4 routes it was a great way to see the City. But beware – it is a free for all when the bus stops. The pushing and shoving to try to get on was terrible. We have been on the tour buses in New York and Barcelona and they were well organised – but this phew!! Most of the culprits we experienced were French; maybe they have a thing against tourists.

We were told that to eat on the Champs Elysees was expensive but we found a very nice eatery that we would recommend. The Bistro Romain offers a two-course meal for 15 euros or three courses for 20 euros with a beer or glass of wine for only 2 euros extra. This was great value as the food was excellent and right on the Champs Elysees in the shadow of the Arc.. If you are nervous watch out for the pigeons – they were on the top of the canvas looking for scraps and flew down even onto empty tables. On our second time there we asked to be moved inside because a child was throwing scraps and they were everywhere!!

At the end of our trip it was reassuring to just walk across the road and catch the bus back to the airport – no hassle. A very pleasant trip and an excellent hotel. Well done Farooq and everyone at the Splendid Etoile.

We booked this hotel to stay celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and it was very special. The room (307) was lovely with a balcony and view of the Arc de Triumphe. The chief concierge Farooq and every member of staff on the desk were excellent in the way they looked after us. We would recmmend this hotel for it's quality, location and staff and will definitely book again. Mr & Mrs Thompson - Northern Ireland

We booked this hotel through the Travelzoo special which included breakfast, bottle of wine and river cruise. I am not sure if we got an upgraded room, but we did have a balcony and almost a view of the Arc. The room was not large, but the bathroom was very nice and the wireless was a bonus. We enjoyed the river cruise and the concierge made us dinner reservations at a wonderful escargot restaurant per my husband's request. The breakfast was filling, but probably would have skipped it if we had to pay full price. The location is really what makes his hotel fabulous.

The best things about this hotel are the location and free wireless internet. My husband and i were very disappointed with this hotel, especially when we saw our room. I think the photos on the internet of this hotel's rooms are actually of the suites, not of the standard hotel rooms. We booked a standard room, and it was tiny.(I do understand that European rooms are generally smaller) Our room only had a view of the building next door, The bed was a double bed (not queen or king size), with very standard bed linen and pillows. The tv in the room was tiny, and not flatscreen. The hotel lifts are so small that some families had to leave their pram/strollers in the hotel lobby as you couldn't fit a stroller and 3 people in the lift at the same time. When you check in you will be given a room key with a huge key ring, which you must leave with reception if you exit the hotel (no electronic keys here). To me this hotel felt like it's stuck in the 80's, and hasn't moved with the times at all. Unfortunately i couldn't recommend to stay at this hotel.