I stayed at Hotel Massena with my mother and sister for two nights in their triple room. The room had not been serviced when I came in even though they knew of our arrival. I found the room to be extremely small, old, dirty with stains on the carpet and smelly (not at all like in the pictures). The corridors are dark and cramped. The triple room consists of two twin beds and a very uncomfortable sleeper couch, which was disappointing. Another negative point is that there are no coffee/tea making facilities in the room and the cost of buying hot drinks at the hotel is more than twice as much as buying them from the next-door cafe!

Hotel Massena is found in an excellent location, very close to the main attractions, La Madeleine etc. That was definitely the only highlight of our stay there. The reception was helpful. I think the hotel is in the process of renovation (there were paint stains in the lounge area) and this may improve the overall feel of the hotel. It is in dire need of a revamp!

This hotel is located in a great centrally located area of Paris, close to the shops at Galeries Lafayette and lots of nearby shopping. It provides easy access to lots of public transportation although nearly anywhere within the city you'd stay could offer that given how good the Paris public transportation is. Aesthetically this is a very cute boutique hotel although the lobby is really the best looking aspect of it. The room I stayed in was clean but incredibly small. There was very little "walking" space in the room -- literally just enough to get out of bed, walk to and from the door and the bathroom. I've heard this is standard for Paris hotel rooms but as an American, it definitely is something you have to get used to since even in the cheapest American hotels and motels, the rooms are spacious. The bathroom was very small and there were not enough outlets -- only one for a hairdryer but not one if you want to plug in a flat iron or any other electrical appliance which meant I was straightening my hair in the main room with no easy view of the mirror. The other somewhat annoying aspect was the use of old fashioned keys on a very large keychain with your room number stamped on it -- like a house key! No electronic key so guests are required to leave their key at the front desk each time you leave the hotel which initially seems quaint but quickly becomes annoying as you feel like you are checking in with mom and dad each time you come and go. I stayed here a week so these little Parisian quirks -- like the small room and key -- really began to grate on me but if you are in Paris for a few nights, these little quirks could be tolerable. The only other annoyance which became unbearable after my week's stay was the lackluster selection of tv channels. The only English channel was CNN International which gets old very fast. I know, one shouldn't be watching TV while in Paris but I was there for work and having been many times and given the weather, I wasn't as interested in sightseeing as much as down time in the room resting. The complaints aside, I will give them credit for having free internet access and again, the great location.

My husband and I just got back from our week-long trip, aka honeymoon, in Paris. We stayed at La Massena Hotel. It is very convenient to everything. I love food. I have L'Ecluse wine bar, Fauchon, Maxim, Paul Boulangerie, a few steps away. The hotel is a heaven for shopping lovers. Printemps and Galerie Lafayette in the north and Faubourg St. Honore in the south. The lobby looks exactly like the pictures on their web site. The room that I stay in is a little disappointed. It is one of the older room. (I got a better deal though). The room has a small fridge. Everything is small. After a week, we grew to like it and think that it is sufficient for us since we don't spend time in the room much. They said all the rooms are gradually remodeled. Ask for the newer room on the higher floor. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Contact the hotel directly for booking. You get a better sense of who you are dealing with.

Has to be a gem, doesn't it, if it is affordable, beatifully-run by warm and friendly staff, who keep it spotlessly clean, and is RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of PARIS. Most travellers would say those things just don't go together! At the Massena, they do. It might be unique. I have been staying there several times a year for more than ten years. I am not going to sing its praises any more, because you might fill it up permanently, and I might not be able to get in any more...

Any downside? The rooms are small, and the walls are thin, so you might hear noise from next door ... this is Paris, after all, so be prepared. If you want real Parisian rooftop charm from the windows, and a bit more space, book one of the two (slightly more expensive) 6th floor rooms