Decent place, safe, helpful staff and well placed to get to evertything in town

Most regular folk checking out reviews of this hotel will probably be debating whether it is wise staying in an establishment branded as a "brothel" by many. To address that immediately -- my answer is that I never encountered any unpleasantness, noise, or sleaze during my 2 nights stay there. Avoid floors 3-4 (most tourists are put on the highest 7th floor anyway) and you wouldn't even realize there is a massage parlour in the building.

Location was perfect for me --away from the hordes of backpackers and tourists, in a very central but more local/Asian area. Perhaps for first-timers to PP, closer to the riverside or BKK lake might be better and more walking-tour-friendly, but repeat visitors familar with the city should find it easy grabbing a moto/tuktuk and explaining a destination (the drivers around here are cheaper but less likely to speak english).

Paris is a very "Asian-style" in feel, in the way that it focuses on the neccesities (cleanliness, price, convenience, safety) rather than the more "European" concerns of atmosphere, slick service, and family-friendliness. (I'm Singaporean Chinese, so I empathise with both camps).

The rooms are enormous for the price ($18) but quite spartan with harsh flourescent lighting, ancient wooden furniture, a firm bed, and a noisy air-con. Cleanliness is top notch though, an amazing feat given the age of the building and fittings. Shower is fine with real hot water and a bathtub to stand in (not to soak though). Two free bottles of water everyday, and replaced soap/toothbrush/towel too. Staff are extremely friendly and helpful, but may require a smiling, patient, non-condescending approach first, like anywhere else in this part of the world (something many of us tend to forget sometimes). TV had tons of channels including English cable and some channels of DVDs played in-house.

The disadvantages:
The duvet is flimsy and did smell a bit musty and could have done with a wash -- this was perhaps my biggest gripe. Aircon was slightly noisy but I was too lazy to change room (I got 707). Window drapes don't block out sunlight well so room doesn't stay completely dark in the morning.

All in, this is fantastic value for money at a level I have not seen anywhere else. If you can live with the small disadvantages, choose this place, and if you can't, prepare to pay at least double for a slight improvement. This hotel is off the typical backpacker/Lonely Planet traveller trail, and is all the better for it.

Have just spent 2 weeks at Paris, the front desk Guys are great value, they ensure you are safe by only allowing hand picked Motortaxi drivers to take you places, leave your valuables with them in a sealed bag which you sign the seals never had any problem obtained every second day and resealed. The Casino is closed and the first floor is now a pool room. OK the third floor is a massage parlour, but if its not your sence do not go there. For $20 per night I think this hotel is value for money. Laundry service with house maid $2 per load.
Good place for single guys and girls may not be what a family requires. Will stay each time in PP at Paris

Stayed here three nights (Feb 4-7 2009).. Ok.. let's get this out in the open from the start.. This hotel is actually part of (and physically attached) to the "Paris Club" which is technically (on paper) and casino-- yes with real slot machines and card tables-- but also a "massage service"-- which in Cambodia, almost always translates into a front for prostitution.. So.. some reviews here call this hotel a "brothel".. Is this right? If you go next door and indulge then yes, it is.. But if you just use the hotel part (and avoid the 3rd/4th floors) then no, it's just a normal hotel... Can you tell? On the 3rd and 4th floors-- yes you can.. otherwise no. Would I take my parents there.. Yes, but I'd tell them to stay clear of 3rd and 4th floors.. that's all..
Ok.. as for the hotel.. a very easy to get to location.. right on Kampuchea Krom.. It is not walking distance the riverfront and other major "tourist" spots, but with the price and availability of taxi's, trike's or tuk-tuk's this is not an issue.. 5-10 mins is all it takes to be almost anywhere in the city center from the hotel.. Fares should be $2 to $3 total.. The hotel itself is in very good condition.. a very small and basic lobby. There is a small 5-person elevator.. there is a lobby level restaurant, but it seems most guests eat out.. the front desk staff is friendly and willing to help you with most issues you may have.. In my case, I asked for several things during my stay: arrange for a reliable and safe driver for a day tour of the city, fax some papers to Japan (for work), have some laundry sent out for cleaning and arrange for a "legitimate" massage.. All requests were fulfuilled quickly and with excellent results..
The rooms? I got a room ($18 per night nett) on the 7th floor and it faced Kampuchea Krom. Yes, I was worried about street noise, but to my suprise there was little noise that I could hear... The loudest thing was the a/c unit running.. The hotel is built, like all buildings in Cambodia, out of concrete block and cement so it's solid and not alot of noise can be heard.. The room was nothing short of spotless and clean.. In size terms it's about the size of your average hotel room, nothing ususual.. How clean? Spotless-- I mean no dust, nothing.. Bathroom is fine.. western fixtures and a real tub.. hot water is the asia-norm "shower on the wall" but water pressure is fine and the hot water actually came out HOT.. The room fixtures? It's a basic room-- standard bed (asian style-- firm matress), night stand, small work desk and chair, fridge (2 bottles water a day) sitting chairs, coffee table and full sized clothes closet.. TV has a few local khmer channels, but most tv is from thailand or is international (CNN, Fox, etc.).. No pool, or anything like that.. There is a small gym-- I went to see it but it was small and with no windows or anything, I felt a little clausterfobic and I passed on using it..
My overall opinion? For where you are (Cambodia) and what you're paying ($18) it is an excellent value.. Does the "brothel" part bother me? No, it's not advertised and not pushed at you "in your face" so unless you have a moral objection, it should not be an issue. The staff? very efficient, friendly and get your needs met.