We had a pleasant enough visit. We were there for 4 nights. We had two different rooms. Is it me? The bathrooms were not up to American snuff...toilets did not smell clean and mold was growing in the shower and on bathroom walls.

Up side to this, being on Rue Cler and having the cafes, shops and markets at your doorstep were great. The Eiffel Tower was a nice stroll, maybe 4-5 blocks away.

Bring a shopping bag and on nice days pick up lunch at the different shops and walk to the ET for a great afternoon.

Hint: If you reserve Room 51, you can see the top of the ET, great to leave the windows open at night and watch the tower lights sparkle.

Paris hotels are pricey, especially with the U.S. Dollar in the poor shape it's in--so it was a pleasure to find a nice place that was very reasonably priced. I found the hotel from Rick Steves and think it's a fine little hotel, thanks Rick! The staff all spoke good English and were very gracious, my room was small but clean--once again the price was outstanding for Paris, and the Rue Cler neighborhood was a fun location. It is easy to get to anywhere from this neighborhood. I would return, absolutely and recommend to my friends. If you are expecting better then you will absolutely pay for it. I was very content with calling Grand Hotel Leveque my temporary home in Paris.

We chose this hotel based on location and price, as well as many positive reviews here on TA. We were not disappointed!

The Room: Yes, it was small, but by no means tiny. We had enough room for 2 large suitcases, carry-ons and more. There was an armoire in which we hung a few things as well as a safe (where YOU set the combo) for valuables that we didn't want to walk around with. The room in general was clean, although a bit worn. We had a streetfront room on the 2nd floor and had no noise problem, other than hearing the seafood place across the street setup in the morning (lots of ice!)......but that was the sound of Paris! We enjoyed some great weather, so kept the windows open at night and the cieling fan on....no A/C needed. The bed was comfortable, although I was so tired at the end of our days that I don't think it would've mattered much! The bathroom was small but very clean. Had adequate supplies of paper products, although I'm sure you could ask for more if you ran out! Plenty of hot, hot, hot water....felt really good after a long day of sightseeing and walking around the city! No electrical plugs in the bathroom for my hairdryer (although they do provide one), but they do have an outlet and mirror in the room. The view of Rue Cler was fantastic!

The Staff: We were happily greeted on every arrival and departure by the person at the reception desk. They speak very good Engish and gave good information on directions to several places we inquired about. They were also very friendly and understanding when I was feeling under the weather and my BF went to inquire about a local pharmacy and getting me something to drink. I was a little weary of leaving my key at the desk every time we left, but there was a person at the desk every time we were there, so didn't worry about it much.

The Location: I cannot tell you how perfect the location is!! As all the previous reviews will say, the location CANNOT be beat! We were a 15 minute walk from Invalides and the Siene, and 15 minutes in the other direction to the Eiffel Tower. The Metro stop is at the end of the street and just around the corner. Rue Cler was a wonderful little street and has just about everything you need, including a pharmacy and a post office. There is a supermarket just in front of the metro stop to pick up snacks and drinks. The surrounding neighborhood is somewhat quiet and residential (compared to the more cental areas), and a little less crowded which was nice since we were sightseeing with the masses during the day. There are plenty of good restaurants to found as well. We always felt safe, even after midnight as we walked around.

MISC: The elevator is tiny.....one person and a small piece of luggage only! We did not have breakfast at the hotel as there were crepes and croissants literally outside waiting for you.....a better value! Although we didn't use it, they do have internet access (free) for guest use......sometimes there is a wait, especially during peak times.

Overall, we had a great stay! The GHL is optimal for those travellers who want a clean, comfortable room in a safe area that will not break the bank. If you want a bellman, chocolates on your pillow and a swanky lounge, the GHL is not for you. We went to experience Paris, NOT a hotel room!

Cheers!

Stayed at the Grand Hotel Leveque on two different occasions on my European vacation this month and I was disappointed both stays -- so much so, that this return customer will NOT be returning.

First, I understand that this is a budget property. Any GHL visitors should not expect to be in the lap of luxury with hotel staff at your beck-and-call. However, any hotel, motel, or inn (no matter the price charged) must be clean. The GHL fell short on this requirement for both stays.

To illustrate: There was not enough toilet paper in either room (only the last few squares leftover from the previous tenant remained); in the 2nd room the curtains were stained with what appeared to be blood splatter, as well as some other crusty "goo" on the other panel; and the bathroom smelled like a dirty public restroom.

Additionally, the first room was not the room class that I had reserved and confirmed. (The hotel DID make sure that for my 2nd stay of the trip that I got the room type requested, but only the view was better.)

Hotel staff ran the gamut from brusque to rude and were not helpful in contacting the airport shuttle, despite it being a toll-free call. Lastly, there is a rule (it may be somewhat new) where you turn in your key anytime you leave the property. I find this extremely unsettling and unsecure.

The only bright spot for the GHL is the location amidst Rue Cler. It is a great little market street closely situated near the Eiffel Tower and the Invalides.

I am all for budget accomodations, but there is a limit. I did not spend more than 120 Euros for any room in any part of France or Italy (and most were in the 90-95 Euro range). The difference between the GHL all the other hotels/inns/B&Bs was like night and day. I can no longer recommend the Grand Hotel Leveque. It is a poor value, even for a budget traveler.