A good, inexpensive hotel in Paris near Saint-Lazare station.
How I chose a hotel
I was looking for a hotel within walking distance of the Saint-Lazare train station, as we were leaving for the surrounding area for several days in a row. The goal was to be right next to the train.
I looked at the price after choosing the area. Then I read reviews, both good and bad, on various websites and looked at Google Maps.
Chose: Hotel de Geneve, Rue de Londres, 36 (9th arrondissement)
Location
Near the Saint-Lazare train station, a four-minute walk from the hotel to the side entrance.
I was worried that the area around the station would be uneasy and full of dangerous people. No, everything was fine – and we arrived late in the evening and walked to the hotel – it felt comfortable and quite safe.
Another advantage is the proximity to the Opera (we took the RoissyBus from the airport), and the Champs-Élysées is about a half-hour walk away.
There's a large supermarket at the train station where you can grab a snack. Cons: - there aren't any good, simple restaurants nearby - either bars or Asian cuisine options. We bought some goodies at Carrefour (a supermarket) one evening and ate at the hotel, and the other times we ate further away from the hotel, closer to the center.
The Hotel
The hotel itself is seven stories high and has an elevator. It's the first time I've ever seen such a small elevator - my husband and I barely fit in there!
And everything is very Parisian-esque.
I couldn't figure out how to photograph the bathroom - it's awkward, everything else is comfortable - but the camera just can't take pictures.
Breakfast is included in the price and starts at 6:30 - and that's my biggest problem. Twice we arrived at 6:30 sharp to make it to the 7:10 train.
And the first time, there was practically nothing ready for breakfast!
Only coffee, and then they started bringing out yogurts and cold cuts. There was no hot food, the eggs arrived as we were leaving, and the croissants were just opened later.
The second time was better, but they clearly weren't expecting anyone at opening time. And time was important to us.
On days when we could afford to take our time to have a leisurely breakfast, everything was perfect. Fresh croissants, six types of cheese (oh, my favorite – a Brie croissant with cappuccino), cold cuts, juices, eggs, pastries, yogurts, and the obligatory applesauce.
I'll also add that on the day of departure, early in the morning, we were offered a "grab and go" bag – they packed us some cold cuts, croissants, and yogurts. A small thing, but a nice touch! We had breakfast on the train.
Room
The room was tiny and at an angle (not square). For the two of us, considering we only stayed late in the evenings and early in the morning, it was enough, but no more.
Everything was standard—they cleaned daily and replenished everything we needed. The shower and sink were perfect.
Very quiet! The windows overlooked the courtyard, but we never heard our neighbors.
Cons: On the last day, the hotel internet didn't work in the room in the evening, although it worked in the hotel lobby.
Hotel Price
In September 2025, I paid €1,079 for a 6-night room for two, with breakfast.
I'm happy with the hotel, and I think it was a great deal considering our goals (close to the train station). #Paris #France #Hotels #Normandy