Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel – A Review By Punam Mohandas
The most unbeatable factor the Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel has going in its favour is of course, the location and therefore, the VIEW. It is slapbang next to the Eiffel Tower, affording some lucky guests a bird’s eye view of the iconic structure that attracts millions of tourists every month.
The lobby is a light and airy space, with pillars in light blue glass that further enhance this perception. Curved settees in bright red occupy one half of the room that also has a pool table. Two computers for complimentary guest use are available here, although there is free wifi across the hotel. Facing this seating area are chilled cabinets with juices and sandwiches (on a payable basis) as also a chocolate cabinet. Off to a discreet side of the room is an exclusive check-in lounge for Accor Loyalty members.
The Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel boasts of a key inventory of 405, with ten rooms for the physically challenged. Room categories are as follows: Classic (18sqm); Privilege Room (18sqm); Privilege Room with Eiffel Tower View (18sqm) and Suites (26sqm.) Only 20-rooms actually offer views of the Eiffel Tower; the Pullman, adjoining the Mercure and also an Accor hotel, has more rooms with the Eiffel view.
Ascending to the rooms is a novel experience too, as the lifts are marked as A, B and C, with the floor buttons on the outside. Once you press the floor number you wish to go to, the panel will indicate which lift you need to take.
All rooms have a touch of deep violet (which is the Mercure colour) in the drapes, throw cushions and bed runner. All rooms also have headboards depicting prints of the famed tower, taken at an angled shot.
The Classic rooms have queen sized beds and, apart from the view and the size, offer the same amenities as the other room categories. The Privilege rooms with the view have queen size beds and a small settee. Deep purple drapes offset a printed grey and brown upholstered chair. The bathrooms are quirky spaces, following the contours of the room. The Privilege rooms without the view overlook the cityscape and follow the same quirky interior angles for the toilet and shower and have all the same fitments.
I stayed in room 1207, which is the best suite of the hotel. The seating space is divided into two sections, one more secluded and cosier, with a frontal view of the tower, while the bedroom is a smaller, more intimate space. It is the most astounding, incredible sight to wake up to the view of the Eiffel Tower looming through your window – very few experiences in the world can beat that and I feel so privileged and so thankful to the general manager and his team for giving me the most fabulous room in the hotel! The view is absolute and staggering – one can see the Eiffel Tower from every window, seemingly close enough to touch! I was further honoured to have personalised welcome touches in balloons filled with coloured confetti, a box of French macaroons, scented candle and the word ‘welcome’ spelt out on the bed in glitter paper roundels.
All Privilege rooms and Suites offer guests the comfort and convenience of Nespresso machines. (Note: Classic rooms provide only ordinary water kettles and tea/coffee sachets.) Furthermore, these room categories (apart from the Classic) also provide a complimentary selection of minibar beverages such as Evian water, juices and coke. Apart from this, all the rooms have electronic safes and flat screen televisions. The lighting has been well designed, with strategically placed reading lights as well. However, there are no irons or ironing boards provided in the rooms.
F&B options include the 50-covers Bar Lounge on the first floor, done up in crimson and light blue, with wooden tables and sofa seating in light grey and a startling model of the Eiffel Tower in fuchsia. There is a pool table here too, as also some books kept for guests’ reading pleasure. The main restaurant, Le Jardin, has 115-covers and is done up in pale and dark grey; lots of glass panels and doors further enhance an ambience of light and space. Le Jardin is so named because it overlooks a small garden, quite uncommon to be found in the heart of Paris. Climbing rose bushes and tastefully arranged seating make this a very tranquil space. The restaurant also offers a special Sunday brunch where children are kept busy with a selection of animation films, leaving the parents free to enjoy their meal. Quite apart from this, it is interesting to note that this French hotel brews its own beer!
Convention facilities number six halls, namely, Convention A, seating 50pax; the Arts et Metiers B, seating 40pax; Olympiades C with 45pax capacity; Plaisance D with 45 pax; Dupleix E at 40pax; Bonne Nouvelle F at 30pax and the Grand Dupleix E+D 80pax, while the Grand Plaisance opened up E+D+C can accommodate150pax (all seating mentioned is theatre style.)
As with most Paris city hotels, the Mercure too does not have a swimming pool, however, it does have a small fitness centre with basic equipment but, my God – WHAT A VIEW!
The front desk staff are knowledgeable and friendly and cannot be praised enough for going the extra mile in ensuring guest comfort. F&B is brisk and efficient. Housekeeping unfortunately needs to pull up its socks – and how! The staff seem to think their job is done by replenishing towels and straightening the bed linen, while actual clean-up such as washing the teacups or tidying the room is the guest responsibility! Pest control is adequate and engineering, in terms of boiler and air conditioning, is satisfactory. The beds can be a tad uncomfortable, as they don’t mould well to the back.
As is quite apparent by now, the Mercure is adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, so that is one of the major attractions ticked off right there! From the hotel, take the train (single journey tickets: 1.90 euros) to Charles de Gaulle Etoile station to go to the Arc d’ Triomph. From here, you can walk down the Champs Elysses boulevard all the way down to the Grand Palace. Continue on this route for the Tuileries Garden and still further till you come to the Pont Neuf, now the bridge of locks (the original bridge of ‘love’ had begun sagging under the weight of the locks so the government has now disbarred it from more signs of undying love!) Across the road from here is the Louvre, with Leonardo da Vinci’s world famous Mona Lisa painting. A little more walking will get you to the Notre Dame cathedral.
As you can see, all the notable attractions are pretty much on the same route and it IS possible to walk through all of these leisurely, in a couple of hours. However, if you’re not that adventurous to walk around, the best bet would be to buy one of the Hop On, Hop Off bus tickets.
I would totally recommend a cruise down the river Seine, simply on account of the many bridges that are works of art in themselves. The cruise takes you through 22 bridges and the ticket is 15 euros per person (this isn’t the fancy cruise; the dinner cruise would cost more.)
Food: apart from champagne and other wines, notably, white Alsace and Riesling and the red Bordeaux and Burgundy, you must have the French crepes, either sweet or savoury. French food is cooked fresh and has some outstanding dishes, if you eat meats.
All major airlines fly into Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris. If you are planning on taking the bus from another European city – as I did – try and ensure you get dropped at Bercy Seine station. From here, it is a bit of a walk to get to the metro. For the hotel, you need to get off at Bir Hakeim stop, cross the road and across a square where you will see people selling souvenier kitsch (the Eiffel Tower too will be clearly visible.) Take the right from this square and walk down to the hotel. If you are planning on taking the underground train, then the station for the Mercure will be RER C Champ de Mars, again, quite close to the hotel.
MERCURE PARIS CENTRE TOUR EIFFEL
TEL: +33 145 785000
FAX: +33 145 789142
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.mercure-paris-centre-tour-eiffel-hotel.com
Punam Mohandas asserts her right to be identified as the author of this work. Any views or opinions expressed in this review is that of the author.