Amy McPherson checks in to the 25Hours Hotel Paris and finds it’s a lot different from your average station hotel.
Unless you have a late night in or an early morning out from Paris’ Gare du Nord, staying around the station is normally not a desirable option. Most hotels close to major train stations are there for one purpose only – the convenience, and often lack the style and grace of a quality hotel in the City of Lights.
However, on a recent visit I did find 25Hours Hotel Paris Terminus du Nord an exception.
This is a hotel where convenience is a feature, but not of its only forte. Cocooned in an imposing 1870s Haussmann building, quite literally a stone’s throw away from the main entrance to Gare du Nord is a Eurostar passenger’s dream, at the same time, it is a hotel that says “I am here for you when you need me, and if you feel like it, let’s have some fun too!”
There are currently eleven 25Hours Hotels around Europe and one in Dubai, but upon entering the 25Hours Hotel Paris Terminus du Nord, you’d think it’s the only one. Embracing the diverse spirit of the 10th Arrondissement of its location, bright and colourful decors around the hotel are reminiscent of the golden days of rail travel, in particular of the grand Gare du Nord station.
Rooms are categorised from Small to Extra Large Plus. Installing myself to the XL+, I had a comfortable fluffy bed, generous shower space, plenty of floor room to practice yoga, great working desk space and in a surprise free mini-bar, which contains not just bottles of water, but beer, soft drinks and a packet of crisps, which I have been informed that the free mini-bar is available to all room types, not just the larger rooms.
Room decoration is perhaps not going to please those with traditional tastes, but if you are someone like me who does appreciate some bold colours and splashes of flamboyance, as well as random objects of yesteryear such as a rotation dial phone, then there’s ideas galore in each individually decorated room for your next renovation project.
This is all on top of the standard coffee maker and free wifi available in hotel rooms of similar quality. Pets are also allowed in 25Hours Hotel rooms.
Another thing about hotels around train stations is that they certainly never have the sort of view like this one. Outside my window is the grandeur of the 19th-century building façade, with statues of beautiful goddesses representing the European cities served by the original station, with the centre statue representing Paris.
So it’s not your dream Parisian view of the Eiffel Tower, but I did use this chance to have a good look at this station I’ve travelled in and out of so many times, and the sheer beauty of it close up, especially just as the sun sets behind the far corner of the building in a purple-pink hue is magnificent.
Dinner time at 25Hours Hotel Paris. The hotel’s Neni restaurant, where breakfast is also served, has a creative Israeli menu full of delightful and delicious dishes, and not extraordinarily expensive as you would expect from a hotel of this calibre. Service is friendly and is the most convenient option if you are not up for a night out and don’t want to risk the ‘fast cuisine’ around the station. For a nightcap, do pop into the eccentric Sape Bar on the same floor, with an extensive menu of spirits and the softer stuff for every taste.
A few little things that stood out for me at 25Hours Hotel Paris, are the offer of bicycles to explore Paris with, as well as shopping tote bags in the room in case you’ve forgotten to bring your own. There are free tap water refills at reception, and the bottles of soap that remind us to turn off the tap while using it are just some of the little reminders of things we could individually do for the environment.
As for its location, Gare du Nord is one of the most convenient transport hub of Paris. With mainline rail to the north, the Metro and RER lines, and only a five to ten minutes’ walk away from Gare de l’Est with its own additional Metro and RER lines, you could get anywhere just by stepping out of the hotel. Whether you are only stopping for the train, or spending a weekend sightseeing, there is really no better place to stay in Paris.
Tell Me More About 25hours Hotel Paris Terminus Du Nord
25Hours Hotel Paris Terminus Nord 12 Bd de Denain, 75010 Paris, France
T: +33 1 42 80 82 00
Eurostar’s regular service from London St Pancras International arrives at Gare du Nord in 2.5 hours. Paris is also served by various airlines from major cities in the UK and Europe.
