Hôtel Beaubourg (Paris, France)

There is no ‘impersonal' element here. There are just 28 rooms and staff members couldn't be more helpful in ensuring that you get best value from your stay. Everywhere is impeccably clean.

You are close to many of the city's prime tourist attractions: the Pompidou Centre, Isle St. Louis and Notre Dame, to mention a few. Why stay on the outskirts in a more expensive hotel and incur time wasting, costly travel ... when you can stay in this delightful hotel!

If a light sleeper, request a room on the side of the building overlooking a charmingly peaceful courtyard. Also, as a rule of thumb, the higher the floor, the quieter everything becomes.

Paris is notorious for its small hotel rooms so you'll be pleasantly surprised here-but not for long. Rooms are still considered by many visitors to be very much on the small side.

There's that horrid smell of mold and decay. Everything looks old, dated and is begging for a refurb. As part of any improvement programme, they should add soundproofing. As it is, you can hear neighbours coughing, snoring ... and doing all manner of other things.

Beds are hard and lumpy. Sometimes it's best for a hotel not to bother providing toiletries. Here, they offer a cheap, eyebrow raising, all purpose soap; no shampoo, conditioner or anything like that. Also, there's no room safe. That's surprising and not re-assuring.