Best Western Premier Faubourg 88

The exterior of the Best Western Premier Faubourg 88 is a vision of postcard Paris: a five-story building with a flat white facade and wrought-iron Juliet balconies. But interiors, done in 2013, are fresh, modern, and youthful, making this standout slightly above the city's plethora of mid-range options. Trendy bright-red plastic chandeliers illuminate the lobby, finished in light wood floors and a mirrored reception desk. There's a little window bench, but no real sitting areas to speak of, as the reception area opens directly into the breakfast room that doubles as a bar. The bar area's snappy black-and-white decor, a look that's repeated in the hotel's 30 guest rooms, takes a playful turn with tomato-red decals of motorized birds. With double and connecting rooms, the hotel mainly draws tourist couples and families.

The Best Western Premier Faubourg 88 is situated on a classic Parisian street in the city's 10th Arrondissement. Plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants are in easy walking distance, and the Poissonnière metro station (line 7) is just a one-minute walk. Gare du Nord station, with regional and local service, is an eight-minute walk. The Montmartre and Opera neighborhoods are each about a 20 minute walk. Most Parisian hotspots are reachable via public transportation in 30 minutes or less.

• 12-minute walk to Rue des Martyrs
• 20-minute walk to Sacre-Coeur
• Eight minutes to The Louvre via public transport
• 17 minutes to Moulin Rouge via public transport
• 20 minutes to Notre Dame Cathedral via public transit
• 20 minutes to Musee d’Orsay via public transit
• 25 minutes to Arc de Triomphe via public transit
• 30 minutes to Eiffel Tower via public transit 
• 35 minutes to Luxembourg Gardens via public transit
• 45 minutes to Charles de Gaulle Airport via public transit

Funky and modern, the guest rooms have a trendy look with white, black, and bright orange elements standing in sharp contrast. Accent walls covered in subway tile and black-and-white carpeting in a cheeky "QR Code" print set the tone. Dashes of color can be found in the orange runners and throw pillows on platform beds. Bathrooms are equally chic with subway tiled walls and floors, square sinks, and standing showers. Though small, bathrooms aren't quite as cramped as they can be in some central Paris hotels.  

Rooms are air-conditioned and include small desks, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, iHome docking stations, and free Wi-Fi. They also have coffee/tea service and minibars. Bathrooms come stocked with hairdryers and free individual toiletries. Entry-level Classic Rooms measure a minimum of 129 square feet, while Executive Rooms measure up to 258 square feet. The hotel's single suite measures 344 square feet and can accommodate up to four people. Connecting rooms are available. 

Like many small hotels in central Paris, this one has limited extra property features. The lobby multitasks as both a small breakfast room and a bar. Breakfast is simple buffet fare -- fresh bread and croissants, cold cuts, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, yogurt, coffee -- and costs an extra fee. The breakfast room is bright, but it can be a tight squeeze during the morning rush. Express breakfast and room service breakfast delivery are also available. After breakfast, the room transforms into a small bar, which is open 24 hours. The hotel also has a small patio and a Mac computer with a printer for guest use. Wi-Fi throughout the hotel is free. There is no fitness area, though this is typical of hotels in this area.

Reception is open 24 hours and guests find staff helpful. They can arrange for airport transfers, dry cleaning, luggage service, or can make recommendations. Pets are allowed for a reasonable extra fee, and cribs are available for families traveling with children.