Campanile - Paris Nord - Saint-Denis Centre - Grand Stade

What People are saying

Ok for an overnight stay - cheap and basic

Dancing_Badgeron 10/04/2016 23:36

I visited with two friends, staying overnight for a football match. I was a bit apprehensive reading some of the less than glowing reviews after my friend had booked (I did tell him to read Tripadvisor first!) but although they are not inaccurate it turns out it was okay for what we wanted. We arrived in the early afternoon. It was clear at once that we were not in a very salubrious part of Greater Paris - it's in the middle of a scruffy and run down shopping area, and the building itself looks unloved and unwelcoming from the outside. The location was actually what we wanted - not in terms of its general air of neglect, but because it is near the end of the A1 motorway and is handy for the Metro.

The reception area wasn't much more inspiring, the decor was scruffy and in bad need of refurbishing, but the welcome from the two members of staff at the desk was fine. They tolerated our pigeon French and spoke to us in English. Three rooms were organised - no keys, a pin written on a slip of paper - and breakfast ordered and paid for. The lift was scruffy too, but the rooms, although they clearly hadn't been decorated for some time, were in good condition - more on this later. Had we had any valuables I'd have been reluctant to have left them - there is no safe and I'm not convinced the place was very secure.

We didn't hang around and mooched off into Paris - the Metro station is directly opposite the hotel entrance, which is ideal - returning after a couple of pints (ok, three or four) a meal and a creditable draw for our team at around half midnight. I can see how the area might appear (might actually be) threatening after dark, but we were three large males and not a natural target for shenanigans. In any event we had no hint of trouble.

So now to our rooms for more than just a bag drop. My room (and my friends confirm similar experiences) looked like it hadn't been decorated for a while but was nice and clean and a good size. There was limited wardrobe space, a little cupboard, a chair and a desk (basically a wide shelf), There is no air conditioning - there was a heater which I didn't try and the window opened. The bathroom was similar - old, but clean. The shower was nice and hot, and the towels, although rather threadbare, were clean. I have read some reviews of rooms smelling of smoke - my room did not smell at all. The bed was very comfortable (I have back trouble and am sensitive to uncomfortable beds) and the linen fresh and clean. There is a kettle - I struggled to plug it in and ended up boiling water in the bathroom - never seen a plug behind a toilet before which was a bit weird and unsavoury, but I saw the funny side. I managed to plug it in correctly in the morning after a struggle (the socket was too close to the desktop) so partly my own fault.

A teabag and a couple of sachets of brown powder which purports to be coffee but bears little resemblance to it are provided, but no biscuits - still more than many continental hotels provide. I strongly recommend you don't drink the "coffee" unless you hate your own mouth and want to punish it - it was utterly revolting and best suited to serving to an unwelcome guest you really want to get rid of and never want to see again. And you have to drink it in those little plastic beakers which are normally provided in the bathroom for rinsing after brushing your teeth. The tea was ok.

Breakfast was a buffet -cereal is available, croissants, pain au chocolat and bread, along with jams etc, and cheese and cold meat. Unspectacular but adequate - not convinced it was worth €9.90 but that seems to be the going rate for breakfast.

So, overall - not remotely luxurious, I wouldn't want to spend more than a night there, and I wouldn't take my wife there - if that were the context this would have been a one-star review. However, I have marked the hotel in terms of how well it met our needs, and for a few lads looking for a cheap, clean and surprisingly comfortable bed for the night after a footie match it was fine, and should my team play in Paris again I'd stay there again.

Avoid!

Jodiejodiejodiejodieon 21/03/2016 03:31

We were booked in this hotel through a 3rd party so we weren't sure exactly what to expect. Despite the area (we knew it wasn't the best but it we were going to the stade de France for the rugby so it was very close) we tried to be optimistic. We aren't by any means snobs as long as somewhere is comfortable, clean and safe then we are happy. However, upon exiting the metro, straight away we were being hassled by people for money and cigarettes. Ok, we thought- the area is a little run down. Let's go to the hotel and unwind after a day of travelling. Upon arrival the staff seemed friendly but when they told us our room number for some reason the gentleman thought it was appropriate to read out of pin code for our room. Straight away this put me on edge considering the reception was busy. We entered our room and straight away we were hit by the smell of stale smoke, absolute revolting! The room was dirty, the carpet was stained and extremely old!

I went downstairs and very politely explained that the room smelt of cigarettes and could we be moved to another room to which the gentleman obliged, although appeared to be slightly annoyed. We then went to the next room, this smelt even stronger. I aren't usually a complainer- but I felt it necessary to go back and speak to the receptionist. I offered to pay for an upgrade - but told this was not an option.

The receptionist then began to tell me that the rooms did not smell of smoke and it was a non smoking hotel. Complete lie! Even more insulting that he was accusing me of lying. He then proceeded to shake his head and began talking to another member of staff in French. Very rude!
When looking at other reviews after this experience, it appears to be a regular complaint. Maybe the hotel staff should be more aware and implement a stricter policy on smoking in the rooms if they don't like people complaining about the smell!!!!!!

Anyway, we did not feel safe in this area, nor were we satisfied by the level of cleanliness of this hotel. The staff member totally dismissed by complaint & was rude. Well they already have your money so why would they care??? After being there for one hour me and my other half decided we could not spend our trip in this revolting hotel and we left and paid for another.

If you want to enjoy your trip, feel safe and clean do not pick this hotel. If we had been more aware of the conditions we would have totally avoided it. Lesson learned, read more reviews before agreeing to a hotel!!

Very disappointed

rwh30960on 20/03/2016 01:39

Recently had the misfortune to assume this hotel was comparable to most others in the campanile chain, how very wrong I was.
This hotel really is a sad state of affairs. From the moment you enter the reception you get the feeling all is not good, the lift and its interior is a mess, the corridor had litter lying in places, the carpet its self stained and dirty, the paintwork on the room doors look like they've been shot blasted in places. On entering the room it doesn't get much better the carpet is old and has burn marks in places, stains from I dread to think what, the bedside table's top was loose and balancing on. The campanile usually provide a kettle, cups, coffee and biscuits, this one provided, 2 plastic cups 1sachet of coffee , & no biscuits.
The free wifi is a joke, hardly ever connecting and when you did connect you were lucky to get 3 mins before loosing connection. The rooms are in need of redecorating as is the hotel in desperate need of a full refurb. The outside signs are
incomplete, all in all the hotel looks lost and forgotten by its parent group. It will be a long time before I think about using a campanile again.
Come on the Louvre group give the hotel at least a fighting chance, it may not be in the best of areas but with a decent hotel more people would visit Saint Denis.
Safe Travels RWH.

Staff Lovely, Hotel Awful.

Rachel Don 16/03/2016 21:29

Area is very run down and feels very unsafe (watch out for thieves!!). Hotel was desperately in need of a renovation, hallways and rooms stank of cigarettes, carpets were stained, and bathrooms had a very unhygienic feel (mould and grungy/stained tiles). However, the staff were so wonderful and kind, some of the best service we've experienced. The cold breakfast although simple, was decent and offered a good variety.

Ok

Lara Son 21/11/2015 20:55

Rooms are very small and dirty. We had a problems with WI-FI, lights were broken... But, employes were OK. The receptionists, especially Reda, was very attentive and we enjoyed spend time with him.
Location is not very impressive, but around the hotel you have some shops, restaurants and coffee shops. All in all, it wasn't total disaster, because we spent very little time in hotel.