The Bottom Line: Located on a peaceful street in the posh Passy neighborhood, the three-star Hotel Gavarni is a traditional Paris hotel built in 1907 that has been awarded the European eco-label for environmentally friendly practices. Clean, comfortable and pleasant, the Gavarni may be a good choice for ecologically conscious travelers who are still looking for a traditional ambiance.
Pros:
- In close reach of major museums and attractions
- Clean, nicely decorated rooms
- Some rooms offer fantastic views of Eiffel Tower
Cons:
- Could have better sound insulation
- A bit far from central Paris
- Rooms seem small for price
Hotel Gavarni Practical Information
Tel.: +33 (0)1 45 24 52 82
Metro: Passy (line 2)
Reservations: Book a room at the Hotel Edouard 7
Rooms: Standard, "standard deluxe", junior suites and suites, all fitted to European eco-label standards. Some of the rooms are decorated in 18th-century classic French style for a warmer, quaint effect, while others are more contemporary. All rooms have marble bathrooms with shower and/or bath fitted with low water-consumption massaging showerheads.
In-room services (standard rooms): Room service, minibar, safe, entertainment center with flat-screen TV (basic cable) and built-in Divx DVD player, free wi-fi internet access (check with front desk for code). Suite rooms come with organic cotton bathrobe, bathtubs (some with jacuzzi mode).
Other services:
- 24h reception and concierge
- 24h room service
- Organic breakfast (for extra fee, unless included in package)
- "Eco-Friendly" Shuttle to airports or train stations
- Bar
- Conference room and business center
Visit the official website
Nearby Attractions: Eiffel Tower, Palais de Tokyo, Modern Art Museum of the City of Paris.
My Review of the Hotel Gavarni: Ambiance and Accommodations
The Room:
I stayed at the Trianon deluxe room at the Gavarni. Quaintly decorated with 18th-century style furnishings and warm, countrified tones, the room is hung with drawings of the Chateau de Versailles gardens and refers to the mini-palace, Le Trianon, constructed by Marie Antoinette.
I found the room to be warm and cozy, if on the small side for a "deluxe" room. In Paris, though, space is often scarce. The incontestable highlight was a small private balcony affording a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower. Even after living here for a decade, I was impressed by the view.
The Amenities: The free wifi, TV/DVD, and phones all worked impeccably, and there were a good selection of channels. The room was tastefully furnished, and the heating worked well.
The marble bathroom was tasteful and elegant, albeit a bit cramped. The shower, though, was spacious, and I genuinely enjoyed the water-saving massage showerhead.
The Downsides: While the room was overall comfortable, clean, and pleasant, and noise from the street was minimal, I was woken in the middle of the night by the sound of guests passing through the stairwell. I felt the hotel could use better sound insulation.
I also found the bed to be slightly less comfortable than I would have anticipated. I would have preferred a slightly firmer mattress (although this is a question of personal taste) and the blanket was a bit scratchy and stiff. It felt synthetic to me, despite the hotel's claim that all linens are made of organic cotton. Just a small detail, but comfortable beds are high on my list when it comes to hotel stays.
What About the Eco-Friendly Claims?
- Yearly targets to reduce waste and C02 consumption, and participation in carbon offset program (Action Carbon Foundation)
- Employees trained in sustainable practices every year
- Reversible air conditioning/heating system (heats during winter and cools in summer), which improves efficiency threefold and reduces emissions
- 100% low-consumption CFL and LED lightbulbs.
- Detergents are chemical and hazard-free
- Electricity sourced from renewable energies
- Low-flow valves in sink, shower and bath
- Organic cotton linens
- Tissue paper, stationary and other paper made from recycled materials; trash bags made from potato starch.
My Verdict on the Eco-Friendly Claims? Overall, the Hotel Gavarni seemed to keep its promise for sustainable practices. There was ample evidence around the room of the practices mentioned above.
However, one detail I found surprising was that the thermostat was set to 26 degrees C/78 F when I arrived. This was higher than it should be, especially for a hotel claiming to be ecologically friendly. It's quite possible that the previous guest left it set so high, but I felt it would make sense for the staff to be more vigilant about heat and air-conditioning use and remind guests, since this is one of the primary culprits of climate change.
The Service at Hotel Gavarni
Staff at this hotel were friendly and attentive even when they were unlikely to know I was reviewing the property. Room service was prompt and courteous.
I didn't eat in the breakfast room, but instead ordered room service. The all-organic breakfast was delicious and of very good quality. The full breakfast included bread, butter, jam, mini croissants, a madeleine sponge cake, fruit salad, juice and coffee.
Overall, service at the Gavarni was very good to excellent, and made for a generally pleasant stay.
