I stayed three nights at the Sofitel Arc de Triomphe using the “I love chocolate” rate (pay 2 nights get 3rd free, chocolate desert and late check out). The hotel is located in a residential side area 5 minutes from the Champs-Élysées. First impressions were not too good, the entrance and lobby are a far cry from the usual Sofitel standard. Check in was fast enough though I had to ask for my Platinum welcome drink voucher. I also had requested an upgrade due to my Accor status and assumed that this would be done.

When I went up in a rattly elevator to my room (apparently called a luxury room) I immediately returned to reception. The room was small and very dated. The bathroom was something straight out of the seventies. Needless to say this was not an upgrade but even to describe this as luxury was a joke.

The front desk “upgraded” me finally to a junior suite. This in effect was a very large room with sofa and coffee table. The furniture was equally dated and worn but at least is was not that poky.

One of the reasons why I stay at Sofitel hotels where I can is the fabulous SoBed. No such luck here. The bed was two singles screwed together and the mattresses were worn leading you to sink into the middle. So much so that I woke up with back pain.

One of the so called perks of this room was the “courtesy tray”, for that read tea/instant coffee. A standard at most hotels and definitely nothing special.

The worst aspect of the room was the bathroom, management should be ashamed of themselves. The grouting in the separate shower was covered in mould. The rest of the bathroom dated, chipped and as far from luxury you could imagine. A bottle of bleach would be the first order of the day and if I was the manager I would don a pair of gloves with that bottle myself and scrub those tiles in room 106 and then check the state of the other rooms.

Mini bar prices were day light robbery: € 7.10 for a coke. Room service was equally expensive and poorly presented (again a far cry from Sofitel standards).

The good points were: free wifi and cabled internet, endless amounts of free Evian water (4 half liter bottles). Small gift at the first turn down service (but nothing after that except water).

The staff in the bar were very friendly and efficient.

Check out took forever (only one staff member working) while others popped out of the office but not bothering to do the basics: helping their customers.

There was zero recognition for Platinum customers and everything had to be demanded/requested. No welcome gift was ever delivered.

Verdict: It pains me to say but this property is a disgrace to the Sofitel name, run down, neglected and poorly staffed while commanding high prices which are not justified. If this had been my first exposure to Sofitel I would never return. Luckily I know there are plenty of other Sofitels which are wonderful but you would not know that from staying here.

PS: Points posted in 24 hours