I've been staying at this property fairly regularly for the last 5 years. It's my 'go to' Paris SPG recommendation for family and friends, and my last visit in October 2012 was very nice, and honestly, it is about as unpretentious as Paris hotels get.

But, no more.

I checked in on Sunday, March 17. Quick check-in, quick room assignment, great front desk staff (as always). Drop the luggage in my room, and have a cocktail with my friend, who's staying at the Concorde La Fayette. She looked at me with envy...but little did we both know what was coming...

On the way in to the hotel afterwards, a 'lady of the night' offered me her services. Never have had that happen here (obviously declined), and I went to bed. But not before noticing a fellow hotelmate browsing pornographic material on the public computer. Just lovely. Ugh.

Monday. No wake-up call, TV turned itself on at 4am. No big deal. Stuff happens, right?

After a morning of browsing the Galeries Gourmands at the Palais Des Congres and some light shopping at Les Printemps, back to the hotel for a quick 2 hours of work. Except the Internet is not working...wired, or Wi-Fi. I call to the hotel SERVICE button, and they send a technician up. He at first does not believe me, but I call my friend across the street at the La Fayette (who has a much better grasp of French than I do), and she acts as translator. He tries his netbook, iPhone, my iPhone, my iPad, and my laptop, and finally understands that I'm not a novice computer user and agrees to reboot the router. I later get a call back from SERVICE telling me that the problem is much bigger, and that the Internet is down completely throughout the hotel. Yet, somehow, the Internet works in the lobby, and on the public access computer. Oh, and by 6pm, my room had not been made up (and no, no DID tag was on the door). Again, the 'lady of the night' and a few of her friends were loitering in the front of the hotel, and yet again (VERY unsucessfully) propositioned me. This time, I told the first staff member I saw about it (valet or bellman, maybe a concierge).

Tuesday, TV unexplicably pops on at 730am to SPGtv and I'm treated to a notice that there is a 'social disturbance' at my hotel, and that 'some services won't be available' and that it was 'unforseen'. I call down to the SERVICE button again, and they tell me not to worry, things should be as normal 'for me'. I ask to PLEASE have my room made up as it wasn't Monday, and they assure me I will. Keep in mind, while I do appreciate the 'Green Choice', I'm on vacation and honestly, don't want to make my bed or save the world. I leave for lunch and a museum tour, and get back at 3. OH. MY. F-ING. GOD. I walked back into what could only be described as 'hell'. Sirens, marching, chanting, drums, probably a vuvuzela....IN THE LOBBY. Which could be heard from my (very unmade up) room. AND across the street. And at the SNCF bureau up the block. THIS was apparently the social disturbance....or, as us Americans call it, a strike. Horrific is all I have to say. I called SERVICE, let it ring for 12 rings, and no answer. I left for a walk for a couple hours....no one could rest with that noise. Again, no working internet in my room (but the useless public access was working fine). iPhone tethering it was (and is).

So, 5pm, I stroll back...and lo and behold! No room made up, but at least the noise was gone. SERVICE still did not answer. I showered, called for fresh towels (but *surprise* no answer), and left my room. I then asked the housekeeper who I saw on my floor to PLEASE put towels in my room (she would not just hand them to me from her cart)...I even tipped her 5 EUR! Midnight back, no towels. A stop downstairs to ask for more? Fruitless.

Which brings me to now....250am. My friend did not have a working EU iPhone charger, and I was frantically called to bring her mine at 230. I walked over to the La Fayette and when walking back in, I encountered the SAME lady of the night, and yet again she asked if I wanted a 'massage in my loins'. Yet again, I obviously declined. This time, I immediately grabbed the two 'SECURITE' guys and they dispatched the lot of them....but I'm sure they will be back. They must see this property as 'safe'. And upon coming back to my floor, nothing says on top of it like a laundry cart, a vacuum cleaner, and 3 food trays sitting in the hallway.

Now, I don't know what in tarnation has happened in the last 5 months at this hotel, but this property is now WAY down on my list, and honestly, a trip ruiner for me. I would say 'Avoid for now'.