Hotel Hôtel Waldorf Madeleine (Paris, France)

They couldn't be nicer or more helpful.' Dix points' for the staff!

If you want to see as much of Paris as possible, within a fixed time frame, this is the place for you. The metro station is a short walk away but, really, you won't need it very much. Many of the city's iconic attractions are within easy walking distance.

Rooms are very clean and well maintained. Beds are very comfortable. Four stars may be pushing things a bit but, at the end of the day, you've got decent quality accommodation, super staff and a location that's difficult to match anywhere.

If everyone in the hotel came down to breakfast at the same time, there would be real problems. The breakfast room is tiny. Due to the extortionate price, however, it seems unlikely that this situation will arise. There are plenty of alternatives ... with a Starbucks just along the road.

Apart from breakfast, which is something akin to a French farce, there is no dining facility here. This isn't a huge inconvenience because there are so many restaurants in the vicinity. It is, though, surprising, given the hotels galaxy of stars in its rating.

There's a very strong ‘fragrance' in the foyer area; a sure sign that something more sinister is being masked. They keep the airport shuttle a secret until it's too late for you to use it! Room cleaning is carried out at a time to suit them. There's no flexibility and if you ask cleaners to come back later … they won't!