HotelChatter

Snapshot / Hotel WiFi / Novotel Hotels / Paris Hotels / Train Station Hotels / → All Tags

Here's a Sign That We Wished Greeted Us at Every Hotel, Worldwide

Where: 2-8 Rue Hector Mallot, Paris, France, 75012

After the buzz wore off from our stay at Le Meurice, we traveled over to the Novotel Paris Du Gare Lyon, right next to the train station, where we were due to catch an early morning train the next day.

Being a budgety Novotel, we didn't expect to be amazed by anything but we were surprised by the free WiFi throughout the hotel. It was especially heaven sent after getting thwarted at Mickey D's and having to shell out 20 Euros at Le Meurice. The network was super fast and we had no problems signing on.

We did, however, find our room utterly depressing with drab (although new and modern) decor, teeny pillows, scratchy sheets and a bathroom that looked as if it belonged in a sleeper cabin on a train.

more ›

Hotel Technology / Accor Hotels / Paris Hotels / Geek Hotels / → All Tags

Accor Unveils Futuristic, Gadget-Heavy Hotel Room in Paris

Where: 1 rue de Libourne, Paris, France, 75012

Hotel technology doesn't get much better than a hotel room that you can open using your cell phone, does it? Well, it sure turns us on and it's already a reality at the Pullman Paris Bercy, an Accor hotel that serves as a home-base for testing rooms from the chain's Innovation and Design unit.

You can actually book the test rooms or you might just be lucky to end up in one. As well as cell phone key technology (so far it only works from Samsung phones), there is a high tech shower with glass that turns from clear to opaque at the flick of a switch as well as having different lighting options while you're washing.

As you'd expect, all the gadgets are connected to a single remote control, which means you can fiddle with the bedroom and shower lights, lightproof blinds, TV and video projector without moving more than a couple of fingers.

The Pullman Bercy is aimed at business travelers but curious hotel tech observers are no doubt dropping by as well. Rates for a double start from around €170 ($225).

[Photo: kevin2102]