We've passed by Hotel Bourg Tibourg on previous visits to the Marais and wished we were staying there so this time we splashed out and booked in.

The location of the hotel is perfect. The Marais is still my favourite area of Paris with a huge variety of shops, bars, boulangeries and restaurants right on the doorstep and central enough to get anywhere quickly.

We knew when we booked that the rooms were going to be small but we nearly had a fit when we saw our room on check in. Small didn't quite cover it - it was tiny with nowhere to even store a case, a safe door that couldn't be opened because it was too close to the mini bar, sombre lighting and an unnecessary table and stools at the foot of the bed. I returned to reception and asked if they had any larger rooms available and was so pleased to be moved to another classic room that was far superior - light, airy and with plenty of wardrobe space to stow away clothes and cases. Not too much to ask when one is paying 230 euros for a room, methinks!

The decor is lovely. In a sort of Morrocan style but pared down, with white bed linen and black marble. The lampshades had tassles aplenty and the walls were edged in ornate gold cornicing. The bed was comfy despite the fact that it was a twin zipped together. The bathroom was lovely although a little dark (no window in this one after our move) with lovely smelling toiletries. The telly was Bang and Olufsen and there was a DVD player tucked underneath (although we didn't try it out).

Staff at the front desk were lovely, always warm and friendly and happy to book restaurants for us.

Oh and not forgetting the lift. The hotel has the tiniest lift I have ever been in. Just space for two people provided that they know each other well. It clanks and creaks but it gets the job done (which is nice at the end of a day of schlepping) provided you are patient!

There were some downsides, though. The room was quite noisy. This didn't bother me massively but if you are a light sleeper or like an early night it might annoy. Those twin beds make snuggling up a little uncomfortable (surely a mattress topper to cover the ridge in the middle isn't too much to ask?). The cleaners did an excellent job but had a habit of leaving their vacuum cleaner hoses lying around on the landings making the narrow corridors a bit perilous. Any extras would be rather expensive - breakfast was 16 Euros per person, there were no bottles of free water or tea/coffee making facilities.

Overall we enjoyed our stay but I am not sure if the end justifies the means. 230 Euros per night is a lot of money for not a lot of hotel (especially seeing as it is essentially a B&B. No restaurant here). If you decide to stay then don't bother paying for an upgrade to superior (we saw a superior room and it really wasn't) but do make sure you complain if the room you get is too small to be habitable - staff are very accommodating.

For the record the room we refused was 25 (and similarly other rooms ending in 5 are likely to be the same judging by the floor plans in the hall) and we were moved to 34 which was a big improvement.

I'm till excited when I think of my stay in this beautiful hotel. Sumptuous, unique, gorgeous, classy. What can I say??? It is the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. I came home wanting to redecorate my bedroom! If you want large rooms, this is not for you, but if you appreciate something different you will love it.

As said elsewhere in these reviews, the rooms are small. They are also tired. The one-person elevator did not work during our three night stay which was inconvenient as we were on the third floor. Not a problem usually but after a long day trekking the streets the last thing one feels like doing is climbing three floors. The DVD player did not work. We went 24 hours without hot water - for our trouble we were promised a 10% discount but when we got the bill they had removed one morning coffee and since it was the night porter that offered us the discount and he'd gone home, they claimed that no way would have offered a discount!! Front desk staff need more hospitality training.