Grand Hotel Du Havre

“Staff at the reception need to learn customer service and hospitality!!!”

My wife and I recently took a week-long trip to Paris. Initially, we had made a reservation through Airbnb, but due to a last-minute cancellation, we found ourselves without accommodations. After arriving at Saint-Lazare railway station, exhausted from our flight, we decided to explore nearby optio… more

My wife and I recently took a week-long trip to Paris. Initially, we had made a reservation through Airbnb, but due to a last-minute cancellation, we found ourselves without accommodations. After arriving at Saint-Lazare railway station, exhausted from our flight, we decided to explore nearby options. Roughly 100 meters from the station, we discovered this hotel. After reviewing the rates, we decided to stay for one night. The hotel’s location was highly convenient, with easy access to the train station, Metro, and bus routes. Due to this, we opted to extend our stay for several more nights. However, the hotel itself was quite dated. The wallpaper, furniture, and decor appeared to be from a bygone era, though everything was still functional. Additionally, since the hotel is located near an underground station, every time a train arrived or departed, the building would vibrate, accompanied by loud noise, which could be disruptive for light sleepers. For us, it wasn’t a major issue, but it’s worth noting for those sensitive to noise. Having worked in travel and hospitality for 35+ years, I found the customer service at the reception particularly concerning. We interacted with three staff members, two of whom were male and extremely rude and unprofessional, raising questions about their suitability for working in hospitality. Upon check-in, we were given a family room with two double beds. When we extended our stay, the same female receptionist confirmed that we could remain in the same room. However, on Saturday, a male receptionist questioned why we were occupying a family room despite being only two guests. We explained that this was the room initially assigned to us, and the female receptionist had allowed us to extend our stay in the same room. He disregarded this and demanded that we move to a smaller room immediately, or else he would be forced to charge us double the amount per night, even though we were just about to leave for the day. When we mentioned the arrangement with the previous receptionist, he bluntly responded, “I don’t care what she said; I make the decisions here.” The conversation escalated, and he even said, “If you want trouble, I’ll give you trouble.” Although he ultimately let us stay in the family room for that night, the experience left a sour taste and affected our day. The female receptionist, while somewhat better, also displayed mood swings. We asked to speak with the hotel manager, but the staff refused to provide contact information, with each person acting as if they were the manager or owner. As a result, we avoided any further interaction with the reception, even though there were some issues in the room we wanted to resolve. While the hotel’s location is excellent, the outdated facilities and subpar customer service severely diminished the overall experience.

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