Review : Courtyard by Marriott Paris Créteil | Marriott Bonvoy

Here is our review of our experience staying at the Courtyard Paris Créteil, a 4-star hotel owned by Marriott Bonvoy.

When traveling to the world’s capitals such as Paris, it is not always easy to find a place that is affordable, well connected, and allows us to rest comfortably after a day of meetings.

This is even more complex when you are traveling with your spouse, whose meetings are not in the same area.

While I was attending an event near Porte de Versailles, and my husband near Châtelet-Les Halles, we were looking for a hotel located near a metro line serving our 2 destinations, while favoring the simplicity of public transportation.

For the reservation of this hotel Courtyard by Marriott Paris Créteil, we chose to pay in cash; that is to say 160 € (taxes included).

The main reason being that there was a promotion from Marriott Bonvoy to get double the Elite Nights, making it easier to maintain our Status… promotion only applicable for cash paid reservations.

General information

• Open in early 2021
• Hotel with 112 rooms on 6 floors accessible by two elevators
• Reception and common area (hall / restaurant) on the ground floor
• Several arrangements to promote accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM)

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In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.

The hotel is located in Créteil, at the very end of the M8 line, in the heart of the Val-de-Marne department (south-east of Paris). Several hotels have been strategically located there, while several large companies such as Essilor International SAS and even the EUROPARC Business Center are nearby.

During our stay, we met business travelers from all over the world.

Due to the nature of our stay in Paris, we unfortunately did not have the time to discover this suburb.

However, in front of the hotel there is the Parc des Sports where it is possible to go for a little jog. If you are traveling with children, the Parc des Sarrazins is a 7-minute walk from the hotel and has a playground. If you want to rest after a long day of meetings (as was our case), know that in 10 minutes of walking, you will find yourself near the Lac de Créteil where pedestrian paths have been developed.

If, like me, you are interested in architecture and heritage, one of the symbols of French architecture of the 1970s is “Les Choux de Créteil ” (1969-1974) by architect Gérard Grandval (1930-2021). This emblematic development was awarded the title of ” Heritage of the 20th Century” in 2008. You will surely have noticed it in some movies or TV series. Unfortunately, although characterized as one of the most unusual urban developments of Greater Paris, this Cité (social housing park) has not been the most maintained. I therefore recommend that you contact the CAUE 94 to find out if guided tours are organized there.

Opening in early 2021, the hotel’s interior design is inspired by the rough Parisian architecture of the 1960s, recalling Créteil’s architectural icons “Les Choux” and the Hôtel de Ville.

It welcomes a mixed clientele, despite a preponderance of business clients during the week. We benefit from a courteous and quality service. The establishment emphasizes that its staff speaks French, Spanish and English.

Public transportation is easy to get to, as the Pointe-du-Lac station (line M8) is about 200 meters from the establishment. If you feel like it, it will take you about 45-60 minutes to get to the Louvre, the Pompidou Center, the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, the Conciergerie or the Musée d’Orsay.

From the footbridge at the metro exit, you can see the Courtyard Paris Créteil, including its windowed restaurant terrace. The entrance is through a double door that can be operated by buttons for people with reduced mobility.

In the lobby, you will find on your right the “Business Corner”, in front of you, the elevators, and on your left, a small lounge area next to the Reception, behind which is the Kitchen & Bar restaurant.

Although the space is smaller than other hotels, it has been very well thought out and is very pleasant. The “noisy” aesthetic is realized in a harmonious way and integrates several frames / images of artists of the period such as Piet Mondrian and Jean Dubuffet.

Despite our late arrival (due to work), the staff offered us a professional welcome and was attentive to our well-being.

The room options are :

• Deluxe King (1 King bed, some connecting rooms available)
• Deluxe Twins (2 single beds, some connecting rooms available, no extra beds/cots allowed)
• and the Deluxe Queen with PRM access (1 Queen bed, connecting rooms available, extra bed not allowed)
• Superior (located on the top floor, 1 King bed, some connecting rooms available, free parking)

True to the aesthetic chosen for this hotel, the room is functional, even if uncluttered. I particularly liked the little reminders of Mondrian through the use of bright yellow accents for certain decorative elements. Because our room is also accessible to people with reduced mobility, the space is larger than some others, and the layout allows people in wheelchairs to move around with ease.

The back wall has a large window, whose windows can be opened to ventilate the room, if not bring in natural light.

As with every time we stay at a Courtyard, we were delighted with the quality of the mattress and bedding. We are always very comfortable there and love to lounge around.

The bathroom is spacious for a Parisian hotel, and has a walk-in shower with a large opening. The overall design of the room is very nice, without being cold, despite the industrial look.

Although we were only there for one night, I find it interesting that the room is equipped with a large “Dressing room” (closet) to store the contents of our suitcase. This small detail is very appreciated when traveling for several days.

As in the majority of hotel rooms, a safe, an ironing board, a mini-fridge and coffee-making facilities are available to guests.

Located on the first floor, behind the Reception, the Kitchen & Bar is bathed in natural light, thanks to its “indoor terrace” style layout. The place is very pleasant and has been designed in such a way as to create zones that can accommodate both groups and solo travelers.

The morning brunch was generous and varied. This one offered a combination of American (pancake, bacon, scrambled egg) and French (croissant, baguette, madeleine) breakfast, complemented by an assortment of fresh juices and an excellent coffee!

As mentioned, due to its location near large companies, on weekdays, the Courtyard Paris Créteil seems to serve mainly a business clientele. A “Business Corner” is available to residents. Two rooms are also dedicated to events for up to 75 people, when gathered together.

Although we were traveling on business, the hotel’s website mentions that children up to 2 years old stay free if they sleep in a crib. Children up to 17 years old stay for 30 € per person/night if they sleep in an extra bed.

Extra beds/cots are by request only and must be confirmed by the facility. Also note that some connecting rooms are available, which is a definite advantage when traveling with a family.

A gym is available every day between 6 am and 11 pm. You will find the essentials to relieve the stress of a working day, while weights, treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike are available.

Despite being somewhat out of the way, we were delighted with our choice of the Courtyard Paris Créteil for our recent business trip.

Even if it added about fifteen minutes to our journey by public transport, compared to other identified hotels, we appreciated the quietness of the place allowing us to rest after long hours of meetings.

The (breakfast) was also a must, as it exceeded our expectations… and I must admit that I succumbed to its greediness!

While we stayed there for professional reasons, we are keeping this option for a future family trip, because we could take the opportunity to explore the regions south of Paris and get out of Normandy and Britain.

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