Ten Euros - that’s how much the rickshaw fare was from the Arc de Triomphe to our hotel. It was a little expensive for a four-minute ride but we went for it anyway.

And could you blame us? We had by now walked the length of the Champs Elysées, strolled to the River Seine (and back) for a boat ride and ended the day by viewing Paris at night from the top of the Arc (climbing a veritable spiral staircase).

We chose this 89-roomed hotel in the 8th arrondissement to be close to these tourist sites. However, though four star, it is not overly plush, but it has a cracking location one block away from the city’s most revered street.

The rooms and common parts are newly refurbished and still pristine. And a great deal of thought has gone into the design, giving it more than a modicum of contemporary style and casual elegance — autumnal colours with splashes of red and beige and colourful artwork.

There are no amenities to speak of, like a pool or spa, but the staff are extremely courteous and bent over backwards to assist with our needs (two kids in tow meant we had quite a few).

Breakfast was as it should be and though the restaurant was closed during August, we didn’t mind as we had reservations elsewhere. But in any case, we were not here for hotel pampering, we were here for the Paris sights and this hotel, a 30-minute train or taxi ride away from the airport, proved to be an ideal location to freshen up during the day and lay our head at night.

RATES: 160 euros per night
TEL: (+33) 1 53 89 58 58
www.hotelbeauchamps.com