Hotel Jacques De Molay by Jamie Dunford Wood

This very friendly hotel of just 23 rooms is on the northern edge of the Marais on a busy road going north - its only drawback. However, rooms are well sound-proofed, and rates are good. Unusually for a hotel of this class there is a small fitness centre and sauna. The grateful visitor comments on the book at reception are also encouraging.

Upstairs, rooms are pretty in the provencal fashion - nothing particularly exciting, but clean and well looked after. Many have exposed beams. The peach and green and violet colour tones might be too sickly for some, but the fitness centre combined with excellent massage showers in the new bathrooms will ensure guests can at least mitigate any unwanted colour-stress.