This was my third time staying with my family at Le grand Hotel de Normandie. I love the hotel. It's close to everything. A short walk to les Grands Boulevards and Magazines. 10 min to the Opera. 10 min to the Madeleine. It is in a shopping area, nice atmosphere all over the day and in the evenings. Brasseries and cafes are always busy, terraces packed with people having a meal, a drink or a coffee and connecting with one another. This has changed a lot in the last few years. I noticed Paris is getting more of a Madrid's kind of nightlife. Very fun, warm and welcoming. Loved to see groups of people just celebrating life around a fresh homemade meal or a nice French wine. Having Gare de Saint Lazare station across the street means it's always busy but in a nice way, as people are always entering and leaving the station. Very safe area. There is a Carrefour in the station, which is convenient to buy some water or food you might want to keep at the hotel.
The hotel is very well communicated. There are several Metro and RER (train) stations close to the hotel: Saint Lazare, Hauvre-Chaumartin, Auber... and you can move really fast across Paris. Staff at the hotel are very friendly. Ali, at the front desk, has helped us the three times we stayed, and always goes the extra mile to ensure you have everything you need. I will definitely come back to Le Grand Hotel de Normandie, hopefully very soon.