26.10.04This is the second time I've taken a room at the Queen Mary - it's a great budget option, easily walkable to many places and about 20 min by foot to the Gare Midi. The staff are very kind, and it's a few streets away from some lovely restaurants, cafes and shops. But - it does have quite a strong 'drain' smell (common in older European budget hotels) and possibly to combat this my single room had been very liberally doused with a strong herbal essential oil smell. Not a deal breaker for me but could be for others. You might need some earplugs, and don't expect the Ritz, but it's a quick easy well located older budget hotel with very kind staff. Lovely cafe close by called La Senne - great cakes!