wren

We have offered to send my son and his wife to Paris as a honeymoon gift in October. They are 24 years old. Does anyone have a good hotel recommendation for them in the $150 area? I am thinking perhaps of the 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th arrondisements. But I am certainly open to any suggestions. We will be there in July, but I wonder if I should make reservations before then? Thanks!

francophile03

For $150 that's approximately 126 euros. The only place I can think of that's really decent and attractive is Hotel St. Thomas d'Aquin for 120 euros for a double room (all they have are double) plus an extra 9 euros/pp for continental breakfast. It's located in the St. Germain side of the 7th district (not one of the districts mentioned but it's on the border of the 6th). Have not stayed there but it certainly is in a great location for that price. Recommendation is to ask for a street-side room instead of a courtyard room-I think the courtyard side is a bit dark and the view not too special.

Website is: http://www.aquin-paris-hotel.com

francophile03

I forgot to mention that if you are interested in this hotel I read that it is popular so booking a few months in advance is a good idea.

jody

I post on a French forum and someone there posted this link this morning...I checked it out and some of the hotels sounded really good and all were under 156 dollars.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...RGBJ6G5R31.DTL

grandmere

There was an article in the Wash. Post a few weeks ago listing some hotels in Paris that were in the $150 range and which also had retained the integrity of the original buildings, and I think that is what most of us on here refer to as "charm!" My favorite "relatively inexpensive" hotel, Hotel du Lys, was listed. Check it out at www.hoteldulys.com In addition to its charm appeal, it is well located in the 6th arr.

What a lovely gift for your son and his wife!

elle

Wow, what a lucky son and daughter-in-law!

For something in the 150euro range (not dollars, I'm afraid), you might want to consider the Hotel le Sainte-Beuve, which is in the 6th, right near the border with the 14th and all the famous cafes of Montparnasse.

Travelnut

A hugely popular hotel (thus one you need to book asap) is:
Hotel Muguet - 11 rue Chevert 75007
Queen room - 105E
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75007muguet.htm

(Saint Beuve lists cheapest room at 168E)

www.parishotels.com -
Hotel du Lys 110 E / double includes breakfast

Airlawgirl

As to Hotel Muguet- would not recommend it at all for a honeymoon-it's a two star, the mgmt. is not exactly friendly, and the rooms are hit or miss-pretty basic-not romantic-remember, it's a two star- and it's not in the heart of the St. Germain area, but near Ecole Militaire-in the area of the Eiffel Tower.

As for Hotel du Lys-it's a charming hotel, good location in the Latin Quarter-but it's a good thing your son and his wife are young- because there are some 61 steps up a steep spiraling staircase- no elevator, so if you get those charming room(s) on the top floors you'll have to be walking those steps each time to get to them, and don't forget having to get the luggage up those steps as well! (not something I'd want to deal with on my honeymoon, that's for sure!)

I think I might recommend the Hotel Parc du Severin-right in the heart of the Latin Quartier, a block from the Seine, wonderful rooms, nice staff, lovely cafes and restaurants all about-check it out on TripAdvisor.com-it receives very positive reviews, and has a high popularity rating amongst hundreds of Paris hotels. Justly so, in my opinion-it's a lovely, romantic hotel in one of the most picturesque parts of Paris-however, it is frequently sold out- so you'll have to take your chances at this point. Good Luck!

francophile03

Regarding Hotel Muguet there are a couple of write-ups about it and recommendations of what rooms to reserve esp. Eiffel Tower view rooms. In truth, you cannot reserve a particular room especially the immensely popular Eiffel Tower view rooms. I tried and was denied. I was told that I can request it only but it depended on the availability at the time. Some people have been able to secure those particular rooms however so I don't know how they get assigned.

Airlawgirl

Oops! Meant to say Hotel Parc St. Severin-it's a 3 star hotel -double room standard from 127-200 Euros/nt. It also has rooms with large balconies, with tables where guests can sit outside and look out upon the rooftops and lively passing scenes below in the Latin Quarter.

Christina

gee, I would think there are plenty of decent hotels for 126 euro in those areas, as long as you don't expect luxury. St Germain is more expensive, but it depends what you want.

I also wouldn't recommend the Muguet but I wasn't that crazy about the place. Besides, if you are willing to spend that much, why go cheap. I don't think two 24-year olds would find it that exciting, either, but who knows. It's clean, anyway, but is basically just an well-kept 2* hotel IMO.

The problem is October is peak hotel season, so you will need to reserve well in advance and the rates will be the highest. I think the Parc St Severin is a good idea. Ira always likes the Bonaparte, but I know it's a 2* hotel, also, but I think that would be better.

I think you can get the 3* Hotel du Pantheon www.hoteldupanthon.com or Hotel des Grands Hommes in the Latin Quarter for about that rate and those would be good choices. Most hotels in St-Germain are going to be more expensive than that, espec. in October. Even the budget ones are more like 160 euro (Relais Saint Sulpice, etc) and ones in that range are probably not particularly romantic (like Jardin de l'Odeon), unless very small. That might not bother them, though, if they are that young--like the Hotel du Globe.

Airlawgirl

Christina- I too, think the Hotel du Pantheon would be another excellent choice-great location across from the Pantheon, plus some of the rooms have wooden beams, I believe, and are quite nicely furnished. However, the rates in Oct. are over USD 250.00/nt, so that would appear to be out of wren's price range.

francophile03

The Latin Quarter usually has cheaper hotels (but not much cheaper) than St. Germain.

Airlawgirl

Francophile-Afraid I can't agree with your recommendation on the St. Thomas d'Aquin-I've heard a LOT of complaints about this hotel, unhelpful staff, tiny rooms-good location-but it's a two star-really tiny. I checked it out once (I lived in Paris for a short while) and wasn't impressed.

Airlawgirl

And I wouldn't recommend the Hotel Bonaparte, either. Have heard very bad reports about this hotel-dirty rooms, bad attitude from the staff- it's a hit or miss place - you can get that one room with a fireplace as did the other poster in his trip report, but the rest of the place ain't so great,(I've also marginally checked out this hotel and was greatly underwhelmed) but again, it's a two star, so you get what you pay for, which is a fairly pedestrian accomodation. I say, for a honeymoon in the City of Light, you've got to upgrade to a three star hotel or better, and concentrate your hotel search in and around the St. Germain/Latin Quarter/Cluny/Sorbonne area, in order to maximize the chances of having a memorable and romantic honeymoon, with a minimum of unpleasantness and frustration with the hotel situation.

francophile03

I was going by their website and the rooms look very nice. I did email them to get information a while back and they were very prompt and seemed friendly.
I read that it was remodeled recently by the guy who owns the Hotel Novanox. But I don't know it as well as you do as I've never visited the hotel nor walked past it.

wren

Thanks for all your responses! We have stayed at the Muguet and would like something a little different for them, although it would certainly be a fine back up. I stayed at the Pantheon back in 1973 before it was remodeled and the prices up there. I just checked and they were booked for that time period...also, the rooms were around 200 euro. We will go up if necessary but we want to start lower to see what might be out there.
Please keep the suggestions coming...

Travelnut

What about Hotel du Danube? It has very good comments on TripAdvisor.
Doubles (superior) 140-155E. (Standard double for less)

http://www.pariserve.tm.fr/hotel/danube/english.htm

travelbunny

..just at the borderline of their price range...but if they forgo lunch and have a picnic affordable..2 hotels on ile st louis- deux iles and hotel de lutece (careful..there are other hotels with similar names!)..very lovely area and i can think of nothing nicer than being in the middle of the seine.

grandmere

Re:no elevator at du Lys: I am over 2 times the age of the honeymooners, and I don't find the stairs prohibitive. And there is someone to carry the luggage up at arrival, etc.