padbrasher

Do any of you savvy Francophiles have a prefence between these two hotels in Paris? We have always stayed at the Lutetia and I am looking for a smaller, charming hotel in the 6th or 7th arrondisement. Comments?

Maribel

padbrasher,
I've very happily stayed at le Madison, which has a truly unbeatable location, but I've also *dreamed* about staying in a deluxe double at L'Abbaye. When I saw it and talked to the staff, I fell in love with it. And the location near Place St. Sulpice is equally fine, but the large doubles are pricier than those at Le Madison. Both hotel's rates include a buffet brk.
Our favorite le Madison room, a deluxe street side double now costs 260 (prices here keep creeping up and up, but try orbitz). But the Hotel de l'Abbaye is just flat out of our price range, at 305 euros for a large double, especially now. But if it's within your budget, then go for it. It's really, really lovely, intimate and cozy, the salon has a fireplace, and the piece de resistance is the garden where you can have brk. or drinks. Very romantic.

Anonymous

I found the Hotel de l'Abbaye to be absolutely charming, but I did have to use my very best French to get the two-bed room that I'd been promised, in writing, for myself and my teenage daughter. Once we got over that problem, the rest of the stay couldn't have been nicer.

songster

We have stayed twice at the L'abbaye and would do it again. Great location, terrific staff, and the bedrooms, as well as the public rooms are very comfortable. Breakfast is wonderful --- fresh croissants, french-press coffee, fruit; in fact I would love a pain au chocolat right now!

padbrasher

Maribel, Anonymous et Songster: The standard room rate at L'Abbaye is 206 euros, deluxe runs 305. Is the deluxe worth the extra 100 euros (in our case 200 euros because we are travelling with our children?

francophile03

In terms of value the Madison seems better. I read the Abbaye has small rooms and 205 euro for a standard room seems very expensive even with breakfast included. The Madison includes breakfast in the rates.

alohatoall

We stayed at L'Abbaye in '92 and never again. Our room and that of our friends were small by any standard.

Underhill

Both of these hotels get high ratings, especially from return clients. My preference is for the Madison because I like space, and I find the hotel charming in the best Parisian sense. If the Abbaye appeals to you, you might also like the d'Aubusson, where rooms are larger because the hotel didn't start life as a convent (or was it a monastery?).

Tere

If you choose the Madison be sure not to book the cheapest rooms. They are very dark and the view from the window is awful, you see the back of the building.

gracejoan

I am VERY fond of l'Abbaye. You will find that they have a definite following of clientele.

You can send a list of resrvations to make for you..they will take care of it all for you. A nice place, and very nice people.

Joan

padbrasher

HELP!!!

These are the rates that I have just received from both hotels:
Madison: double room, 1 bed 205 - 200
euros
twin-bedded room 260 euros
deluxe twin-bedded room 305
euros

L'Abbaye: standard room 190 euros
deluxe room 267 or 283 euros
suite 354 euros
Both include breakfast & taxes. Neither is inexpensive as we need 2 rooms. So which one is the better value?

serenahr

Padbrasher: I reserved a room for 2 at the Madison just this morning for a weekend this May and there are better rates on Orbitz. I would not reserve the most inexpensive option however as there appears to be some confusion as to whether that is for a single or double room. -Serena

Underhill

Padbrasher,

Do check the Orbitz rates for the Madison. We booked a superior twin 15 260€ last September, but then a few days ago I saw one listed on Orbitz for 222€ and took it. Then I e-mailed the hotel and told them to cancel the original booking, which they did without any problem.

shellio

Padbrasher, your original post says you're looking for a "smaller, charming hotel" than the Lutetia. If that's still the object, and the prices are relatively close, I'd say the Abbaye wins hands down on the charming front. True, the standard rooms are small (although no more so than many other Paris hotels), but they're very nicely decorated and comfortable. The public spaces including the various small salons, the bar and the garden are actually usable and used, so you don't feel confined to your room as you may at many other hotels. The building is set back from the street and the entry is through a courtyard, so you experience it as a retreat from the bustle of the city. The staff is lovely and helpful. The fact that the Abbaye has so many regulars who return time after time is a selling point IMO.

jody

So why are you limiting yourself to these 2 hotels...in the 6th and in MHO better locations , on Rue Jacob, your could have a superior room at the MIllesime for 190E or a 2 bedroom apt. at the du danube for 210E, and they will configure the beds any way you want them!

Underhill

The Danube doesn't have a/c, which could be a factor depending on when padbrasher will be in Paris.

Also, the Madison also has a repeat clientele, which is why it can be difficult to get rooms at peak periods, such as September and June.

francophile03

Is it really worth paying more than $350 for a deluxe room at the Abbaye?

Underhill

That's a question I can't answer--it's like wondering whether paying $500 for a dinner at, say, Taillevent is worth it. It wouldn't be for me, but it might be for someone else. Chacun à son gôut, I suppose.

francophile03

Yeah, you're right. For me too it's too expensive but I guess if one can afford it, sure why not.

padbrasher

Thanks for all the input. I have made reservations at Le Madison for next month. And I will let everyone know what our experience was like when we return. Au revoir.