shooshy

Hello Fodorites,
After much agonising I have booked the Hotel Therese for a three night stay in Paris in June.
www.hoteltherese.com/en/hotel.htm
We have booked a 'tradition" room at a good rate through www.tablethotels.com.(175 euros per night)
I understand that the rooms are tiny, but the decor as depicted in the website looks chic and sophisticated and we are trying to be somewhat economical with this stay.
Questions....
We have only ever stayed on the Left Bank and were very happy with that (fifteen years ago). I was considering the Marais area for this trip but just couldn't find the right hotel for us and believe me I have spent hours researching...The Hotel Duo does appeal but not sure if 240 euros per night for a tiny standard room is worth it.
The Hotel St. Vincent in the Left Bank, brought to my attention by Travelnut on this forum also looks gorgeous. www.hotel-st-vincent.com. A room there booked directly on their website would be 230 euros per night.
My dilemma is whether to pay more for the Duo or St. Vincent or stick with the Therese. I am slightly worried about the Therese's location in the 1st, and perhaps about the very tiny rooms.
Has anyone got comments about whether we should stay put and save our dollars or move?

sandra3120

It seems to me that the location is quite a good one for exploration of the museums, including the Conciergerie and La Sainte Chapelle, not so far from the Louvre and a lovely walk. I think you'll be fine there.

Christina

I wouldn't make any decision based on size of rooms without knowing the facts -- you don't state size, so what is the exact size of the room at the Therese versus St Vincent? If you don't know, do you have a reason to assume they will be a lot bigger at the St Vincent?

I stayed in a hotel right next to that St Vincent once, and didn't really care for the location that much. It's around a bunch of govt. buildings (schools, post office, etc) and partly it was my hotel was noisy as you could hear the neighbors. It's an okay area, but farther from the metro stop that I usually prefer (maybe 4 blocks). I didn't know of any hotel next door to the St Thomas d'Acquin (where I stayed), so I checked and I guess they have opened a hotel in the St Vincent de Paul Society charity, which was next door -- which is odd. Maybe they sold the building.

Personally, you are only there 3 nights and never have stayed on the RB, so I would take the opportunity to try a different location. I've reads lots of good comments on the Therese, and the location looks fine to me. I'd try it -- it's near the place des Victoires which has interesting shops, and place Vendome at the other end which is fun to browse. It's not right on any major street nor down on rue Rivoli which I wouldn't care for. YOu might really like the location, you never know. It's also near the Pyramides metro, which is convenient, and the Jardin de Palais Royal. Seems better than that end of rue Pres aux Clercs, to me.

YOu seem to be very concerned about the money (at least, it's a big factor), so I don't see any reason to spend more for a hotel just because it's on the Left Bank, in this case.

I don't know anything about the Hotel Duo.

shooshy

Thank you Sandra and Christina, that was exactly the type of reassurance I was hoping to receive.
I have tried to ascertain the size of the rooms at the Therese and the St. Vincent and neither hotel website lists them. I could email the hotels directly to ask but I have found many Parisian hotels not particularly responsive to emailing...
The "tradition" rooms at the Therese are listed on Tablet Hotels as "medium" sized although on the hotel website this distinction is not made. Almost every review I have read on The Therese has been positive, but room size is often mentioned.
Budget is somewhat important to us as this Paris stay comes at the end of a 2 week jaunt through Northern Italy where I have splurged on special places to stay with our 18 year old daughter. An extra bed in a hotel room in Italy is often around 40 to 50 euros per night. So, I feel I should rein ourselves in somewhat in Paris when there will just be the two of us.
The Hotel St. Vincent is indeed next door to the St. Thomas d'Aquin( same owners) and Christina, I was very interested in your comments about the location.
Glad to hear the Therese is near interesting shopping and of course near Galleries Lafayette and Au Ptintemps which is a good thing!
Do you think it is walkable distance to the Marais area?

Travelnut

It would probably take about 30 somewhat meandering minutes to walk into the Marais from H.Therese...

One thing, the main Paris Tourist Office is at 25 rue des Pyramides, by that metro, so that is a good place to pop in and look at the wall full of brochures, buy your passes, etc.

Between you and the Marais, is the Jardin du Palais Royale, with those Burren posts, then Eglise St Eustache, and interesting church with the 'listening' statue out front, and a nice park-like area, then rue Montorgeuil runs north off that. The you come to Pompidou (modern art museum, with the 'inside out' exterior), and finally - le Marais. Not a bad day's exploration.

Iwan2go

Having stayed on the Left Bank twice, we had some of the same reservations about the Right Bank - until we stayed in an apartment located on the gardens of the Palais Royal two years ago. We shopped at a little boulangerie right near the Hotel Therese, so are somewhat familiar with the location, and we loved it.

There are some very nice restaurants nearby, and you can walk in the gardens (both PR and Tuileries). You can also catch the metro at both the Pyramides and (just down the street) the Palais Royal, which is on the #1 line and connects very easily to everything along the right bank. You can also walk (agree that it might be a half hour, but a very pleasant walk) to the Marais, and also across the Seine to the Latin Quarter.

I think your hotel looks wonderful. I never saw it before, but when we're there in a month I'm going to go by and check it out if we have time! Thanks for the tip.

shooshy

Thank you all. I am feeling much more positive about our choice now and beginning to count down the days till we get to Paris..
Happy to share hotel info with all. That's what makes this forum so special!
Happy Travelling!
Shooshy

di2315

Hello Shooshy

I have friends who stayed in the Hotel Therese a couple of years ago, and liked it so much that they went back again for their few days in Paris last year.

They are people who are quite fussy about accommodation, and while it isn't anything fancy, they liked the position and the staff particularly.
Happy travels, Di

shooshy

Thank you Di!
Do you know what room type your friends stayed in?
My DH is 6'3" and hoping we're not going to be too squashed.
Also, did they have any good local restaurants they might suggest?
I'm loving these responses...
Shooshy

di2315

Sorry shosshy - can't offer any more detail for you, except to say that they are both average height. They just popped into local eateries that looked interesting, and can't recall names, so not much help there, either! Cheers, Di

shooshy

Thanks Di,
I will have to write a trip report when we get home to share what I discover in the area...

Shooshy