We were recently in Paris, staying in the Latin Quarter at Hotel St Jacques. We liked it a lot. The location was especially good for us. Lots of little cafes, bars, and very good restaurants within a couple of blocks up the hill.

While there, we looked in other nearby hotels, but none were cuter IMHO, and most were more expensive. Our room had a twin and a double bed, a small marble fireplace, a desk, a clothes armoire, a narrow balcony with a pretty street view in all directions. Breakfast was offered for 14EU, but we went to nearby cafes, instead, and never checked out the hotel breakfast.

Le Coupe-Chou and Le Petit Prince de Paris-- both wonderful restaurants, but we liked Petit Prince better-- are on the same street about two blocks up from the St Jacques. Blvd St Germain is two blocks or so down the hill. Several markets for fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee are within a block. The Sorbonne and Palais Luxembourg are an easy walk, as are Notre Dame and Hotel de Ville.

I reserved the Hotel St Jacques on-line, well in advance, for 193 EU, including wi-fi and all taxes, with a free cancellation policy.

Front desk personnel speak English, and were very friendly and helpful. They arranged a shuttle to CDG, for 18 EU apiece, which was a great deal, considering how long the drive was.

I would not stay in any hotel that charges for breakfast and certainly not for a continental but that's just one of my "issues" with any hotel.

Is the Caron more highly rated than the others on TA?

I would hope the breakfast charges are optional - I think in France they usually are. I would think you can find a nearby cafe that is a better deal and perhaps where you can do some people watching or sit outside by one of the big heaters so often present in French cafes.

Dukey, I believe hotels in Paris (or all of France?)must now list breakfast separately from the room rate.

PeaceOut: Thanks so much for the good recommendation of the St. Jacques -- and the restaurant suggestions. Much appreciated.

Yes, the breakfast charge is completely optional--and if I choose a hotel that does not have breakfast included in the rate I'm sure we'll check out the local cafes.

And "yes," the Caron is the highest rated hotel of all of these on TA -- #79 out of more than 1,850. But all of these hotels are very well rated, so that probably won't sway me.

You might check out the Hotel College du France: http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/en/ It's an excellent value in a very good location and gets very good reviews.

We had a great lunch in the restaurant directly across the street (reservations recommended even for lunch): http://www.lepreverre.com/en/paris.html

I was just looking at the St Jacques. We have stayed a block or so away at the Minerve but a friend highly recommended the St Jacques/ I really like the location. Lot walkable and
many buses for other places nearby. Lots of services and good restaurants. We especially like Buisson Ardent and Bistro des Gastronomes. There is a good
bakery that serves breakfast close by if you don't want the hotel offering.2metro stops , a bank , a laundry all very close by and a good pharmacy/

First, I would not book the 157 room at Le Regent, pay the extra 3 euros a night and get the cancellable booking, unless of course you buy cancellation insurance privately .
Second I love the location and have stayed at the hotel, but in a deluxe room, the standard rooms are very small, but rooms are very nice, clean etc. Location is perfect.

I've stayed at all 3 of your hotels listed in the 4th, but it's been a number of years (I prefer apartments now). I liked all 3 but would have to rate the CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS at the nicest of the three. All are well located and I love staying in the 4th.

HOTEL CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS
Very attractive property (we have looked in) on a VERY busy corner. Can they guarantee you a room at the back?
HOTEL DE NICE another busy corner, but very close to buses at Bon Marche/Hotel de Ville. #96 to Left Bank stops a block or so away in each direction, either on rue de Rivoli or Rue de Francois Miron (returning)
Hotel St. Paul LeMarais great locaation around the corner from the St Paul Metro and lots of buses. Busy shopping street, but not as busy as St Antoine or Rue de Rivoli. Lots of shopping

I haven't stayed in those but find it funny that some book would claim the 4th arrondisement has more character than others because of older buildings. Most of central Paris has plenty of old areas, the Latin Quarter has been around centuries, for example, as well as that area in St Germain. You can find character or not in any arrondisement or in some buildings versus others. So I'd ignore that statement.

They are all fine locations.

Hotels are required to list breakfast seprately by law in France if it is a cost. I've never stayed at one that didn't, anyway, it is certainly the norm as they cannot force you to pay for it. Some hotels try to cheat you by listing a price and saying breakfast is included but the room rate is really lower if you don't buy the breakfast and by law, they cannot make you. The Hotel Bonaparte used to do that, actually (only list a room rate with breakfast), and you had to be smart enough to ask them to take it out if you didn't want it.

I do think nowadays some Parisian hotels are giving various promotional rates or deals more than they used to on their website, often for booking at least 3 nights, and it is legal. French hotel rates are pretty regulated, though, which is why it was never true that the rack rate was fictional and no one paid it. And I think they are allowed to "give" you a free breakfast if it literally is free, but they aren't allowed to only quote a room rate with breakfast and charge you for it. Bottom line is bottom line, though, but I wouldn't reject any hotel if it didn't include breakfast as that is normal.

I couldn't care less if and how much a hotel in Paris charges for breakfast because I'll eat elsewhere in a cafe anyway. I can't imagine sitting in a hotel 'cave' (basement) when I could be outdoors in a cafe watching Paris go by!

I'm also not a fan of fusty old rose wallpaper... our last trip we stayed in the renovated and updated Grand Hotel St Michel and loved it.

Of those on your list, I've only stayed at Hotel Le Regent, several times. We like the location, and we do a lot of walking too. We've walked from there to the Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre, as well as closer destinations like Notre Dame. As with all these locations, I think, many cafes and restaurants nearby.

We've never had breakfast in a hotel in Paris. The hotels we've stayed at, including Le Regent, the breakfast area is in the basement. I would MUCH rather go to a cafe and be able to people-watch, we prefer continental breakfasts (cafe and croissant), so that may be a factor if you want a larger meal. (I always round out breakfast with a stop at a local patisserie for something small, like a bag of choquettes or one small macaron.)

I've stayed at the St Paul le Marais years ago. Very comfortable and a bit swisher than I would normally choose - but you should be aware it's opposite a local fire station.

The price you have quoted from St Jacques sounds great, compared to the 193EU we paid for a double in early September (no breakfast).

PeaceOut: I'm guessing that September is more expensive than Feb/March. Did you have a "superior" room? That would be 180 EU during my dates.

PatrickLondon: Not sure what you mean by the St Paul le Marais being a bit "swisher" ... Do you mean the decor? Or the "gayborhood?"

You're right on prices... September is about the most expensive month.

We stayed at Hotel du Louvre -excellent- 3 years ago breakfast was included in the rate. Pain au chocolat still in my dreams

Yes, I am not a fan of hotel breakfasts either, and especially in Paris since most do seem to be in cave breakfast rooms, rather dreary for me , I need natural light in the morning. I have however had a few times when it is included in a special room rate. I certainly would never book a hotel on their breakfast though , for goodness sake if you walk out the door you can find exact same thing, maybe better and alot cheaper at a cafe.

As for hotel breakfast, it's good now that the price of breakfast is quoted separately from the price of the hotel room. I remember the days when it was not and I couldn't get the price of breakfast deducted from the hotel price. I prefer to not eat breakfast at a hotel and especially since I have three food allergies and can't even eat most of the items served.

Happy Travels!

"PatrickLondon: Not sure what you mean by the St Paul le Marais being a bit "swisher" ... Do you mean the decor? Or the "gayborhood?""

In British English, it usually means "swanky", possibly approaching OTT (Over the top)

The Best Western Hotels in Paris are usually very good and something excellent! The one in the Rue de l'Ancienne Comedie is a fantastic location

We stayed at Hotel Le Regent in 2010. We loved the location and walked almost everywhere.

Thanks so much for all your comments and great suggestions. At the moment I'm leaning toward the St. Jacques.

My only question is whether the 4th or 6th arr. might have any advantages???

Some of my favorite attractions, such as the Luxembourg Gardens, are either in the 6th or the 5th so my preference is for the 6th arr. I also like the topography of the 5th and 6th, including the Rue de la Montagne Ste. Genevieve, and more greenery. I remember it being more crowded in the 4th and more traffic. Of course, there are exceptions in each arr. but these are my general impressions.

We stayed for two weeks in the 3rd arr. a few years ago and also took a walking tour of the Marais/Bastille area a year ago so we spent quite a bit of time in the Marais.

I think our room was superior, but am not sure. The price was vary good, compared to others I contacted, and the room was good-sized.

We really liked the location. It is pleasant and lively at night, which made it feel safe, too, because lots of people were out at night. We walked nearly everywhere

very good