paris hotel delemas !!

I recommend the Hotel College de France.

It is not the Crillon, but neither is the price.

It is near everything--a short walk to Marbert-Mutualite Metro stop. You can also walk to Notre Dame and Luxembourg Gardens. Pre Verre is across the street.

The staff is really friendly and helpful.

It is a little worn, but it is CLEAN.

If it is good enough for me, it is good enough for you.

Thin

<<My gut feel on this hotel is that it's 2 star for a reason and thats probably because it's very run down etc.>>

French hotel star ratings are nothing like U.S. hotel star ratings. Read this and you will understand why being a 2-star hotel does NOT mean it is likely to be "run down.":

http://gofrance.about.com/od/lodging/a/hotelratings.htm

I think you are confusing popularity with high level star ratings. I don't know what all tripadvisor bases it's list on, but I think part of it is popularity among its users (and I have no idea how they measure that, if you'd have to book thru them or not). So there isn't any reason at all a 2* hotel can't be in the top 100 out of 2000 hotels. In fact, I would be very shocked if some 2* hotels weren't!!!

Maybe you don't know what those ratings mean, read up on it and see if they explain.

okay, you have picked some strange hotels, I think. I have been to Paris a lot and read about it all the time and have never heard of l'Apostrophe. I've heard of other hotels with that issue that a bathroom is open to the bedroom, it's not my favorite, but it's not unheard of. Sometimes it's meant to be modern -- so don't pick it if you don't like it, hardly any hotel in Paris is like that. I'd mark off the second one, also, if I read a comment like that. Too many other hotels to choose from without picking ones with those kind of comments.

Courtyards are very common in the kinds of buildings in Paris, and they are not back alleys or they wouldn't call them the courtyard. But they are nothing special and not the courtyard of a palace, so don't expect some grand green public park space -- it's just an interior space some of those old buildings have which means a lot more rooms can have windows, actually, than just the ones overlooking the street from an (often) narrow front. It generally can be quieter than rooms overlooking a busy street, but the view is nothing to enjoy. Occasionally it can be noisier than the street, I've encountered that in one hotel, due to the echoing and other things.

Hotel Le Regent, at 61, rue Daughine, is a 3* hotel that we've stayed in several times. I don't know what the tripadvisor reviews are like, but we've been very satisfied with it (rooms are clean, bathrooms luxurious, and the rooms are the usual Paris small size), and assuming you need a double room, the rates are in your price range.

This hotel has an internal courtyard, such as the type that Christina describes. It's nothing great to look at, but you aren't looking directly into someone else's room, and those rooms are quieter. But I think their deluxe doubles all have windows on the street.

Lexma90, Hotel Le Regent looks pretty good actually...i can afford their super deluxe room which is seem a reasonable size and has a view of the street. I will make some inquiries.

Christina, yes i did make some odd choices...its the result of going around in circles late into the night! Thats why I am hoping for better suggestions !

Anyone else ?

You may have some misconceptions:

• A majority of folks would probably pick a room overlooking a courtyard rather than over the street. Reason?? -- noise.

Unless a room has a drop dead view of the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame and the river or something like that - a courtyard room would often be preferable to a really noisy streetside room.

• Star ratings have pretty much nothing to do w/ quality or cleanliness. It might be hard to understand if you are used to Stateside rating systems. The number of stars relates to specific amenities. A 2 or 3 star place could actually be cleaner or in a better location than a 4 star property. But the 4 star has more 'stuff'.

• TA is tricky. I never pick or reject a hotel based on a few reviews. Just because it has one (or a few) bad reviews, you have to read between the lines. Was the reviewer just as confused about the start ratings as you are? Or were they expecting the Ritz at Holiday Inn rates. Or did they get the worst/noisiest room in the place when other rooms are better/quieter?

I've been in Paris three times, and each time I've stayed at the Hotel Capitol, number 9 Rue Viale. It's very close to the Dupliex station on the Metro. This makes it convenient to get around Paris easily. The neighborhood is very quiet, but there are many good restaurants there. The hotel is very clean and well managed. The price was not too outlandish. I really liked the hotel, and if I ever get back to Paris, which I'm hopeful of doing, I'll go back to that hotel. It's within walking distance to the Eiffel Tower. One evening, after going to the Eiffel Tower, I forget what I did afterwards, but I ended up walking from the Tower area at about one o'clock past midnight. I had a pleasant walk, and had absolutely no fear or problem, attesting to the safe neighborhood. Another point--on the way to the Tower, if you walk beneath the elevated Metro line, when you reach the Bir Hakem station (a short walk), right at the foot of the station, is an Italian restaurant named Iolanda's. It's the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to, and I'm originally from New York and my wife grew up in Naples. That speaks a lot for this place. The owner, we found out, grew up in my wife's former neighborhood in Naples. We ate there quite often when we visited Paris.

I would recommend the Hotel Saint Jacques, also a 3* hotel. http://www.paris-hotel-stjacques.com/index.html

The location is good, and the price is in your range. We enjoyed our stay there.

Waldo, I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience at that hotel and that you had no fear walking around the neighborhood and that Iolanda's is a great restaurant, but having made 100+ plus trips to Paris and as someone who knows the city quite well, you'd never catch me around the Bir Hakeim metro stop at that time of night. The other side of the Champs de Mars, no problem, but I have several times witnessed "incidents" IN the Bir Hakeim station and on the street below it. There are only a small handful of places in Paris I'm even slightly wary of, and that's one of them. And no, I'm not talking shootings or rapes, but one was a stabbing incident, or so I was told by a policeman, and the others were a fight up on the metro platform that almost sent a young man tumbling down onto the tracks and a pickpocketing that set off a major chase out of the station and down the streets.

My dilemma (or dilemna) is that people who can't spell won't use a dictionary.
Sorry, but this drives me mad.
Having said that, evaluate the weight of reviews on these sites. If a hotel has tons of positives and a couple of horrid ones, you can probably dismiss the horrid ones. Also, don't trust reviews that promise paradise. Nothing is perfect. Pay attention to the detailed and even-handed reviews by people who lay out the high points and mmeention the negatives.
You're budget is actually pretty good. I'd pass up the Apostrophe mainly because it's in the Montparnasse area, not central to most thngs, like museums nad shops and parks, that I want to frequent.
Posters are right. If the "star" is the French gov't rating system, which ranks on amenities (an elevator? TVs?) that is quite different from, say, a Michelin "red house" rating, which goes by, among other things, poshness.
Having said that my personal preference to avoid 2-stars, just a bit too basic at this stage in my life. In earlier years, I loved the Esmeralda in the Latin Quarter for its very bohemian, faded-but-authetic Parisian atmosphere and great location (views of Notra Dame from some rooms). Now it's too funky for me.

typo. Notre Dame.

LAleslie you exactly the type of nit-picking complaining old whinge who would go around leaving bad reviews because the porter mis pronounced your name or you didnt like the taste of the mints that were left on the pillow.

Sorry...meant "you are"....would hate to offend you even further !

Now, if we can get back to reviewing hotels rather than my bad grammar ??

Hi Tony,
I stayed at the Hotel de la Sorbonne in May. It is located in the Latin Quarter across from the rear of the Sorbonne and quite near the Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens. It is within walking distance to many of the sights and has many cafe's and shops nearby. The hotel is newly redecorated and very clean. The staff were very helpful and the rates are reasonable. I am not sure of the web adress, but if you google it, you'll find it. Enjoy your trip, I love Paris and cannot wait to go back.

Hi elcon, thats a great tip, will check that out now

Elcon, Looking at Google street view, there doesn't seem to be a lot of cafes etc in the immediate vicinity of the Sorbonne hotel - would that be correct, or is this misleading ?

Well, as a writer and editor and publisher, I DO
care, a LOT, about how things are spelled, and delemas is the weirdest spelling I've ever seen of dilemmas or dilemnas (the alternative spelling), and it isn't a grammatical issue but a spelling one...but that said my choice of hotels in Paris comes down to primarily the Hotel de France in the 7eme, which is a 2-star, or the Hotel Duquesne, also in the 7eme, which is a 3-star.

It also helps to be able to spell the places you're planning on visiting. You're not guilty of this, but about a thousand folks a year come on this board wanting to visit Sienna or Montepulchiano or Istambul. How hard is it in this day and age where we have the internet resources to get accurate info to get the correct spelling of where you're headed?

Hotel St. Vincent in the 6th.

tony8028: "LAleslie you exactly the type of nit-picking complaining old whinge who would go around leaving bad reviews because the porter mis pronounced your name or you didnt like the taste of the mints that were left on the pillow.

Sorry...meant "you are"....would hate to offend you even further !

Now, if we can get back to reviewing hotels rather than my bad grammar ??"

About 90% of LAleslie's post did address your OP/questions/issues, yet you chose to focus on that one sentence. Perhaps it is you who are 'nit-picking'.

I personally wouldn't pick any of your short list, except maybe the 2 star you are leery of. But it seems your main objection is based on misunderstanding the star rating system.

StCirq, despite the whole spelling issue, i appreciate the hotel advice (which is why I am here!).

I hadn't considered the 7th as it didnt seem as "villagey" ( I made up that word, so it's spelled correctly!) but based on your advice i will check it out now.

And janisj, I am not going to get into a whole discussion all that...i am too busy trying find a hotel in paris ! Thanks for your suggestions too !

I highly recommend Hotel St Jacques (agree with blh!). We were there in Sept and loved it as well as its location. Plenty of restaurants nearby as well as a couple of quaint little stores for those last-minute necessities.

Only a 5-minute or so walk from Notre Dame and just down the hill from the Pantheon.

By the way, this selection was based on a LOT of research (both on Fodors and the web in general).

I think it is really rude to pick out a poster's spelling mistakes and errors in grammar.

This is a message board.

This ain't the Paris Review.

Thin

Back to the hotels. I also stayed at the Hotel Regent on Rue Daphine and loved it. It is smack in the middle of the 6th and you will trip over cafes the minute walk out the door.

I just checked the location of the Hotel de la Sorbonne and it is in an area with plenty of cafes within a few blocks. At the Place de la Sorbonne there are a bunch of them and that is just a block away. And a block in the other direction is the rue Soufflot, with more cafes.

I'd recommend the Millesime on Rue Jacob. It is right in the middle of the 6th and has lots of cafes and services nearby,

http://www.millesimehotel.com/rates-en.php

ThinGorjus, I agree with you totally.

I read the heading and winced at the spelling, but this is a message board - leave the poor guy alone.

Geez...I will never misspell dilemma again !! Its not a word I use very often. This "poor guy" has learned more about spelling from this thread than he has about hotels in Paris!

Avalon....i just check some reviews on the Mellesime Hotel...

All of the recent reviews are appalling !

see:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d236579-Reviews-Millesime_Hotel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

I only found 2 slightly negative reasponse in the first 4 pages of reviews. One was there weren't enough pictures on the walls! Another complained that it was 2 twins pushed together. That is very common in Parisian hotels. They do have queen size beds , regular ones, if you book a superior room

My apologies...I somehow clicked the link that ONLY showed bad reviews ! Sorry....it does look good..we might book that one.

So you have stayed here yourself, personally?

Thanks for the recommendation !

Yes We've stayed there 5 or 6 times. Also on the same street we've stayed at the du Danube. des Marroniers,and d;Angleterre. I think those might be a bit over your budget.

tony8028 - If you want action around your hotel ie: crowds, restaurants, shops, crepe stands and a bit of culture thrown in, I would stay in the 6th around Blvd St Germain.
Look at your Paris map and find rue Clement. In this short side street is the Hotel Clement,6 rue Clement, Tel;0143265360/Fax:0144070683.
The hotel faces the covered market, has zillions of restaurants, cafes & bistros on it's doorstep. Just a little way further up is the beautiful St Sulpice and the Luxembourg Gardens.

I had a street facing room and it was a bit noisy some nights from the cafe`s below and across the street. But central to everything - absolutely!
Tariff might have gone up but I paid 117 for a single - a junior suite is 145euros.

e&oe

How about the Ile St Louis? Great area, lots of cafes and wonderful views.

We liked the Hotel Lutece there very much and I think it's still under 200 euros per night.

I never considered Ile St Louis. It looks a bit secluded from the rest of paris? I guess that would appeal to some people. I will check it out...i have not booked yet !

Not the least bit secluded. You are about 2 blocks and across a bridge to the Left Bank and the same to the Right Bank , near Bastille

I have not stayed on the Ile St Louis but this year in May booked three nights at the Hotel Hospitel Dieu which is practically on the doorstep of Notre Dame Cathedral!
http://www.hotel-hospitel.com/ang/contacts.htm

We walked all over the two islands and I think the Ile de La Cite` is more exciting. I found Ile St Louise sedate and if you wanted to cross over to the action on the Left Bank you walked over to Ile de La Cite first anyway.

The rooms on the 6th floor hotel are very modern - no olde worlde French staircases or creaking floorboards here!

Sorry, Louis, not Louise! And Avalon is right about the access to the right and left banks being a bit further down rather than at the St Germain end.

tony, I found out why I never heard of l'Apostrophe -- it hasn't existed for long and used to be the 1* Hotel de Chevreuse. That isn't really St Germain or Latin Qtr, either, it is Montparnasse. Actually, I stay quite near there and like the area but don't think this is what you are looking for, If you do want to stay in Montparnasse, there are many better choices than that hotel, also in terms of location. LIke the Hotel Lenox http://www.paris-hotel-lenox.com/

there are many others, also. There is lots going on around there, plenty of restaurants, cinemas and cafes and excellent public transportation options. Also shopping.

Ile St Louis is prime place to stay. I laugh at the word secluded. It is at the heart of Paris. In fact all mileages in France are measured from Ile Notre Dame (mile 0). Ile St Louis has some of the most expensive real estate in Paris, and several Prime Ministers and other notables have/do live there. You need to get the Fodor's Guide and read up, it will help situate you, and help you map out where the sites you will want to see are located.

Hotels on ISL are a bit more expensive, and rooms may be smaller, but then again you would be in a 16th/17th century building.

Hotel St Louis en Ile, Hotel Lutece, Hotel Deux Iles are some that I have stayed at or have knowledge of.

www.paris-hotel-lutece.com

Ile St Louis is nice because it is small and compact, good restaurants, less traffic, and easy walking distance to Metro and some of the sites. The main street has a cheese shop, chocolate shop, famous ice cream place,etc..

Paris is a huge city, you will never be close (i.e. walking distance to) to all of the sites. A walk from Notre Dame to Eiffel Tower would be a march. That being said, staying in the 4th/5th/6th is a good idea for a first time visit.

Even so, with its excellent transit system, being outside of the centre is not really an issue, except for having to commute in/out every day. I stayed in the 16th one year and liked it, no tourists, but I did spend 20 minutes a day getting to the centre.

Get a map to help you decide. Not sure where you got the names of those hotels, but I can say that some of them are lesser known. A quick search here will come up with a good list of hotels that people use. There are names that come up regularly (like Bonaparte) and would be a good place to start.
Forget TA, you can trust the people here

We stayed, last April, at the Paris Le Grand (next to the Opera Garnier). It was in the PERFECT location, and the service was exquisite. We stayed on awards points, but I am sure you could get a decent online deal for Feb.

Tony
Ive stayed at many hotels in Paris, and have yet to see any one one them post 'fake' pictures. I do suspect phoney reviews are now rampant. Some hurting hotels I know of are experiencing whirlwind flurries of 5 star ratings on TA from one time posters that I have to be cynical

Take a look into Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles http://www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com/

Charming Courtyard hotel in the Latin Quarter. Walkable to the Pantheon, Jardin du Luxembourg. Metro stop on line 10 nearby. The front desk (and it really is a desk) was extremely helpful. Photos on the website do not look fake to me. I found it very comfortable and enjoyed my stay very much.

I have heard many nice things about the Hotel Grandes Ecoles, but that wallpaper would give me a migraine.

Thin

Hi again Tony,
The street that Hotel de la Sorbonne is on is pretty quiet, but you are around the corner(about a 2 min. walk) from Place de la Sorbonne which has cafes. Also, further down the street, near St. Severin church is very lively. It is about a 5-10 min. walk from Blvd. st. Germain and Notre Dame. I think anywhere in the Latin quarter is good for sightseeing and cafes.

You should be able to book a superior room for under 200 E at the Hotel du Danube. I have more of a Right Bank center of gravity but I think the Danube is in a great location for a first visit to Paris. I stayed in one of the superior rooms and it wasn't too tiny. Also, the courtyard is pretty nice, so if you're not street side it won't be the end of the world.

http://www.hoteldanube.fr/

Have a great trip.

Hi Tony8028, glad to see you have kept your sense of humour despite the hammering re your spelling!!

We rented an apartment just near the Hotel de la Sorbonne and the location is great. We had good access to the metro and also to several bus lines which we often used.

You will be given good advice on this site so don't be afraid to go with the recommendations that are being provided.

I hope you have a fabulous trip, I'm so envious, I wish it was me trying to choose a hotel in Paris! Please post a trip report when you are back home.

Just stayed at the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. It's a cozy, small room, but even though I go for contemporary at home, I thought the room was lovely and can't beat the view of the Pantheon directly across the street. Very quiet, lots of places to eat nearby.
My favorite Paris hotel in that price range is the Hotel Residence Henri IV, in same neighborhood. It's hard to find availability and rates have gone up, but it faces a park at the end of a dead-end block and it is totally charming.
In the area, be sure to make a dinner reservation at the incredible litle resaruant called Fetes Galantes. You can eat for twice the price at many places, but the food here is great simple French food.

The rooms at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles can very in size and decor. Our last stay was in room 134 which was a decent size and the wallpaper was toile--yellow/gold, and being a toile fan, I liked it. There was a huge Beech Tree just outside the window which overlooked the attractive terrace. The room was around 128 euros with breakfast not included.

The booking procedure for Hotel des Grandes Ecoles doesnt look as straight forward as some others. It doesnt appear to be available on booking.com which i usually use and their own website asks for all personal details and credit card number before you can even see a rate or availability. Otherwise the hotel looks nice.

Tony -
Avalon and I agree on the Millesime. They have a pretty good special right now. For a real bed, upgrade to a deluxe. I love the location - and I am looking at going in February and we'll try to book soon. But I would love to stay on Ile St Louis. It's the center of Paris! You have lots of options - the specials all over europe are good right now. But I would suggest the 4th, 5th or 6th arr. for cafes, location and atmosphere. Take the reviews on tripadvisor with a grain of salt. The Four Seasons and the Econolodge can't really be lumped together.

Here's another suggestion for you! Check out Hotel Henri IV Rive Gauche on rue Saint Jacques in the 5th arr.

www.henri-paris-hotel.com/en/

We loved this small hotel for its comfort & location!

2010

Do you guys generally book directly through the hotel's site or through one of the referral sites (trip adviser etc)

Do you think I will save any money by waiting until the last minute or are rates pretty much as low as they will go for travel in Feb?

Cheers!

I usually book direct with hotels. You can wait if you are willing to take the chance of your first choices being unavailable (any events going on while you are there?). Sometimes you can find great last minute deals. Have you picked a neighborhood yet? Don't get too caught up in being near a metro station - walking is really the way to get around Paris and you're rarely more than 200m from a station. And don't forget the buses so you see stuff on your way around. Just avoid rush hour and give up your seat to seniors. We love the Paris bus system - included in the Paris museum pass transportation ticket (buy online before you go or buy at the airport and you can get on the metro from the airport).

christabir, thanks for that advice. I am mainly looking at the 5th and 6th areas. Not sure if any events are going on, but for peace of mind ( i should have written "piece of mind just to keep those people who enjoy correct my grammar amused ).

I will be arriving by train from Zurich. Do you know if I can get a connection train in to the metro system from where the inter-country trains drop you off?

Tony,
I could give you a "piece of my mind" but for everyone's peace of mind, and your last funny post, I apologize. I think language is important to human communication and get impatient with people who are casual or indifferent to it.

Christabir is right, booking directly with hotels almost always gets better prices and less chance of problems. The Ile St. Louis and Cite are both fantastic neighborhoods to stay in.

Thanks LAleslie, I appreciate the advice.

May you have a delemma free Christmas

I assume you'll arrive from Zurich at the Gare de l'Est, so you can pick up the metro right there.

And may you have a whinge-free Christmas. (Whinge: One of my favorite "English" words).

Your train will come right into Paris to one of four stations. Your train ticket should tell you which one. There are easy connections on the metro or grab a cab if you have luggage or if you are unsure of the exact location of your hotel.

The closer you are to the seine, the closer you are to everything on the rive droit and can walk everywhere. If there is a good deal at the D'Aubusson Hotel, that's the place I'd stay. It's beautiful, but really expensive.

There are lists of suggestions in both of my, threads, "Paris Hotel Left Bank Thread" and "Paris Hotel Right Bank Thread". Happy Travels!

Correction, "Hotels". Happy Travels!

Guenmai , thats an invaluable thread ! I think I may have discovered another contender as a result of the information contained within it.

The Grand Hotel Saint-Michel in the 5th looks fantastic and is within the budget!

My only worry when booking any of these hotels online is that when you book the lowest possible rate, then maybe you are more likely to get that room in a dark corner that they have trouble booking out.

I wonder of in all cases is better to pick a room that is the next category up - like rather than standard double, so got deluxe double...etc ?

I'm glad my hotel thread was of help. Good luck in your search. Happy Travels!

I go along with hpeabody, nini and Aleta, re the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. We loved it - possibly the most charming hotel we have stayed in! I wrote about it in my trip report two years ago:

We take the metro across town to Rue du Cardinal Lemoine. We knew there would be a slight uphill dragging of cases and in restrospect could have waited at the bottom and caught a bus up the hill which turns off into Rue Clovis almost on the doorstep of our next and last home for two nights, Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles, 75 rue Du Cardinal Lemoine in the 5th arr.

We are too early for the room but the gracious receptionist takes leave of our suitcases and places them near her large desk while we check in.
We are seated in two armchairs in front of her desk and feel as if we are about to be interviewed for a job!
She is the most fascinating woman.
Speaking in a fairly high but melodic voice which fluctuates with the raising and lowering of her eyebrows, we hand over the necessary details and pay the bill at the same time. Much eyebrow raising here before handing over the key to our gorgeous garden room.

We say 'Au revoir' to Madam and thank her profusely for looking after our stuff before heading down the driveway and back down to the metro.

Next Day -
Taking it easy this particular morning we started out around 10am.
Our room at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles, 75 Rue Cardinal Lemoine, was decorated in an intense floral wallpaper & unusual cotton lace bedcovers. A very nice lower floor room, leading directly onto the pretty garden.

WELCOMED BY ANGELIC VOICES

I was the first to leave our room in the morning, leaving DH to take a leisurely shower.
As I stepped out of the French doors a loud chorus of childrens voices burst into song, accompanied by ferocious playing of a piano!
Whats this?! A special kind of hotel 'good morning' to guests awakening to a glorious sunny morning?
No dear, just the school next door having singing practice. Oh well, I did feel special for that split second or two!

Sitting and waiting in the lovely setting with a number of other guest all enjoying breakfast I was able to enjoy the lovely singing interjected every now and then by a mans voice giving intructions.

Tony, this beautiful little hotel is not like being near the bustling life one finds nearer the Seine....
But, the outlook (which you mentioned) is delightful if you insist you only want to book a 'garden view' room (ours was ground floor). I was also wondering about February and their garden?? Could it look less attractive without it's sunny umbrellas and cascading flower pots??

I had no trouble at all with my booking direct with hotel - remember, cancelling is easy as they do not put your credit card through unless you don't pitch.

tony, apologies if this has already been suggested...

Use google maps to check out the address of the hotel and then switch to streetview and walk down the street, get 360 views of the surroundings, look up and down the buildings. Its a blast and will give you an idea of whether streets are wide or narrow and what else is in the area.

When I can't really go to Paris I like to "stroll" down the streets virtually.
Ann Marie

Frankly, I did not even look at this thread until now because of the spelling in the title.

I have very little knowledge of Paris hotels since I live in Paris, but I will contribute this information that I read in the trade press at the office yesterday about average hotel rates as of the end of November 2009.

Here is partial information for Paris:

4 stars -- 211€ (down 11.4% from last year)

3 stars -- 100€ (down 4.7%)

2 stars -- 65€ (up 2.6%)

And here is the information France in general:

4 stars -- 176€ (down 9.5%)

3 stars -- 87€ (down 1.3%)

2 stars -- 61€ (up 3.7%)

1 & 0 star -- 41€ (up 5.6%)

Thanks kerouac for bringing up my spelling again. Yes I agree I should be subjected to a public flogging. No doubt you've never misspelt anything before...I think demeaning someone in a public forum is probably a worse character than my dyslexia.

After all the helpful replies above, I decided to go with The Grand Hotel Saint-Michel in the 5th,

HOWEVER.....I sent them an email to clarify something and they have not responded with 24 hours so I think I will look elsewhere.

Other hotels I have contacted have responded almost immediately so I just cant be comfortable about booking Saint Michel now.

Hotel de la Sorbonne now looking like an option, but will have a close look at all of the suggestions above.

Merry Xmas everyone !

Tod....Thanks for your info....the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles was on my shortlist but I cant find any east way to get rates for this place. I cant find it on the usual sites and the booking system on their own site isnt very user friendly.

If you are still looking, you may want to check out the du Danube on Rue Jacob in the 6th. It is a great location and lovely hotel (but only if you book a superior room). The superior rooms are in your price range. There is no AC but in Feb that is not a problem. We have happily stayed there several times.

Thanks basingstoke2, yes still looking, will check out your suggestion.

Ok the pain is over! Hotel has been booked ! I went with Hotel du Pantheon because it was one of the few (maybe only) hotel that I could book and be assured of a view of something scenic.
The reviews are great as is the location and a superior room for 165 euros a night fits my budget exactly.

The Grand Hotel Saint-Michel was my first choice, but if they cant answer a simple email I am not going to bother with them.

Thanks for everyone who commented, it really helped me understand what to look for in a paris hotel.

Merry Chresemas, tony, and enjoy your vacation.

And a happi new yere, to.

I think you will love it Tony, it is a sister hotel to the Hotel Sorbonne. Have a great trip.

Hi tony,

In Paris, we always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 134E dbl w/bkfst. It is just around the corner from Place St. Sulpice, near 3 metro stops and 4 bus routes. Has AC and an elevator.

The staff speaks English well, and is very helpful. The front desk is staffed 24/7

They can arrange a shuttle pickup to/from CDG for you.

Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
reservation@hotelbonaparte.fr
www.hotelbonaparte.fr

For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search the forum" box.

You might also find these helpful.

Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34712768

Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
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PS, FYI
dilemma

Hotel Le Six is a wonderful boutique hotel in the 6th (truly!) Safe travels

Thanks all , but but hotel is booked!

And thank you Ira, yes my spelling and shared equal billing with the search for a hotel, so thanks for highlighting that.

Congrats Tony - I think you will be very happy up on the hill! Do pop into Hotel Grandes Ecoles and take a snap if you are passing, I would love to see what their courtyard looks like in winter!
As you are in the area I want to give you this restaurant tip:

Le Vin Sobre,
25 rue Feuillantines,75005
Tel:01 43 29 00 23
(near the Val de Grace)

As you walk around:
When leaving the Pantheon, go and stand on the corner of Rue St.Jacques and Rue Soufflot for a moment. Looking ahead just across the Seine you'll see the 15th century Tour St.Jacques. On the right the great dome of the Pantheon. A mile away on your left the magnificent Eiffel Tower and behind you the Arenes De Lutece.
You will truly be standing at the corner of the centuries!

Thanks Tod! I can tell you have a great love of Paris!

Choosing this hotel has been the most stressful part of the planning but hopefully it will have been worth the effort!

I will be happy to take a photo for you of the Grandes Ecoles court yard, just drop me an email closer to the date to remind me. My address is tonyfez@gmail.com

Will be there from the 3rd of Feb.

cheers Tony

My pleasure Tony8028 - Yes, I do love Paris more and more after each visit. Next year our 11th/12th -can't quite remember! I will email you closer to the time. I will try and include some little anecdotes about the area taken from my most precious and well-travelled paperback entitled "Around and About Paris" by Thirza Valois. She leaves no stone unturned and I never travel without her 3 books.

Congrats on finding a place and have a great trip. Happy Travels!

Bad grammar wasn't the issue: confusion was. I spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out what a delemas was; it sounded Greek.

Underhill, then I hope it was an educational journey for you!

Can't help smiling here at Underhill's furrowed brow - were you thinking Dolmas that unusual Greek vineleaf wrapped titbit?!! LOL!

Tony8028 you are a good sport!

Confusion here, too, until it dawned on me it was dilemmas. I thought he was talking about a particular hotel named Delemas.

And yes, he's a good sport.

And I'm not as nasty as I seem either.

Ahoy Tony, me mite:!:

Why didn't you tell us that you're 'strian...many of us are aware that 'strians play rugby with the English language..kicking it all over the place. But if you think you were targeted by the above pickies because of only one little spelling error, then you could have tossed some 'strian right back at 'em.

"strian-speak":

eggshner something you turn on when the house or car
is uncomfortably hot

eyedeen.. more than 17, less than 19

mite .. partner, buddy, friend, spouse

There's much more...but the thread has come off the spool.


Cheers...open up another Foster's and enjoy!

stu tower

P.s.mite
While in the pantheon area, be sure to stroll down unique Rue Mouffetard...very colorful, multi-ethnic street,shops, restaurants, cafes, music, etc.

tower, i think that speech was too good to waste on a simple blog....you should be out on a ledge at the very least

Thanks indeed for the Rue Mouffetard tip, will CERTAINLY be on the list. That's one delema fixed

Send a bit of a report after your trip. I'm anxious to read about Paris, your choice of neighborhood and your hotel especially.

Have a great trip!

tony, I love your orthographic independence and admire your sense of humor! Please do report back on the hotel. And have a wonderful trip.

I DESPISE the Rue Mouffetard.

I was afraid my Loewe wallet was going to be nicked whilst standing in line to pay for my Coke Lite at the Franprix. The bloke in front of me looked like he hadn't washed his hair since Mitterrand was in office.

Tres dreadful!

This is not the Chanel set walking about, sweetie darling.

Thin,
Foddie Winner 2009 (no more autographs, s'il-vous plait)

Thanks Leely2...I will be sure to report back on how it all turned out ! The trip in total is departing Sydney...NYC/Paris/Bruges/Amsterdam/Bangkok/Home - over around 3 weeks.

The thing that struck me most about people having a go at my spelling is...what if English wasn't my first language? What if I had a disability...a brain injury etc etc...? I don't have any of those things, but people shouldn't be so quick to humiliate others in a public forum over something as irrelevant (to travel) as speling.

Personally I wasn’t offended and enjoyed the banter, but I think people need to be sensitive to others.

And yes, I did spell "speling" incorrectly just to highlight the point!

The bloke in front of me looked like he hadn't washed his hair since Mitterrand was in office.

Thin, sweetie, it must be difficult for you to come off your pseudo-socialite perch. Besides, that was my grandson...and he does wash his matted hair once every month or two, rain or shine. I'm sorry he didn't get your Loewe wallet...his mom would have loved it.

Tony..pay no heed, and take my word, mite, you'll enjoy a visit to Rue Mouffetard , since you'll be lodging in the immediate vicinity anyway.

stu (you've certainly shown yourself to be a good sport..happy travels, sounds like a superb trip)

Mr. Tower, please leave the Borscht Belt humour to Aduchamp.

You are a very accomplished writer and traveller, but you are decidedly not funny.

Thin,
who does not perch but exists in a celestial twilight far above Fodorville

The rue Mouffetard does absolutely nothing for me, FWIW. All that meat on a stick sweating in the summer sun is not attractive. Plus the goat's heads with fur in the boucheries are not what I want to see in Paris - in Tunisia, fine.

Have a good trip Tony and hope you encounter some of our feline friends along the way. You've drawn out some good advice with that cunning ploy and as a bonus everyone here should now be able to spell 'dilemma', even if we're still struggling with 'accommodation' and don't know the difference between 'its' and 'it's'.

farrermog...Yes Feline friends for sure ! In some hotel reviews people have said "i didn't like the fact that they had a cat in the hotel" and that's when I was certain it was the right hotel for me!

We'll be missing our 3 furry boys, so it will be lovely have some feline company !

Thin: I'm so glad you've been released from Fodor banishment. I've missed your sense of humor. Happy Travels!

Good point Tony - wonder if anyone has put together a trip staying at hotels or B&Bs which have a resident cat, dog, parrot or whatever. Not for everyone obviously and I'd draw the line well before the resident python, but there must be others here who have noted 'the friendly old Beagle' or 'inquisitive Burmese' in reviews and thought those establishments might make for a more pleasant stay than the usual sterile properties. A new thread perhaps if there isn't already one somewhere.

Beacuse I do not speak French and have not stayed at every hotel in Paris, I thought the Hotel Delemas actually existed. If fact for my next stay I hope there is a vacancy since the Hotel Pompose Arse seems to be full.

Mr. Tower, please leave the Borscht Belt humour to Aduchamp.


Thin, Ann Taylor, and an old cow walk into a Parisian bar...

"Hotel Pompose Arse " would be a popular stay by SOME of the readers of these pages I am sure

farrermog, my guess is that establishments wouldnt highlight their resident animals because that would probably rule out those who dislike them.

For me, it will just add to the warmth of the place.

tony8028 - One of the most interesting things one can do whilst travelling through the Loire Valley is to visit a Troglydite cave, of which there are hundreds.
The best one - I went to two others and it was not so good, is this one with the restaurant deep inside the cave:
http://tinyurl.com/ydhvdzd

Not only will you see how millions of mushrooms types are cultivated, there are the snail farms inside as well plus other interesting stuff. The restaurant serves a speciality of the region.

Aaaaarrrggghhh!! Supposed to have posted that to Byron1 -sorry tony!

<<The trip in total is departing Sydney...NYC/Paris/Bruges/Amsterdam/Bangkok/Home>>

Tony, have you been to the U.S. before?

<<but there must be others here who have noted 'the friendly old Beagle'>>

I stayed in a family owned hotel in Paris in the 7th that had a Jack Russell puppy. My room wasn't ready when I arrived so they gave me a coffee and a newspaper. As I was sitting in the small lobby reading the paper, the dog came crashing through the paper onto my lap. Then when I wheeled my suitcase across the courtyard he ran alongside attacking the wheels. Made the stay interesting.

Ah, so you're a cat person. I should have known.
Do post a review of the hotel at the very least.

As an update to this saga....we canceled our booking at Hotel du Pantheon and booked a double room with a balcony at Hotel du College de France.

The reviews are all excellent, the location is awesome and while its not as plush as Hotel du Patheon, we're saving around 200 Euros which will go a LONG way during our Bangkok stop over on the way home !

Benecia, it's
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

Sorry, posted on wrong thread1

Thats ok LAleslie....at least your not having a go at me this time , which is a nice change

Oh tony, Leslie's going to get you for that "your" instead of "you're" for sure.

I have considered the Hotel du College de France in the past, so I look forward to your review. Sounds like such an exciting trip. Even if you can't do a big trip report, please post your impressions when you return. And while in Paris try to trek over to Jacques Genin in the 3rd for chocolates, caramels, mille-feuilles, etc., if you like sweets and get the chance.

Leely2 I just threw that "your" in there to give the old girl something to whinge about

yes it will be a short but excellent trip....I was thinking of waiting until Brugge before i went beserk with the chocolate, but I might have to take your recommendation and visit Jacques Genin!

I will file a trip report. With accommodation...its always a balance between how much luxury do you really need when an extra 100-200 Euros a day could be spent enjoying your time AWAY from the hotel room. Of course to some, money is no object.

It all makes me wonder what on earth people did before the web when it comes to researching a holiday!

Oh tony, there is aan excellent restaurant right near your chosen hotel, Le Pre Verre. Trt it you'll like it!

avalon, what type of food?

Any recommendations for excellent coffee ?

In my past trips to Europe I have been disappointed with the coffee although I have not been to Italy.

It was especially bad in Germany ! They seem to use this long life milk for everything that tastes of chemicals...

Tony, it's very French! And you really do need reservations. It is quite reasonable for the quality, as I recall under 30 Euro for 3 courses.

http://www.lepreverre.com/en/resto/resto.html

I think you'll be fine in that hotel. It may not be luxurious, but the location is good and I'm sure it will be clean and comfortable.

I checked the web site. I'll stay there myself if the man on the left at reception is the owner -- ohh, la la!

I'm a coffee lover and do not recall not enjoying my morning coffee in cafes in Paris. It's been so long since I've been in Germany, I don't remember the coffee but do remember how poor the coffee was on a Celebrity Millenium cruise and in some of the hotels on other trips.

You won't be too far from Brasserie Balzar (49 Rue des Ecoles), which has the best onion soup ever.

French coffee has never been the same since the introduction of longlife milk, which will kill anything dead. A major mystery since they are so fastidious about other ingredients.

Fingers crossed the Italians don't follow suit.

UHT milk is one of the main things keeping my wife from moving us to France!

Oh God, UHT Milk in Paris?? I thought this was the cafe capital of the world ? How awful !

Just drinnk it black!

Luisah, I said the same thing about the hotel man...What a hunk!

<<I said the same thing about the hotel man...What a hunk!>>

Indeed! I think I'd spend some time asking directions and hanging out in the lobby. Imagine the French accent.

avalon and Luisah,

My friend Monica and I met the hunky hotel man and he is even better looking in person and extremely nice. Definitely worth spending time asking directions and hanging out in the lobby.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed Mr. Hotel Owner Hotness on the hotel website. I wondered if he actually looked as good as advertised.

"Oh God, UHT Milk in Paris?? I thought this was the cafe capital of the world ? How awful !"

The only difference with UHT milk is that it is heated
( pasteurized) at a higher temperature than regular milk, which extends it's shelf life. Same is true for organic milk btw, which also has a much longer shelf life. Any difference in taste has to do with the effects of heating
( carmelization) not because of any additives in the milk.

<<Mr. Hotel Owner Hotness>>

LOL. LouisaH wrote that she met him and he's even better looking than his photo.

Tony might need to watch out if he's traveling with wife or girl friend.

"LouisaH wrote that she met him and he's even better looking than his photo."

Could be a reason to stop renting apartments and try a hotel.
Ann Marie

They sell UHT milk in one store I shop regularly at, and it is the only kind they sell of nonfat milke, so I've had to buy it sometimes. It does taste differently, and sure, it is because of the heat rather than additives, but I don't think it matters why. It doesn't taste the same, I don't like it at all. It doesn't taste as fresh somehow and is more of a burnt or sweet flavor, which is why I suppose I don't like it as I don't like sweet things that much, and never put sugar in my coffee.

I wouldn't think it would be that noticeable in coffee, though, but it is when putting in on cereal or just drinking it.

Luisah and amwosu, you're both exactly right!
This is much more interesting than UHT milk discussion. Just drink espresso.

Wow. This thread veers in yet another direction.

I was liking it more when the gals were talking about your hotel's hottie owner.

amwosu, I agree. Let's see if we can get things back on track.

<<Could be a reason to stop renting apartments and try a hotel.
Ann Marie>>

YES! I'd forgotten until this comment, but one year in Paris the young manager of my hotel looked like Matt Damon and had a wonderful sense of humor. My friend and spent a lot of time talking in the lobby talking to him and when I left he gave me a hug and kiss -- on the cheek, but still ...

Hi Luisah - Thank you for tipping us off about the sublime ONION SOUP at Brasserie Balzar! I made a point of going there 3 trips ago because I had just "Paris To The Moon".....well I was heavily influenced. OK good food, but boy was it HOT even in early October. Thank goodness I scored a table near the entrance and was relieved by a bit of a breeze. I never tried the onion soup but my DH adores a good broth so I will try and get him there this 2010 trip.
I have seen the onion soup at Au Pied Cochon which is supposedly fantastic but the 6"deep pile of cheese on top put me off. Are you supposed to eat that as well?

<<I have seen the onion soup at Au Pied Cochon which is supposedly fantastic but the 6"deep pile of cheese on top put me off. Are you supposed to eat that as well?>>

Where is Au Pied Cochon? I ate at a similar sounding restaurant in Les Halles years ago when I was young and out most of the night. Occasionally, we'd end up at Les Halles for soup in the early morning when the farmers were arriving with their produce. But I thought Les Halles was done and gone long ago.

I love cheese so don't mind having a lot in the soup. However, if memory serves, a lot of that inches-thick top is bread. I really don't remember how much cheese was on the soup at Balzar, just that it was delicious and had been recommended by a co-worker as "to die for."

When my sister and husband went to Paris a couple of years ago a Boston friend gave them the names of a French couple to call. They did, and the couple took them to Brasserie Balzar for dinner. Don't know if they had the onion soup though.

Au Pied de Cochon is on rue Coquillière in the 1ème. It's the same institution that was around when Les Halles existed, but not sure if it's in the same location. Yes, you eat the cheese on top, but there's a thick slice of bread underneath, so it's not all cheese. Each mouthful should be a combination of broth, bread, and cheese.

One of the only things I miss since going pescetarian is French onion soup! I make my own veggie version which is good but I doubt there is a vegetarian version in Paris...
Ann Marie