zizz

I posted a message awhile back and some suggested staying in an apartment. After a few weeks of surfing and soul-searching, I figured that I'll be travelling with 2 kids and can forego charming Paris apartments/hotels for comfort and peace of mind. I think travelling with the 2 kids will be more than enough. I want the typical "business-type" hotel with a 24hr room service, a mini-bar...everything! That being said, can anyone recommend one to me? My budget is EUR350. I need one that can fit a family of four.

I've narrowed down the places where I want to stay in - please help me choose: 7th (near the Eiffel. A friend stayed at the Hilton - would this be good?); or the 1st (near the Louvre and the garden). But would these areas be too dead at night and that finding food for my kids would be difficult in the evenings? I also liked the 6th and the 5th arrondisements last year given that there were numerous eateries in these areas but would there be hotels in the area that would hold a family of 4 with all the amenities I've mentioned above? In my earlier post, someone suggested the Marais district. Can someone please tell me why? It seems quite far from most attractions?

Finally, I've been trying to see availabilities for mid=October and I'm going nowhere. What's happening in Paris in mid-October?!

Nonconformist

I think the rugby world cup is on then, as well as various conferences.

Travelnut

You might get what you want if you can give up "24-hr room service"- I'm pretty confident that amenity will come with a much higher price tag.

Did you consider the Citadines apart/hotel chain? There is a good one in St Germain des Pres, and I believe you can get one with 2 beds + sofabed.

Check on Holiday Inns and the Novotel chains also.

hetismij

The Rugby world cup is still on then - the semi finals are the wekend of the 13/14 October In St Denis, the finals are the 19/20th in Paris and St Denis, so hotels will be booked up for those, plus school half terms around that time.

Christina

If you pay enough, sure there will be hotels that will do that, but there aren't as many business-type hotels in those areas as the Right Bank, of course. I don't know about your budget, but the Lutitia might have those amenities (it is really the 24-hour room service that is the killer, I think -- what's up with why you need that? Even the K&K Cayre hotel over there doesn't have that, only 6:30 am to 11 pm) Lots of hotels have minibars, even some 2* ones, so that's nothing.

If the Hilton near the Eiffel Tower has what you want, I think that would work out fine. But I don't consider that area right next to the Tower to have much ambience as representative of the 6th/7th arr, so don't think that is any preferable in terms of location than the Right Bank where you'd find more hotels like this. You might look into the 16th, actually. Sorry, I see you've already decided for some reason to only stay in the 7th or the 1st.

The Marais district doesn't have many hotels in that category. What attractions are you looking at that you consider the Marais far from it? Do you have a map with a scale on it, maybe you aren't understanding distance? The Hilton near the Eiffel Tower is probably farther than most things (except la tour, of course) than the Marais.

I imagine the Pont Royal in the 7th might also have what you want, but maybe not at that price. If you really want a business-type hotel, you should go to business-type areas which are the Right Bank. There are some business-type hotels on the Left Bank, but not in the 7th. The Meridien Montparnasse has what you want, but that shows the issue -- it isn't in the 7th, but near Montparnasse Tower. There are probably some other large, modern hotels over there that cater to business people that would also , but not in the 7th. If the Hilton has what you want, maybe you should take it.

janisj

I am truly confused - you are traveling w/ 2 childreen, yet want a "business type hotel". A sterile, business class international chain hotel is the LAST thing I'd personally want in that situation.

And you prefer neighborhoods (except for maybe the 1st) where business hotels are pretty thin on the ground.

Plus October is a really busy month in Paris even in years when there is no RWC to fill the hotels.

travelbunny

try the Best Westerns. In Europe they are often of much higher quality than their NA counterparts. Holiday in is another ossibility. Book NOW!! October is busy but with the Rugby Cup things are even worse. Get on trip advisor. Use a such engine such as Venere, just hurry!

Underhill

Try the Westminster. Be aware, however, that quite a few hotels add a hefty extra percentage over the normal cost during October--supply and demand, given the large number of trade and fashion shows that put hotel rooms at a premium.

zizz

Thanks for all the replies. I've been trying to check for availability for most places and get nothing. So far only Citadines in Louvre still looks okay. Would this be in a nice area? I researched older posts and someone mentioned horrible beds for the Citadines aparthotels. I'm willing to go this route now since I have no choice at all.

I had no idea that October would be this bad. I thought June last year was bad. I'm really having second thoughts about this. Should I just postpone to April or July next year (which is the better month)? Even at EUR400+, there seems to be no availability anywhere! So where to go now in October? Australia? Japan?

Travelnut

Someone rec. the Holiday Inn Republique in your other post. It has a room with 2 beds (you can check, but I think each bed sleeps 2), and the room description says '4 max'. The rates are between 306-349 euro if you look at earlier Oct (Oct 4-16)..later Oct, the rates are ratched over 450 euro. All the amenities you'd expect - ice machine, 2 restaurants, "kids eat free", coffee-maker, kitchenette...

The Novotel at les Halles has availability, 1 double bed + sofabed, with a "best rate" 258-435 euro, it will average out to your rate or better. Full amenities in the room (minbar, plasma/LCD tv, etc) and room service noon-midnight, snacks 24/24.
http://www.novotelparisleshalles.com/rooms/rooms.shtm