I have found a great deal to Paris and want to bring my wife over Valentine's.<BR><BR>Within my budget are the 8th,4th,5th and more outlying arr. Available hotels include: Relais de paris Opera St Lazare in Champs-Elysees Quarter, Libertel Maxim in Latin Quarter, Jardin de Paris (Stella) in Marias.<BR><BR>Has anyone heard of these hotels? Is the area a good starting point for exploring Paris over 5 nights?<BR><BR>More questions to come but I need this help before I book - thanks

Hi Jerry - I stayed at the JDP Stella as part of a air/hotel package a few years ago. The hotel itself had no charm but had all the necessities. But the location was great I thought - a couple of blocks from the Metro at St. Paul plus the Bastille in the other direction and a number of buses nearby. And you can walk all over from there as well. But romantic it isn't.

Hi Jerry,<BR><BR> What is your price range? There are very nice hotels in the 6th, which is my personal favorite, for about 100E dbl.

I have heard of the second hotel that you mention. It's in the 5th district (Latin Qtr.) so that's okay. The hotel has been commented upon favorably-doesn't seem popular here though. It's part of the Libertel hotel chain.<BR><BR>I would much prefer to stay in the 6th district for the ambience. And there are many hotels in the 6th dist. that have offers through February. Look into Millisime Hotel. They have this absolutely great winter offer through mid-Feb. just in time for Valentine's Day. For 200 euro superior room you get free buffet b'fast, champagne, and chocolates. It's 185 euro for the standard room. Le Regent has 20% off its rates or if you stay the weekend the third night's free through Feb. 15th.

I have not stayed in your hotel choices, but can comment somewhat on their locations.<BR>I would not say the Relais de Paris Opera St Lazare was in the &quot;Champs Elysee&quot; district - it's one or two streets over from train tracks via Gare St Lazare. The Champs could be reached<BR>by walking, but the hotel isn't in the immediate area of it. I can say there are a number of small caf&eacute;s/restaurants along Blvd des Batignolles between M: Villiers and M: Rome.<BR><BR>Hotel Jardin de Paris (Stella) in Marais - this area looks very convenient on the map; there is an antiques area around rue St Paul. I don't remember there being any caf&eacute;s<BR>right around there, but there should be more toward Place des Vosges and the Bastille. The only pix I could see were on cybevasion.com, and they didn't reflect a 3*** to me. Not much 'net' information on it that I could find in a quick search.<BR><BR>If you must work with those 3 hotels, I'd go with the Libertel Maxim in Latin Quarter. We stayed in October in a hotel by Place Monge, on rue Lacepede, and walked from the Eglise St Medard (same street as the Libertel) up rue Mouffetard, a great market street.<BR>I saw on some website that the Libertel didn't have twin-bed rooms, if that makes any difference. Has mostly favorable comments on paris.org.(the other 2 had no comments).<BR><BR>

I would definitely go with the Libertel Maxim (not that I've stayed there) -- that's a great location in itself and very convenient for sightseeing.