Hi, <BR>We are visiting Paris in February, two adults and two kids. Although we won't be spending too much time in our room we prefer NOT to be staying in a typical small European room, but of course we can't afford to spend a fortune. Are there "suite-like " rooms as found here? We have no experience with apartments. Are these a lot more expensive? How do you go about investigating them?

We were in Paris this summer and had it not been for the World Cup 98, we would have wanted to stay at the Best Western Hotel Gaillon Opera which had some rooms large enough for four. <BR> <BR>Another hotel I have been told with large enough rooms for four are Novotel hotels.

I am so thankful that someone has posted this area of inquiry. We will be spending several days in Paris in June followed by a couple of weeks in the French Alps/Provence/French Riviera and we have struggled with the same question since the inception of our planning of our trip. We hear and read, "The rooms in the old hotels with any charm are small", and we could not stand to stay in an "American-like" hotel such a Novotels, etc. Must we get two rooms for the time in Paris? Do you have any idea how expensive that is--$200 x 2 rooms for a decent, charming, old world hotel in the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th! Many quote rates on the internet and in the guide books like this: 1000 FF for double plus 100 FF for "extra bed" with prices quoted for up to 3 people! What are these people talking about and what does this mean? Is the extra bed a single bed? One place in Provence told me over the phone that "extra bed" to them meant an extra double bed. Can any, or many, of the older world hotels in Paris sleep 4 in one room? We would prefer to spend our money for two rooms per night in southern France and the saved money for the expensive second room in Paris for great meals and wine. The children, aged 10 and 16, like good food, too. The same issue arises in southern France. We are focused on bed and breakfasts there, and it seems we will have better luck trying to locate larger rooms for four or two more inexpensive rooms, but again, we don't want to stay in non-beautiful, non-charming places. Sorry for the long posting, but you cannot imagine how annoying it has been trying to get an answer to these issues. I join in pleading for any information which will be helpful from you experienced ones!

I've never had to get a very large room <BR>for 4 people (and have never heard of <BR>one) so may not be of much help. But, <BR>I just wanted to express annoyance at <BR>the constant reference to modernized <BR>rooms or hotels as "Americanized". <BR>Nationality has nothing whatsoever to <BR>do with it -- it is simply modern and <BR>renovated vs older. Why are you calling <BR>this "American"? Are you under some <BR>bizarre impression that Europeans are <BR>all living in the last century and it's <BR>only Americans who have modern buildings, materials and architecture? <BR>I have seen plenty of cheap, tacky, <BR>modernized European buildings, not only <BR>hotels but modern apts, stores, and <BR>commercial buildings, and it has <BR>nothing to do with being "American." <BR>Anyway, as advice, you need to find a <BR>hotel that connects two smaller rooms. <BR>I've heard the Holiday Inn Republique <BR>in Paris has larger than avg rooms. <BR>Before you go off on a tangent, I should <BR>inform you that many hotel chains (eg, <BR>Holiday Inn and Best Western) in Europe <BR>are older, locally owned and run hotels and the chain name is merely ownership (in the case of BW, I <BR>think it's a marketing consortium). It <BR>does not mean these buildings were built <BR>by Holiday Inn or BW and are new and <BR>modern, as it usually does in US, nor <BR>that they are run by Americans. I <BR>should also warn you that bed sizes <BR>often do not translate from French to <BR>English--I have had more than one <BR>French hotel swear up and down that I <BR>am getting a large double bed, and <BR>when I get there it is a twin size. This <BR>summer one hotel even told me it was <BR>a queen size and it turned out to be <BR>a twin-size bed. I have no idea why <BR>they have so much trouble with this <BR>concept, but I wouldn't be surprised if <BR>that hotel's reference to an extra bed as a double means it is a portable twin-size bed.

<BR>Carl and Bob - I'm sorry I can't give specific hotels (with large rooms) for Paris but just want to tell you not to be hesitant about checking out the Novotels, etc. that you may consider "Americanized" We've stayed at some in other countries, for example Switzerland this past summer, and had huge rooms, very nicely appointed, and with very much an European atmosphere and charm. <BR>Regarding beds - usually a king or double, is just two twins pushed together (each with it's own sheeting and down comforters) especially in the smaller hotels. But we did have two big normal double beds in some of what you might call "Americanized" hotels. <BR>I'd suggest researching the Moevenpick chain, and Monopol chain too. Good luck, I hope someone else with experience will reply to you. I can think of rooms we've had which were not even big enough for my husband and myself, so I can certainly sympathize with you.

We paid about $100/night per twin-bedded room in the St. Germain district of Paris this summer at the Grand Hotel des Balcons. It was just fine. My brother's family did the same. Their children are the same age as yours, and simply had the room next door. No problem. <BR> I recall reading about a couple of hotels that catered to families on the left bank. Seems to me that one was in the 6th arrondisement and one in the 5th. Check Fodor's listings - and also check Frommer or some other major guidebook. The Rick Steve's guidebook consistently recommends some hotels in the 7th arrondisemnet. It's all a matter of preference. There have also been assorted discussions on this site about the Novotel and other chains. I guess there can be tremendous variation in quality. You might want to do a search and see what earlier posters have had to say. <BR> And do heed what the earlier posters have said here. Despite repeated descriptions of "Queen" and "King", we found mostly standard double beds, or twins pushed together! But it was all fine. Clean and simple - and have a great time!

Marcia, I certainly thank you and Cheryl for your help, and I am sure Carl does, too. I really would like to know the names of old world hotels in the 6th or 7th, and perhaps in the 5th, which cater to families--meaning that they either have rather large rooms with two double beds or special programs for adjacent rooms. Please keep the information coming, despite dour and defensive Christina's curious response above. Although I thought I was clear in our preferences in the earlier posting, having intimated that we were looking for charming, old world hotels, rather than "American-like" (with quotes around the description in the original posting) hotels such as Novotels, let me emphasize that we are hoping to include the traditional, European feel in our trip. It is difficult to find 200- to 500-year-old buildings in the United States where we live which are still used by tourists as places to sleep at night, but there are plenty of glass structures built in the 1980's and 1990's here, and we simply don't like (no offense) comtemporary buildings and furnishings. Three Novotels I looked at were not just "modernized and renovated" as suggested by our good friend Christina (who initially mentioned in her response to our inquiry seeking help from those who have had luck in putting two adults and two children in one room in Paris that she has "never had to get a very large room for 4 people!), but they were all built in the 1990's as new structures. Our family really would appreciate help from those of you who have had the experience with our quandry. We thank you very much.

Hi, Carl: This is going to be a long post, because I'm going to help you out with three PARIS hotels. <BR> <BR>First hotel, you can all be in the same room. Five years ago four of us girls spent a week in Paris, and it was my job to get the hotel, which I found in the child's book "Linnea". (Linnea and her grandfather stay at the Hotel Esmeralda, then take a train to visit Giverny, Monet's home.) So, we chose the Hotel Esmeralda because of a child's book. This book can be purchased in English and in French, and your children may enjoy reading it. <BR> <BR>Our room was at the very top floor of the hotel, with ONE big window facing Notre Dame. You will have a breathtaking view, especially at night when the monument is illuminated. <BR> <BR>The hotel is across the Seine from Notre Dame, in the Latin Quarter, close to St. Julien le Pauvre church. I think it is a 2 star hotel, and they lock up at 11:00 so you have to have your key to get back in. <BR> <BR>There was one bathroom shared by the four of us, and 3 beds: one double and two twins. No elevator, so you will be schlepping your bags up and down a circular staircase about 5 floors. Older furniture in the room, phone in room, plenty of linens. Reminded me of my grandmother's attic. You'll hit your head on the doorway between the bathroom and bedroom, tiny opening. <BR> <BR>We burned out our hairdryer on the first try, and they loaned us one for the rest of the week. We were okay to moderately happy there for the week . . . it is not necessarily the room you stay in, but the sights you see and the memories you make. We still talk about the Esmeralda (as a Parisian experience) even though we have decided to stay in 4 and 5 star hotels from now on. <BR> <BR>NOW, I'd like to recommend a beautiful CHARMING small hotel near the Bastille, and you will have to get 2 rooms. IT is called "le Pavillon Bastille" and I have stayed there at least 4 times. Color all done up in French blue and yellow, breakfast served in lovely cozy room. Close to metro, close to little pizza place for late night snackaroo. Address 65, rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris. Phone 43 43 65 65 and FAX 43 43 96 52. <BR> <BR>THIRD, the hotel Regina where I take my husband (he doesn't like small and quaint). Our room gave us a good view of the Tuileries and the Eiffel in the distance. The statue of Joan of Arc is out front. It is across the street from the Louvre, so just a short walk to the entrance. Just one block from Rue St. Honore, which your wife will love. Most expensive of the three, but your room is HUGE and you can have 2 rollaways brought in for your kids. HUGE bathrooms. BIG hallways. GORGEOUS and old. <BR> <BR>SO, take the Pavillon Bastille if you don't mind 2 rooms . . . CHARMING. <BR> <BR>Or try the Esmeralda for the closeness to Notre Dame . . . INTERESTING. <BR> <BR>Or try the Regina for the great view of the Tuileries, the Eiffel in the background . . . . EXQUISITE.

We have traveled a lot with our three kids, ages 15, 10 and 7, and are training from Paris to Rome in March with them. We "graduated" to two rooms about 3 years ago. In the US, kids usually share a parents' room with existing bedding at no extra charge. Europeans often handle this issue differently. They charge by the body, not by the room. So even if you get a larger room in Paris with two double beds, they will charge you a supplement for the two extra bodies. Don't wait to get an unpleasant surprise at check-out! Make sure you are upfront. <BR> <BR>Now, some hotels do have "family rooms" or suites. I, however, have found these to be just about as expensive as getting two rooms. The extra bathroom (with teens) and not having the kids underfoot all the time is worth the two rooms. When emailing, phrase your question like this: Please tell me about your most economical availability to accommodate my family of two adults and two children, ages ___ and ____. <BR> <BR>FYI, we're staying at the Aramis St. Germaine for its location. My sister-in-law rented an apartment in Paris for an extremely reasonable rate, great location, etc., but you need to be there for at least a week. I'd recommend the apartment route if you're staying in Paris. <BR> <BR>Have fun! Good Luck! Your kids will love it.

Regarding 1 room vs 2 rooms: the prices between them two are closer at places that behave like a B&B, priced per person than by the room. At hotels without included meals, the prices between 1 room and 2 rooms options were more pronounced. Also on two rooms: we were promised so called "adjacent rooms." Some places provided them as promised. But in Paris, we were told "too bad, the previous guest decided to stay longer." So we were put in rooms that couldn't have been further away from each other. <BR>

If you rent two rooms, you'll pay $200 a night, even in the * and ** hotels. Apartments are the way to go, if you are staying a week or so. check www.locaflat.com, or do a search for "paris apartment rentals". We've rented in London, south of France, Malta and Greece (not in Paris; we're there usually less than 4 days, we're four adult women, so staying in one room is not a problem) and had wonderful places with no bad experiences. In February, you're looking at about $125 or so a night for an apartment that sleeps 4 (less per night if you book two weeks or more). Kinda fun to make coffee in the morning, or cook up a chicken for a stay-in dinner. You can store food (like milk and juice and fruit)for picnics and snacks; there's usually a tv and/or radio...have fun! <BR>

Thanks to all the kind folks who took the time to post a reply to my inquiry! <BR> <BR>We are in the research mode now!

for jon

Thank you all for your help I really do appreciate it. <BR> <BR>

I see someone recommende the Esmerelda. I had just finished reading about it on the Hotels from Hell thread, St. Cirq's entry. You may want to check it out.