I am obsessing over a trip I am planning for early Dec- mostly to Italy but with the last 4 days to be spent in Paris. I am monitoring other boards for info on the Italian portion. However, I digress because now I am trying to decide on a hotel in Paris.
Basically, it needs to be nice and comfy but most of all it needs to have highspeed internet access in case of any business crisis while away from home. Location is optional, as I've been to Paris several times and am familiar with the museums and tourist attractions.I am using this opportunity to experience pre-Christmas decorations, shopping, and holiday spirit a la Parisian style. I think St Germain or Rue La Monge would be nice but am also considering Montmarte or the Marais since I've never stayed there before. Oh, Ile St Louis might also be a nice change since it's a little more residential.
I am looking for suggestions/comments/ ideas of Fodorites. FYI I contacted Hotel des Grandes Ecoles based upon reviews. They don't have internet but claim there is a cyber cafe close by. That might be good enough if it's true and if the hotel's benefits outweigh other hotels'. Other names that have come up in this price range are:

Hotel LeRegent (still has 40% discount due to non-working elevator)
Hotel Delavigne (has 4 night stay for price of 3 nights)
Hotel Deux Iles, Hotel Henri IV and Hotel Lutece- all with the same owner
Hotel du Danube- website says internet access only available in lobby 6pm -11pm which might be ok given time difference to L.A.
Luxembourg Parc-probably over 200E limit
Hotel Britannique- also probably over $$limit
Hotel Pas de Calais
Hôtel Michelet Odéon
Timhotel Montmarte

My head is spinning just trying to figure out what would be best. Please help me put an end to obsessing and make a reservation! Anu other suggestions are most welcome as well.

I stayed at Hotel de Lutece but don't recall them having internet available for guest use unless I missed it. Danube where I stayed as well has the internet right across from the reception desk. So do all the other hotels on your list have internet available for guest use (for a fee)?

It looks like you can afford to stay at low end to moderate/high end hotels. Therefore, if it were me I'd choose either hotel that's on the Ile St. Louis first. My second choice would be Le Regent and my third choice would be Luxembourg Parc.

Sharkmom, I can vouch for the Britannique. I went in it and it is very nice and in a great area. I am going to stay at the Hotel St. Jacques based on it being rated 39 on tripadvisor out of over 1000 hotels and the rate is just 118E. It has a lot of charm and perfectly located in the 5th close to Rue Monge. It has also received very favorable ratings here. It seems to be far above it's rating in standard and service, but does not have air conditioning so it is cheaper than more deluxe accommodations. This won't matter in December! I have also heard good things about Hotel Residence Monge and also Familia hotel and also Hotel College de France. All of these in the 5th (latin quarter). Best of luck!

I can highly recommend the HOTEL HENRI IV RIVE GAUCHE which you mentioned above. Great Latin Quarter location just a block south of the Seine and Notre Dame. Easy access to all parts of the city, with the St. Michel metro and St. Michel/Notre Dame RER just up the street. New, very clean, traditional (but not frilly and fussy) decor. Don't know about highspeed access but they do have a computer you can use. It's also in your price range - single room is 144 euros.

I do like the location of the Hotel St Jacques. I was hoping that Fodorites would weigh in on "hidden gems" in other locations that I should consider, especially Montmarte area. I've never spend much time there and it seems like it might have a "village" vibe. Having said that, the Ile St Louis also seems like another nice alternative with more of a residential feel. Oh... so many wonderful choices in Paris, n'est-ce pas?

I think I'm the poster child around here for the Delavigne. I can't speak to the internet service accessibility, but I very much liked the hotel when I stayed there last January, and in fact we had moved there from another hotel on the same block.
Rooms vary in size, but assuming you get one with a decent size, there is nothing not to like about the hotel.
Its decor is elegant, pretty butunderstated and fresh; the location is a 5 minute walk from the Odeon metro stop, about 7-8 minutes to Luxembourg. The hotel staff are professional and kind. They will call taxis and make dinner reservations. The hotel has a standard-sized elevator. The location in the 6th is safe and convenient.
The street itself is small and quiet.

We've stayed at both the Lutece and the Henri IV and would recommend them both.

We just returned from a week at the Henri IV and could not have been more pleased with the room, the staff, and the location. However, internet access is wifi in your room and you do have to pay for it. There did not seem to be another computer available for guests.

We discovered an internet cafe just around the corner (XS Arena, 53 rue de la Harpe) that is open 24/7. It cost 3 euro/hour, which is quite reasonable, and was convenient to check on our way to or from the hotel.

I haven't stayed there yet, so I can't give it a first-hand recommendation, but I just made a reservation for next month at the Hotel de l'Abbaye, which is rated #6 among Paris hotels on Tripadvisor. By booking on the hotel's website, I got an "internet rate" of 199€ per night for a standard double room. By all accounts, the standard doubles at the l'Abbaye are pretty small, but I'll be on my own on this trip (there are no single rooms at the l'Abbaye), and I'm sure it won't be any smaller than some of the single rooms I've stayed in at other Paris hotels.

The hotel's website says, "All guest rooms feature WiFi network connections." I haven't attempted to verify that because having internet access isn't an issue for me, so I'd check with the hotel before booking if it's essential for you to have it.

We loved Hotel Henri IV on rue de St.Jacques. My parents had a double and we had a triple. Lots of room, lovely staff. My husband and I also like Hotel St. Germain at 88 rue de bac. Beautiful street with that "village" feel you mention in the 6th.

Marilyn,
How would you compare the Lutece to the Henri IV? They have the same owner and Lutece is ranked higher by tripadvisor. Actually the third property they own, Hotel Deux Iles is ranked the highest. I am concerned,however, that rooms may be very, very small even by European standards. Any thoughts?

Why obsess; if you've gotten good reviews of all the hotels you're considering and they have the amenities you want (internet access, etc.), how could you go wrong with any choice?

The Hotel la Bourdonnais in the 7th has internet access in a parlor off the lobby. We didn't use it, so don't know if there are hours or fees. It is probably within your budget, too. We paid $225 for a family room for four last June. It's in a great location and has views of the Eiffel tower from some rooms. Rue Cler is around the corner, a market next door, easy access to public transit. Their website is www.hotellabourdonnais.com

sharkmom, I think that both the Lutece and the Henri IV have rooms that vary greatly in size. We were lucky to have one of the larger rooms at the Lutece, and even then it was quite small. (It was not possible to open the door to the hall and the closet door at the same time.) It was ok for us for a couple of nights.

At the Henri IV I had requested a larger room when I made my reservation. They gave us a very comfortably sized room, although it was in the back with no view. But we loved it because we were able to unpack and feel very much at home there for a week. We did see a front room with a great view, but it was very, very small. I would have been miserable there for a week with Phil Flash and all his photo gear, although it would have been ok for 1 person.

I enjoyed staying on the Ile, but I really LOVED the Henri IV location. It was incredibly convenient, with all sorts of shops, restaurants, 2 metro stops within a short distance. I also found the staff at the Henri IV to be extremely helpful and friendly.

I do sympathize with your hotel obsession. I'm the same way, and it's a relief to feel that we've found our hotel in Paris for the future.

(I will be posting a trip report soon with a detailed description of our room, but if you email me directly I'll send it to you now.)

The rooms at Henri IV were not nearly as tiny as the one we had at Hotel St. Germain. The double my parents had, had plaenty od room to move around with closets on either side of the bed. When they opened their large windows, they had a magnificent view of St. Severin directly across the street and off in the distance was the Eiffel tower. The bathroom, although not huge was modern, clean and comfortable to move around in.

Sandi Travel_Nut,
Do you know what room your parents were in? It sounds wonderful?

No I don't sorry, but it's the room that on the website I believe. I'm sure that if you email or call them and describe it, they would know. It was a spectacular view. We were jealous because we had a window overlooking the interior of the hotel.

Thanks, will do. I can't seem to leave my desk for wanting to plan this trip. Now I'm starting to think about meals. The planning (and dreaming) never ends!

I also obsess about hotels! I especially did a few years ago for my first trip to Paris (at least it was the first trip there since I was a teenager eons ago). The Henri IV really looks nice - and such a convenient location. It certainly gets high marks from all those Trip Advisor comments.
The views from the front rooms sound lovely - but I'm a light sleeper. Does anyone know if they are quiet at night with the windows closed?

My parents never complained, but of course it was winter so the windows were closed. St. Jacques is not that busy of a street so I don't think it'll be a problem.

Actually, it can be a problem on weekends. There's a large student population in the area, and several clubs/restaurants/etc that are open until the wee hours. We talked with a couple who were staying at the Henri IV when we were there, and they complained about "drunken kids singing on the street" the night before. We were in the back and heard nothing of this.

Of course, you'll be there in December, so you'll probably have the windows closed, as sandi's parents did.