Westiedogs, where have you decided to stay? Wherever it is, enjoy your trip and tell us all about it when you return. Happy travels to you !

JJ, I had the same thought as you but didn't want to say that. It could be a coincidence but it's strange to post this one and only post praising the hotel all of a sudden when it's been getting negative comments lately. Chout has not come back yet to respond and it would be helpful.

Well, I feel sick. Haven't been on Fodor's for awhile, and now this. I have reservations at Le Madison for 3 nights in July. Of all the hotels I could have chosen...what now?

Mariana, we are now staying at Relais Christine - much more expensive but I got spooked. For everybody's info, there is a new and favorable review of the Madison on trip advisor. Maybe it's Chout's review....

What happened to Chout? No response? Wow...every month for 8 years...how unusual......

Hello , I am back!!! I am very busy and I do not have time to spend in reading all the studip things you wrote!

On second thought, that positive review on trip adviser couldn't have come from Chout--it was in English.

ah ah ah!!! you very clever!

Just returned from an 11 night stay at the Madison and had the best trip of my life. Our stay at the Madison had a lot to do with it. I tentativley checked in, completely prepared to pack it up and move if it sucked, particulalry b/c this was a special trip for my mother. Fears unfounded. The gentlemen at the desk were kind and helpful with various needs throughout our stay. We attempted our pathetic French and they patiently listened and switched to English when necessary. Train ticket arrangements were made, day trips saved (that is another story -- do NOT use Paris Vision OR Tourscope for day trips), etc.
The breakfast was so complete it can tide you over for the day.
And as far as constuction goes, I stayed on the 4th floor and took stairs down occassionaly, so those are the only floors I saw (4-0) and the work being doen was cosmetic, no jackhammers involved. For example, one day a beautiful wood chest in the hallway was re-finished (oh if I could get that into my suitcase). Another floor looked like light fixtures were being changed. One day new soap dishes appeared in our bathroom.
I would recommend, if possible, a boulevard view. We had a courtyard view which is basicaly no view at all, but we were in PARIS! And didn't really care.
These are my honest experiences from my recent stay (just returned a couple of hours ago -- thus please excuse any typos, I'm going to bed). Please do not make petty attacks -- I hate that about message boards.
In the end, we each need to find what our priorities are, leap in, and enjoy the luck in life to be in such a wonderful city.
Best of luck to all.


Because I know these message boards sometimes disintigrate into the petty,

See? I'm tired.
What I meant to say is that I hpe anyone reading this will take it at face value, I felt a responsibility to report since I had started this conversation, so, please, no petty attacks. I am a real person.
Thanks.

Dear Riverchick--I am really glad to hear that you had a good time. Fond memories of good experiences are really important in life. Don't pay any attention to people who have a need to be unpleasant behind a cloak of anonymity. I first asked a question on this board a couple of months ago and I was so grateful for the help. As I have continued to follow it, I have been disappointed by how mean some people seem to be. I thought the purpose was to be of assistance to other travelers, but, sad to say, I guess that is not the motivation of all who participate

Riverchick, thanks for reporting in. I'm glad you had a good trip. If you do get a chance, I'd be grateful to hear what went wrong with ParisVision and TourScope (maybe start a new thread).

I used Touringscope (is that the same as Tourscope?) for a city tour including lunch and Montmarte (daytime) and Moulin Rouge dinner/show. I chose the minibus option and not the large tour bus. The city tour was allright; the guide drove us to the the sights and explained things properly but things became very disorganized at lunch. The tour guide just left us at the restaurant and sort of mentioned that another guide would pick us up after lunch. We thought this meant someone would pick us up and drop us back at the hotel as transportation to return is included with the minibus option. What actually happened was that after we ate we noticed a man asking the hostess something as though he was looking for someone. She appeared to tell him that the party was not there and he left, then he returned looking positive that the party was indeed at the restaurant. It turned out he was looking for us (my aunt & I)! Then he explained that he'd take us to Montmarte and we told him that we'd just seen Montmarte as the first guide had taken us there. Suddenly a woman appeared and saw us talking, assumed we were the party she wanted, and asked our names. Being the correct party, she proceeded to tell us that she's from Touringscope and she was going to take us to see the Louvre! Then the man said no we were going to Montmarte with him. Now we were really confused. Finally they asked us what we wanted to see: Montmarte or the Louvre. Since we'd already seen Montmarte we opted for the Louvre. Then the man just went on his way.

This guide for the Louvre was not the best. She walked too fast and didn't really pay attention if everyone was following properly. And since we were the only two who spoke English (there were 4 others and they spoke French), she elaborated more in French than in English. Plus after the tour we were really tired since it was 6 p.m. and we were out the entire day. We asked if someone from Touringscope would be picking us up to return us to the hotel and the guide said that transportation wasn't included. So we ended up taking a taxi. We mentioned this to the hotel when we arrived and the receptionist was very surprised as this should not have occurred. She thinks that with the day being Valentine's Day there was a shortage of drivers so maybe that's why. But I felt this was not right. Anyway, we let it pass.

The tour to the Moulin Rouge was uneventful. All the guide had to do was drive us in the minivan and come pick us up after the show and return us to our respective hotels.

I'm not sure if I will use this tour company again.

Riverchick, I'm so glad that you and your mom had an enjoyable stay at the Madison and a great time in Paris. Savor your memories! Best wishes, Maureen

Hi,

I'm not sure of some of the recent critical remarks are directed at me or not - I'm the person who voiced doubts about Chout's favourable comments on the Madison.

Just to make it clear, I was simply trying to voice a word of caution over what struck me as a suspiciously positive review from someone who hasn't frequented these boards in the past. There are obviously some very concerned posters out there who are worried about their reservations at the Madison and I wouldn't have wanted them to be misled by someone who might (and I stress MIGHT) have an interest in making the Hotel look better than it currently is - maybe the Hotel owner or an employee for example. I have posted on these pages before looking for reassurance on Hotels and was very grateful for the feedback & advice I received. If I misread Chout's motives, I apologise.

Riverchick - I didn't doubt the sincerity of your report for a minute. Yours has a "ring of truth" about it which in my opinion, Chout's lacked.

Best Wishes,

Jim

hello everybody,
I see that many people wonder about me!!! I live in New York (I have an office) but I am spanish, so sorry for my imperfect writting english! I do a lot of business between the US- France -Italy and Spain so that is why I go very frequently in european hotels. I am not a staff member of a hotel ot the manager (I would love it!) . I just wanted to say that I enjoy all my stays in this hotel , maybe because I am one of their best guests!!!!!

Chout, thanks for letting us know. I think what some people were wondering also is that you mentioned staying monthly at the Madison for the past 8+ years.

To JJBhoy--My remarks and disappointment were not directed at you, but rather at the sniping tone that many people use--not just on this thread but on others as well. As I said, I thought the purpose of these boards was to be helpful. While your note was a little blunt, it was not mean or spiteful. I have read other posts that I would categorize as both. The world is difficult enough without any added unnecessary hostility.

To francophile03
I started a new thread detailing my tour group experiences called "Paris tour groups."
Perhaps you could describe your experience there as well, to help others looking for info on that topic.
Just a thought.
Thanks.

THANK YOU RIVERCHICK! Thanks for getting back to us so quickly with your report on the Madison. We're only going to be there for 3 nights, but I was feeling quite frantic about the possibility of a disappointing stay. You have really helped me look forward to the trip.

Any recommendations for good places to eat nearby? We'll be there on Sunday and Monday, so there will probably be some closed places, but I'd be very interested to get some pointers.