Hello, everyone! <BR>I plan to be in Paris - on my own - for my bday in Sept. I don't want to blow the whole wad on accomodations...and I want to get to know he locals. I'd love some advice on: <BR>• boutique-style hotel, in the 5, 6 or 7e arrond. at $35 - $55(U.S.) or $50-$80 Cdn. a night. <BR>• a suggestion for a special place to go for my bday dinner <BR>• suggestions on a starting point for a week in Provence <BR>Thank you in advance (merçi beaucoup!). <BR>Basha

Basha, I'm not so sure I could find you a room in a Canadian city for $50 to $80 Cdn a night, let alone Paris, let alone in the arrond. in which you are interested. Sorry to be discouraging, but it is best to come to grips now with an unrealistic budget.

I haven't been there myself, but the Hotel Stella in the 6th supposedly charges 250FF for a single with bath. (Maybe they've gone up by now.) Here's the website: <BR> <BR>http://hotelstella.free.fr/hotel-paris.htm <BR> <BR>or http://site.voila.fr/hotel-stella

We stay at this hotel when in Paris; great location, very basic but clean, staff speaks English and is very accommodating: <BR>http://paris.hotelguide.net/data/h100074.htm <BR> <BR>If you like Chinese food, try the Dragon Elysee near the Champs Elysees - floor and walls are fish tanks (lots of koy) and pretty upscale; le Train Bleu at Gare du Nord; Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower. <BR> <BR>

Basha here. Thanx for the input. <BR>I realize that the nightly rate I've suggested is low (JB) but I have seen numerous references in books to rooms under $100 Cdn. I just wanted to hear from experienced visitors... <BR>Thank you all. <BR>Basha

Basha, I stayed at a hotel called the Hotel de Nesle a few years ago. Great location in the 6th, about a block from the Seine, on the small street of the same name, the Rue de Nesle. It was, as I recall, around $50 (U.S.) for a small single with a bathroom. Although my room was small, it was painted in rich colors and decorated with vintage posters of the Cote d'Azur. The only catch is that they don't take reservations. There's a bit more info, along with the phone number & address, at the website below... <BR> <BR>http://www.thiscityparis.com/hotels.html <BR> <BR>Potential starting points for a week in Provence: Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, or Nice.

Hi Basha, As a fellow Canadian, let me second the suggestion for the hotel on Rue de Nesle...although we didn't stay there, we had an apartment next door and checked it out incase our next trip was of less duration. As a Canadian, you may be interested to know that this (very little) street plays a very large part in a book by Mordecai Richler, called Barney's Version. Rue de Nesle is charming, quiet, very centrally located and full of ancient, small publishing houses. Hope you have a wonderful Paris birthday!

Hi Basha, <BR> <BR>I stayed at the Hotel Castex right near the Bastille a few years ago. The rooms were small, but very clean and had a bath. I think we paid about $60 US per night a few years ago. It doesn't sound as picturesque as the one described above, but it was very comfortable for the price. My parents stayed there this winter on my recommendation, and it was still the same price and they commented that the staff was very pleasant.