Beatchick

I always thought the Duc de Saint-Simon would be perfect for a honeymoon. It's listed in Charming Small Hotel Guides, a Duncan-Petersen guide and it's also listed in another luxury hotel book I have.

Although, I'd love to have a drink at L'Hotel I've heard not-too-great comments about it. However, if you want to rub elbows with rock stars & movie stars this is the most likely place to be. And Oscar Wilde died in one of the rooms when it was the depressing Alsace Hotel (I think that was the name) where he was quoted as saying either the wallpaper must go or he!!

francophile03

Just fyi the double room at Duc de St. Simon quoted me (for January) a rate of 245 euros and 15 euros extra for continental b'fast. So, yes, the room is really small for the rate asked. However, as I mentioned, the suites may be larger. I think a room size between 18-20 sq. m. would be good. I stayed at the Verneuil's standard double and it felt probably like maybe 11 sq. m.-it was tiny-the bed took up almost the whole room. I cannot imagine a single room there. I stayed 2 nights and at times I felt claustrophobic; good thing the bathroom was large.

I read L'Hotel is a favorite with DeNiro-he reserves the penthouse room.

francophile03

Christina, I did ask the Caron de Beaumarchais about the front room size once and I recall they said something like 13 sq. m. or so-I can't remember exactly & again the email is deleted now. But they did admit their rooms are not large.

Christina

francophile, thanks for the info on the estimated roomsize at Caron. I think I've ruled that one out because I think it's too expensive for that size room (and because they put TVs on the ceiling rather than on furniture, which is some personal hotel criteria I have, funny as that seems, I just hate that).

I just can get the same thing in other areas that I'm considering a lot cheaper, around 110 euro with summer rate reductions (their rate is about 150 euro) in a 3* hotel with AC.

I've just decided to do something a little different this trip and stay in a new area as I like to get the feel for different neighborhoods. I'm going to stay in the 9th arr this stay (which I hear is the up-and-coming hip area, which I doubt) because of its history in the arts, music and theater of the 19th century (and Chopin lived there in a couple places).

The one hotel I sort of decided upon told me their doubles were only 12-13 m2, also (at 110 euro). The other place I think I'll book told me their doubles were 18 m2 (which is more like it), and their deluxe doubles were 25 m2--with summer rates at 110 and 135 euro. Actually, I managed to stumble across something I think I'll take in that they have some air-conditioned studio apts of the same room size, only with kitchenette, for only 15 euro more. I may get one of those as it's near a good market street. I wouldn't usually book an apt. for only four days, but since it's in this hotel, there are no advance payment, deposit or minimum stay issues. I also wouldn't have done it because there aren't that many with AC, so that's a chance to do that easily.

I know most people wouldn't want to stay in the St Georges area of the 9th arr (although it is near some good market streets and nightlife on rue des Martyrs), but thought this was an interesting place with reasonable AC studio apartments so thought I'd mention it for some others looking. They have some apartments for 3-4 people, also. It's more charming than a Citadines aparthotel, I thought. Also, they put TVs on tables where they belong.
http://www.les3poussins.com

Their regular high season rates aren't that cheap, about 200 euro for the superior doubles and larger studios, which is why that other place you found in St Germain looked like a bargain.

francophile03

Christina, I don't believe I want to stay in a tiny room (especially at a high rate) again. My standard double room at the Verneuil was cute, bathroom large surprisingly, but it gets to you after a couple of days. I'm looking at quite a few hotels in the 6th district or 5th depending on what kind. I was able to get attractive rates at Villa d'Estrees and Rives de Notre Dame. Just have to decide which is better for myself-both have large rooms though. I may/may not go with Le Regent depending on how I feel about the elevator up a flight of steps plus their quoted rates are going to change for my visit as it's a new year and they won't know 'til October. It's kind of expensive right now compared to the other two I mentioned above which seem to be a good value as their locations are just as good too. I mean I can get a guaranteed rate of 200 euros at both Villa d'Estrees & Rives de Notre Dame (w/breakfast included even) vs. Le Regent deluxe at 200 euros or deluxe superior at 210 euros.

Underhill

I wonder why a fair number of Paris hotels have small bedrooms but large bathrooms?

Underhill

francophile03,

Have you tried Orbitz for a rate at the Madison? We got quite a good one, and in September, too.

francophile03

That's a good question-really. I wonder why also. I'd think it would be the opposite as the bathrooms were installed after the rooms were constructed. Again, using my example of the Verneuil's standard double room, the bathroom was almost as large as the room itself.

francophile03

Underhill, thanks for the suggestion about the Madison, but I really don't want to book through Orbitz because of the prepayment.

Underhill

Orbitz doesn't require a prepayment; that's Expedia.

francophile03

Okay, I'll take a look tonight. Thanks again.

Christina

I think I've had both situations regarding the bathrooms -- some where they were very large in comparison to the room (ie, Jardin de Cluny) and others where they are like an airplane. That is more common to me where they are installing prefab bathroom units in cheaper hotels. IN the other cases, the bathroom was definitely not a prefab one, so they were converting part of another room or something (such as dividing some room into two bathrooms).

Well, I just booked the studio at Les Trois Poussins for end of July, it seemed like a good deal. It was 18 m2 for 125 euro per night. That included the kitchenette, double bed I think (I didn't ask about queen as I don't care), plus A/C, satellite TV, etc. Their deluxe rooms with view at 25 m2 were 135 euro.

I'm actually spitting my visit this time into two hotels (one Right Bank, one Left) for fun and to minimize the risk of not liking a new hotel. This one is for four nights, and then I'm moving to my favorite 3* hotel in Montparnasse for another 6 nights.


This is why I had trouble with the idea of 150 euro for the Caron de Beaumarchais, even though I had never stayed in the Marais and thought that might be a nice change.

francophile03

I, too, like to split my visits between two hotels namely for the reason Christina cites. This reason sure was apparent for me when I split my time between the Verneuil and the Danube. Due to my experience at the Danube I was glad not to have stayed the entire 5 days there. I am curious, too, to know about other hotels so that's another reason for staying at two places.