nonnafelice

Well, since we couldn't get to London in March, we are going to Paris in May! (I think we're coming out ahead here!)

We are going to be traveling with another couple, so we need two double rooms, and time is getting a bit short, since this was a last-minute decision, based on finding some great airfares. ($435 RT from Boston on AA in mid-May.)

Anyway, here's my question. We couldn't get in to our first-choice hotel -- the Grand Ecoles, which is fully booked. We can get two "charming double rooms with courtyard view" at the Familia. I know, from reading many reviews on Fodors and Trip Advisor, that the rooms at the Familia are very small. But does anyone who has stayed there recall how big the beds are? Our friends really want a king-sized bed, which I doubt they will find there. They would probably settle for a queen, but definitely not a regular double bed. Or would they be better off taking a room with two twin beds?

Any other thoughts on reasonably priced hotels in Paris with good-sized beds?

elaine

There is next to no chance of a king-size bed in most Paris hotels other than business hotels, and not at all in budget hotels. I would say a queen-size is equally unlikely. You can inquire directly with the hotel and ask for dimensions of the beds. Many twin-bedded rooms have the twins completely pushed together, I'd opt for that. Often twin rooms are slightly larger anyway.

starrsville

Good luck finding a king bed in Paris other than a Western style hotel.

I'd look elsewhere than the Familia.

Christina

What's your budget? Lots of 4* hotels will have queen and king beds, and some of the expensive 3* hotels in areas like St Germain. I don't know of any budget hotel that has a king bed, but have seen a very few with queens.

I think finding a twin room where they can make the bed as one, if you want that, would be the most likely idea. If they are willing to just have twin beds, that makes it easier. I know some of the Best Western's have queens, but they aren't the price level of the Familia, even when reasonable (like the Aramis in St Germain, or the Bretagne Montparnasse which does have queens).

I know the 2* Muguet in the 7th has some rooms with queen beds (at least one), and they are definitely in your range, so you can try, although I expect the odds of getting two queen rooms there for May are slim.

Maybe somebody else knows of something, but some modern chain hotels have that, like Novotels.

ggnga

The rooms we had at Familia were tiny with small double bed. We had balcony rooms. I stayed at the Unic Hotel, Montparnasse, not far from St. Germain area once because I got a bargain on Hotels.com. It had a large bed, definitely larger than a queen but not a calif. king either. The largest bed I ever had in Europe. They do have rooms with standard beds so make sure you ask and are guaranteed the larger bed. The bathroom was on the larger side also with tub and shower. I was pleased and it was very convenient to Blvd. Montparnasse shopping, eating, movie theatres
with good metro connections. The room was quiet and comfortable. It is a three star hotel. Google it. I wish I could remember the room number for you but I beleive it was the red bedspread room in the photo.

Hope this helps.

starrsville

Joe's post has helped my bias against western style hotels in Paris. Your friends would be comfortable at the Hilton. The new one at the Arc de Triomphe seems to have the bugs worked out they suffered at the their opening. The reviews on TripAdvisor are great.

Christina

What is a "western style" hotel? I didn't know France was considered the Far East if you are somehow using that term to mean... what, modern? Chain hotels? Ones with big beds? This is mainly an issue of price, I think. Many luxury French hotels have larger beds.

mermaid_

Double bed in a postage stamp sized room, complete with tatty bedspread. What is the expression that comes to mind about the Familia? "Not enough room to swing a cat." Smallest bathroom outside an airplane cabin, too. We were not impressed with this hotel.