Hello,
My husband and I will travel to Paris over the holidays and are torn between several hotels.
Please provide any additional insight.
We view the Hotel Saint Beueve as the best value, but not as centrally located. We also need to choose between D'Aubusson, Duc de St. Simon (location?), and Francois 1er (8th) (again location?) We recently came across Karen Brown's rec. Hotel Chambiges Elysées (8th.) We have done a tremendous amount of research and are still torn between the left bank and the right bank and the above hotels. The prices are all around $275 USD/night, except for Saint Beuve, which is less at about $195 USD/night...

If you would consider a smaller, less elaborate hotel, I can recommend the Hotel Muguet.

It's on the Rue Chevert in the 7th, a comfortable residential left-bank neighborhood that's well served by the metro (Ecole Militaire) and convenient to many resturants.

Cost runs around $105 euros per night and $8 euros for a substantial breakfast buffet.

I have stayed here several times and am always pleased.

Skip the breakfast and stay at Hotel D'Aubusson, a wonderful hotel in one of the best parts of Paris. You will be within walking distance to many of the major sights and museums, as well as staying in one of the liveliest areas for people-watching, shopping, and eating. You really can't go wrong there.

Bonne chance!

Are you sure all of these hotels have availability? It's a bit late to book for the holidays given all the airfare sales.

Have you looked at reviews on tripadvisor.com? I haven't stayed at any of these hotels but to help with the right bank vs left bank question, I'd say it really comes down to your "style" & perhaps your age. I happen to like the right bank & particularly the 8th arr. It's upscale, somewhat residential & a bit more formal. I have a friend who's very casual & traveled to Paris often with her husband on business staying in the best hotels. She hated Paris. Then she went & stayed on the left bank in st germaine & loved Paris. She was just not comfortable on the right bank.

I was quite impressed with the Chambiges website when another Fodorite asked about it but others convinced her to stay in St Germain. I know that the rooms at D'Aubusson are small. Perhaps you should post what's important to you. If you want to be able to walk out of the hotel to inexpensive cafes, you might prefer the left bank (as most Fodorites do). My attitude is usually the closer to the Seine, the better, whether right or left.

I've got to tell you, we just returned from a long weekend in Paris and before we left I was completely obsessed with finding a reasonable hotel in the "right" location. After going and wandering around the arrons I really don't think there is a location that will be better than another. I know that sounds ridiculous because obviously there are locations that are better in a Hotel Ritz vs Bates Motel sort of way but in terms of location, as long as you are near a metro stop and are far away from Sacre Couer and Pigalle you are doing fine (that's just my opinion)!! We stayed in the 6th at an inexpensive 80 euro/night hotel that was close to the metro and Luxembourg garden and were completely satisfied, although when we return I will try a different location simply for adventure! After all, it is Paris - how bad could it be? I found the areas around the Eiffel tower and Arc de Triomphe to be a bit lacking in character and was most interested in Marais. All this said, my advice to you is to just close your eyes and pick - I doubt you will be dissatisfied with your location enough to have a bad trip!

Thank you for such quick replies! They are very helpful! We are in our early 30's, want to be centrally located, near "action" (cafés, bars, etc.,) and lean more towards the right bank (more upscale vs. casual) although the left bank sounds soooo charming. Primarily, we want to be centrally located and want an "elegant" hotel with a nice, comfortable, larger room, and nice bathroom.

A request for a hotel in Paris that is elegant, with a nice bathroom and a large room could be difficult in one way-the large room is rare. But I would stay at the D'Aubbusson in a minute, regardless of the size of the bedroom.
The size of the bedroom is not that important, you will still have the right size bed, light, windows and a bathroom. They have closets for your clothes. The D'Aubbusson is beautiful, in a perfect location and is very elegant.
Friends stayed in the Duc St Simon about a month ago and they were very unhappy with the tiny room and high price, having been in the D'Aubbusson, I would chose it.

I haven't stayed in any of them and only know from reputation. I've actually never heard of the Karen Brown choice, so maybe it's a winner. I'd probably go with the Aubusson, also, but I don't know the Chambiges. I don't find it attractive myself from its website (except bathrooms), but that's just personal style preference.

From what you say you want, I think you might not be that thrilled with the Saint Beuve's location. I stay near there and know that area well, but don't think it may be what you are looking for as it's not upscale or elegant. It is near bars and cafes, however. I also have read a review in a newsletter I get on Paris that said it was overpriced and had small rooms, even if it is nice.

I don't think the Duc de St Simon fits your criteria, but I know it is subjective. I didn't find the street or appearance of the Saint-Simon very attractive, but I've only been by it, not in it. I didn't like the street much.

I think the Francois Premier is as well-located as most hotels in the 8th, I wouldn't worry about that. I suppose I might choose between it or the Aubusson, depending on which location I wanted. Most people seem to like the Aubusson, although I think you have to get a superior room for a decent size. That is probably true in any of those hotels.

Having stayed at two of the hotels you mentioned, the Sainte Beuve and D'Aubusson, I advise you to choose D'Aubusson. I was happy with the Sainte Beuve because we had my grand children with us, and it's very close to the Luxembourg Gardens, as well as it was reasonably priced. It's a very nice hotel, but the accomodations and location of D'Aubusson are by far superior. I've stayed there twice, once in a standard room, and a second time, in a De Luxe room. I found the standard room large enough, and wouldn't pay much more $$$ for the De Luxe if I were to stay again. The size is perfectly reasonable, the bathrooms were nearly the same in both accomodations, and the amenities are equal in both rooms.

What I like about D'Aubusson, besides its location, are the modern fixtures, the wonderful, modern, quick elevator, the thick bathrobe and bath towels, the comfort of its beds and bed linens, and the very classic , tasteful and discreet decor.

Location wise, Rue Dauphine is very central to possibly everything most tourists want to visit: D'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, etc...
Also, it's very well served with bistrots, restaurants, pharmacies, antique shops, fabric shops for ulphostery and drapes, besides a few lovely little squares that you only find in Paris. If you head North by Rue Dauphine, you'll reach Ponte Neuf, through which you can cross to the Right Side of Paris. Tuilleries and the Louvre are across the Seine.

Sorry for not organizing well my thoughts, as I'm really sleepy.

Hello,
I can advise you several hotel in the center of Paris, very well located, **** hotels and not so expensive: Hotel Horset Opéra (165 euros for a double room): http://www.horsetopera.com/index.html Hotel Bradford Elysées (139 euros for a double room): http://www.bradfordelysees.com/index.html . You can book both of them by the internet and visit their website.
Have a good trip in Paris!!!

This is exactly the type of information I was looking for! Thank you so much for your replies! I would love any additional feedback! Thanks again!

I stayed at the Hotel Muguet a year ago, and found it charming. The bedroom WAS small, my 6'2" husband would have found it too small, but I was with a girlfriend and we fit into the 2 twin beds nicely. The bathroom was clean bright and well appointed. We didn't have the breakfast because we so enjoyed the crepes stands.
Have a wonderful trip.

Another hotel on rue dauphine is Le Regent. It is a lot less pricey than the D'Aubusson, but the rooms are small. It is however a delightful place. We will be staying there again in January. Can't beat the location.

Hi, Caracy,
I stayed at the D'Aubusson last April and was delighted. I love the location, close to the Seine, around the corner from Rue de Buci and easy to get anywhere. On top of all that, the hotel is classy and beautiful and the service was wonderful. I'm staying there again next April.
Judy C

hlamster. Have you looked at the superior rooms at Le Regent? I find them infinitely nicer as well as quite a lot larger for the fairly minimal difference in price. Their baths are also much nicer and they are brighter rooms as well.

Glad to get some recent feedback re: Le Regent. We had stopped in the foyer to chat with the Concierge on an early morning walk in Sept. but did not visit rooms due to the hour (5:30). We are planning on staying there the end of January. You're right, can't beat the location (unless you can afford the Relais Christine--but I'd rather spend that kind of money in a different way than while I'm unconcious!) Size doesn't matter so much to us as clean. Any rooms specifically you'd recommend, as I know even in the same class they can vary greatly? Thanks.

What I wouldn't give for some of Paul's baked goods right now!

To Klondike - I can recommend Room #51 at Le Regent - I have some photos I can e-mail you - just send me an e-mail to the address above.