Final paris hotel decision and some questions. Please help.
 

Having gone away with our daughters (ages 15 and 12) this past weekend, my husband and I decided to book 2 rooms for our trip to Paris in April. That opens up a lot more options for me as far as hotels go. We would like to stay in the 85 to 100 euro a night range and be in the 6th arrondisement. Is the Regent's hotel on Rue Madame too quiet a neighborhood? Is Grand Hotel des Balcons a good choice or is it a little out of my price range? Should I book directly with the hotel or does the france hotel guide web site have competitive rates? I have done many searches and read a lot of info, but it is really hard to make a final decision. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Hi Lisa,<BR> You wrote<BR>&gt;Is the Regent's hotel on Rue Madame too quiet a neighborhood? &lt;<BR><BR> Do you mean, &quot;is it dull?&quot; or do you like noise?<BR><BR> I can recommend the Hotel Bonaparte at 61 Rue Bonaparte. You can find particulars if you look them up at<BR>http://www.voila.fr/PJ/<BR><BR> They do not have a website.

Regent's is certainly not in a dull neighbourhood, you are a feww minutes from St. Germain, ten minutes away from the 5th and Montparnasse, but it is quiet enough that you can sleep or take a nice walk in the Luxembourg Gardens.<BR>And speaking of the Bonaparte, it is in the same area, except that Regent's is a little bit further from the Seine.

Regent's is in St-Germain which isn't quiet anywhere if you mean nothing around for quite a ways, no restaurants, cafes, etc. These hotels are only a few blocks apart in central Paris which isn't quiet, but I like a more quiet street for a hotel than a main thoroughfare with a lot of noise and traffic. If you want to be around a main street more, the Balcons would be better, I guess, even though it's not right on the boulevard (the only cheap hotel right on the boulevard St-Germain I can think of is the Welcome) but it's in a busier area.<BR><BR>I think Balcons is right in your price range, but they have a web site and you can email (see through www.parishotels.com). France hotel guide appears competitive to me, but I can't say for sure. Many web sites have the same rates as the hotels in Paris, from what I've seen. I think the web sites are just for advertising, not discounts too much as rates are more regulated (and Paris doesn't have a surplus of hotel rooms). I'd probably book directly with the hotel if the rates are the same. Once in a while there are discounts on parishotels.com and 123france.com, but not in April that I've seen. I think either of those two hotels would be fine.

Lisa,<BR><BR>We have stayed at the Des Nations in the Latin Quarter. Reserve through www.ely1212.com to check availability. It is a nice place in your price range. Have a good trip.<BR><BR>Greg<BR>

Thanks for the replies. By &quot;too quiet&quot; I did mean a lack of restaurants and shops and too far from the action. I do like a quiet street as far as noise though. I will check out the Bonaparte.