Have you tried Priceline for your hotel? It sounds like you are [paying quite a bit of money for hotels that are just allright, not great. Why not try Priceline with the same amopuint of $$ you are paying for your 2 star at a 3- or 4-star? If you get rejected, you get rejected, but otherwise you will likely have a waaay better hotel room.

I agree with Christina - the area around Trinité is fine (I used to live 5 minutes from there) - it's near to Paris's prime shopping area around Boulevard Haussman - which will be beautifully lit up for Christmas - and rue Caumartin, good for transport (near Gare St Lazare), and you won't feel unsafe. It is on the edge of a business area so it's not brilliant for nightlife (if that's what you're interested in!) - you'd need to head up to the Rue des Abbesses in Montmartre, or along to the Grands Boulevards area for that. It's a perfectly decent part of town, and as authentically Parisian as any other.

Nonetheless, I think Christina is right in suggesting you check out other areas nearer the Seine, particularly the Marais (4th), the Latin Quarter (5th), and perhaps also Bastille, as these areas offer more in terms of nightlife, restaurants and are somewhat closer to the main attractions (although with the metro, that's not necessarily a huge concern). These areas are definitely more lively - you'll find late night eateries, places for brunch, ice-cream vendors, shops open on Sundays, market stalls...

Katie,

Another hotel suggestion for the Latin Quarter (which I agree you might prefer on a first trip), is Hotel Residence Monge. I don't have their website handy, but I booked with them on line after doing a quick search.

We stayed there recently and loved it. Very modern, clean rooms at 95 euro per night in July.

Good luck in your search.

Katie, if you now have a better idea of where you want to stay in Paris, go to www.hotels-exclusive.com and click on the desired area. Many hotels are offering one night free for every three nights booked. So you can extend your stay to eight days and pay for six. They seem to offer the complete price range as well. If you are "city people" I suggest the Marais. JP

I second the Hôtel Residence Monge in the latin quarter. I have stayed they twice in the last five years. I think I saw a recent post that they paid 95 euro per night. The rooms are small by american standards, but they were very clean and a full bath(shower). If you are interested in staying at this hotel I would recommending calling directly and talking to Julie to check for availability and then fax to her a credit card number to reserve the room. The hotel has two metro's within a block and is a plesant walk to Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens and the Pantheon. There are also a lot of restaurants in the area and well stocked minimarket across the street.

Hôtel Residence Monge
55, rue Monge
75005 Paris
Phone: 01 43 46 87 90
Fax: 01 43 54 47 25

I don't think they have a web site, but they are on one of the Paris hotel web sites. You may want to find the site to look at the pictures and a list of their services and rates, but I would still recommend that you call Julie at the hotel directely. You will get an immediate answer and she will be able to tell you what rooms are available at the time you will be in Paris. They have rooms that over look the street and the back rooms overlook the Arenes de Lutece (an outdoor theatre built by the romans, I think). Be sure to request the view of your choice.

The following is a link to peoples comments on the hotel: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...07057775707075

Sorry, I was wrong, they do have a web site: http://www.hotelmonge.com/, but I would still recommend calling for a reservation. Using one of those 10-10 telephone numbers you can call France on some of them for about 5? a numute.

Randy, Just for future reference, I booked on line, got a confirmation email, and then faxed Julie my credit card info. She also sent another confirmation of the fax receipt by email. It was very simple to do on line.

katie-
I am so excited for you. Reading the comments above, especially the one regarding Paris' street scene: "Paris has a way of unfolding as you go" made me temporarily lost in my daydream for a moment. In my imagination I was struck by how it feels to be on a busy street of Paris or Rome with the sounds of every day life buzzing all around me in a foreign language with not a clue as to what everyone is saying. I have thought of it, now anticipate, but more exciting to me will be the look on my teens face the moment they experience it. I assure you, they have not given a thought to that idea. They will light up and say, "This is SO cool!" Some of you may say, "Don't count on it" but I know my kids. They may not think ahead about it, but once they experience it, they get it - and love it. I can't wait!