Have done research, now need help weeding out top 3 from list of Paris hotels. Looking for something that: is clean, good location, has charm, great service, and under 600FF. Possible: Champs de Mer, College de France, Cujas Pantheon, Familia, Grand Hotel Jeanne d'Arc, H. de Nice, St. Andre des Arts, St. Pierre, Senlis, Sevre-Azur, Welcome. Have looked over all paris hotel websites and guidebooks to get list (originally 30!). Have tried to do search on this site but impossible/time consuming. Appreciate any help.

I don't know your time frame, but most of those are pretty popular. I tried yesterday to book the Champs de Mars for November and they were already full.

I wouldn't go any shorter with your list - depending on when you are travelling, you may not get into any of them. I've booked as much as 8 months in advance, and popular hotels will often be completely booked - especially if it's a busy convention season. All of your choices are pretty well regarded - just get on the e-mail/phone and start booking. <BR>and have fun!

Thanks for the help. This is our first time to Paris, didn't realize things could get so booked up. We won't be going until May/02 so perhaps I'm not as anal retentive as my husband thinks.

I haven't heard of a couple of those but FYI you spelled a couple wrong which might be important if you try to find them online (ie, Champs de Mer is a poetic concept but it is Champ de Mars, and I think Hotel du Champ de Mars, and Sevres-Azur). Well, all those are frequently recommended budget hotels, I think it's a good list (don't know Pierre or Senlis or Nice) but I don't know that all or even most might be called "charming"; I think people's opinions or expectations on that score vary widely. I'd keep your list but you need to list by priority to start; I don't think you'll have a problem for next May if you start trying to reserve early 2002. I know Hotel Sevres Azur is not that booked up ahead of time. If it were me, I'd pick College de France and Champ de Mars as my top picks from the ones I know based on location and charm value. I'm surprised you didn't throw in Hotels Muguet, Bonaparte and Grands Balcons (not to add to your list).

Thanks Christina re: spelling. Shouldn't be but get lazy with e-mail format. Did look at Muguet and Balcons, but were over our budget, although we may have to change parameters to get charm (it's our 25th wedding anniversary, we are also going to Normandy, Ireland and Yorkshire). Thanks again to everyone for help.

Mavis, <BR> You are certainly asking for a lot for 600ff, I'm curious how much would you spend for that criteria in Canada?

hi! i´m going to paris next month and have already booked a hotel (+- 20 days in advance). The trouble was the hotels i got from lists were too expensive. Through friends i got two good tips: n.1 Hôtel Bonne Nouvelle tel 01 45 08 42 42 from 350FF on and n.2 Hôtel de Turenne tel 01 47 05 99 92 from 450FF, both very well recomended. good luck!

The Muguet certainly comes in under 600FF--our room was 520FF in March.