What are people's opinions of these two hotels? We'll be traveling with 4 adults and two children and I need to know which hotel would best meet our needs. I've never seen either but I've heard good reviews on both. Which one would work better for small chilren? Thanks!

I've stayed at both. They are very close to each other and similar in many ways. What room configuration would you need for four adults and two children--that may be the deciding factor.

Also, when is your trip? The Grandes Ecoles books up early and has a finite window for reservations.

How old are the children? I've seen children at the Hotel Monge, but I've never seen them at the HGE, for what it's worth. . .

We have stayed at the Grand Ecoles but not at R. Monge. The Grand Ecoles is very comfortable and quieter than most, but it can be hard to get a reservation.

Both of these have been commented upon quite a bit here, so I suggest that you search for each one, and you will have plenty to read.

Thanks for your responses. We've got reservations at both hotels in April. I was hoping to get a little more information so I could rule one of them out. Residence Monge is certainly cheaper, but I've wanted to stay at HGE for quite some time. We're to have two rooms at each location. One of the rooms at HGE is apparently quite large.

I forgot to mention my two are 2.5 yrs and infant. I like HGE's convenience of the courtyard space for my oldest.

Anymore responses out there? I really need to make a decision soon, and I'd love some more feedback. HGE has a nice courtyard, but it looks like Residence Monge is right next to a park (Arenes de Lutece.) Which place is best set up for a 2.5 year-old child who likes to run around?

I have no opinions of them not having stayed at either, but I have been in the area and seen them.

You are right, the Monge is right next to the Arenes and it does have park area around it which will be nice for you. I've seen families with kids there. I'd stay there, I think everyone will like that location.

We ended up taking a reservation at the Monge later this spring because we couldn't get in to Grandes Ecoles (a sort of last minute trip). From what I've read about the Monge, it doesn't sound nearly as nice as G-E, where we stayed a couple of years ago, although we haven't yet been to the Monge so can't say for sure.

Hard to say about the kids ... the interior courtyard at the G-E is nice, and certainly safe, but I can't help thinking that Madame who runs the place would not look happily on kids running around there. That's just an impression -- as someone else said, I don't recall actually seeing any children while we were there.

As for the Arene behind the Monge -- I understand that boules is played there, but I don't know to what extent it would be available for kids to play in.

Our rooms at the G-E were a decent size, and I understand that the rooms at the Monge are pretty small, and that there might be a problem with noise from nearby rooms. I don't recall ever being bothered by noise at the G-E.

Anyway, if I had a reservation at the G-E, I would certainly keep it!

Our room at the Monge was a lot bigger than our room at the HGE, fwiw.

I really think the two hotels are comparable in terms of rooms, ameneties (such as they are in a ** or *** hotel), service, and location.

What puts the HGE a smidgen ahead is the garden-like setting. Monge is usually a little less expensive, though. Plus, we had a room overlooking the Arenes, which I loved.