Thanks to the help on this board, we are going to Paris for probably 5 days after a business trip to Zurich. We usually stay in Marriotts or that type of hotel as I run an online business and need a good internet connection as does my husband. Looking for a hotel with US style amenities, possibly a concierge floor, under $300US/night in a neighborhood where we can walk and explore safely...am I dreaming or is this possible?? We are just now starting to read in detail about Paris and its neighborhoods...love shopping, museums, want to go to a couple of the flea markets...like picturesque neighborhoods.

The kind of expectations you're having of finding an American-type hotel is pretty slim in Paris-you can find some but not for under $300/night! You can try the Holiday Inn St. Germain for that rate but there have not been great reviews of it here. Other than that the amenities you want can be found at the Paris Mariott on Champs Elysees but I doubt for under $300/night unless perhaps you get a great discount over the internet. Also try the Paris Hilton or the Le Meridien Hotels (2 of them in Paris) but they aren't really located in what I'd consider very interesting areas.

Many people very much would like to stay in small, charming hotels that are found in all the district neighborhoods, the popular ones being in the Latin Quarter, St. Germain, Invalides/Eiffel Tower, and Marais districts. Many of these hotels have internet access also, however, I'm not sure if it'll be adequate for your business needs.

Try checking Le Grand Hotel Intercontinental.

Try www.hotel-madison.com- in the 6th-good buffet breakfast nice rooms, in price range you probably could up grade to one of the deluxe rooms.
Great location- right on Blvd. Saint Germain.
Fluffy

Am checking the Intercontinental, thanks. Understand re the boutique hotels; what would you recommend and in what district to first time visitors to Paris?

Susie, also forgot to mention, the staff is wounderful at hotel le Madison-beyond accomidating.
You will have to inquire about the internet connections, but as far as loction & neighborhood , you can't do better.
Here's a web site to get to started on the Paris flea market-www.les-puces.com
Viva la France
Fluffy

Just looked at the Madison site; looks great and location looks very central, will check availability...are nailing our dates down this evening. Thanks for the flea market link. Is there anywhere we can buy the cheaper Provencal fabrics in Paris? Will post a msg re shopping, but thought I would ask anyway. Any others like the Madison in case it is booked?

There are tons of hotels like that in Paris because it's such an important business city. Now I don't know about $300 per night in some of the prime areas with 4* business hotels (ie, Madeleine and Champs-Elysees area), but I think you can get what you want without too much trouble except perhaps for a concierge floor (which I don't get the point, but that's just me).

If you usually stay at Marriott, wouldn't you get some discounts or have points for that? That would be obvious choice. Otherwise, there are plenty -- Meridien and Intercontinental are good choices. Also, the Hilton, Hyatt Regency Madeleine, etc. The Raphael has all that and a good location in the 8th, plus is smaller with style, but I doubt if you'll get a room for $300.

I think you can do that at Holiday Inn Republique, for sure -- it's a 4* hotel with lots of amenities for business travelers, although it's not dead central, but you can easily get it for that rate from what I've seen for promotions.

Susie - it took me a couple visits to learn that the Hotel Madison is about the nicest hotel in Paris.

St Germaine is a beautiful area to stay in - IMHO it's the nicest in paris.

As far as boutique hotels go - they're small rooms in the states and small in Paris too!!

Re Concierge floor...the ones at the Marriott Hotels are limited access floors, more security....concierage lounge available typically from 6 or 7am to 11pm, breakfast buffet, evening appetizers, complimentary soft drinks all day, newspapers/magazines available...good place to relax outside the room.

Is the Madison a "boutique hotel"...i.e., small rooms?

I suggest you check out www.bookings.org/fr (I had some wonderful luck with them just last week)
You are interested in looking at hotels with 4 stars, I think although there may be some 3 stars with the amenities you are looking for. Not knowing your dates, I plugged in June 8 for 4 nights and found a couple that look likely: Golden Tulip ST Honore, near the Champs-Elyseess with internet connections in rooms -- looks like you might even get a suite for under 300 euro -- Another that looked lovely is Clarion St-James & Albany on the rue de Rivoli, facing the Tuileries gardens. Another website (parishotels.com) yielded the lovely Hotel Luxembourg Parc with doubles from 220-270 euro. That hotel has internet connections in the room and all the services you might expect. Fantastic location in St Germain de Pres. My experience this Spring is that there are some very good deals in Paris, even for near-term and high season. Both sites I mentioned have pictures of rooms, on bookings, click on "brochure" and which language you want to read it in.

Susie-I would most definatly consider the Madison a boutique hotel- here's the scoop-I think in your price range you could up grade to a superior room. I would put the Madison in the cataogry of a very nice boutique hotel in Manhatten the rooms are not huge, but very nice, well appointed etc.
I'm thinking something like the Mansfield in N.Y.city.
I'm really picky-even been accused of being a snob, and this is my favorite 3 star in Paris. The superior rooms are better then some 4 star standard rooms I've been in.
The computer thing,I'm not sure about, but the staff & quality of the hotel is excellent.
There is a lounge with small bar down stairs (no concierge floor) but you would be looking at at least a 4 star hotel , for that.
Do a search under Madison Hotel, many positive posts.
Viva la France
Fluffy

Have been checking out the recommendations and the Madison certainly seems really really nice...will email them re the internet access question as that is a must! We spent some time at Borders looking at the Paris guides to decide which to order...and looking over the areas...St. Germain definitely sounds like where want to stay!

What are US style amenities in a hotel as opposed to non-US style? There are many hotels in Paris for under $300 that have internet connections, private bathrooms, elevators, etc.

I kinda agree with Rufus re the "amenities" part. In terms of transportation around Paris there are very very few places that aren't within a few minutes' walk from a Metro stop in that city. You can sometimes get major "name" hotels at a discount through a discounter such as discount hotels...I would check those sites as well rather than relying exclusively on the chain's reservation systems.