Hotel Leveque
 

I just got confirmation of my reservations for Sept. The hotel looks good from the web page and I think the location sounds great. But, on their confirmation there was this statement "Please note that is not allowed to eat inside the room". Do they really enforce this? I can't believe they would not allow a snack, some cheese and crackers, etc. Does anyone have any experience with this situation at Hotel Leveque. I'm also waiting to hear from Hotel du Champ de Mars. I've just never heard of a hotel restricting eating in the room. I wonder if they check the wastepaper baskets for food wrappers.

That's interesting, but I've also seen strict rules in some very budget places in the Latin Quarter, also, who cater to backpackers or are worried about too much litter in the room or insect infestation. Maybe too many Rick Steves backpackers eating the food they took from open air markets or breakfast buffets or bought from street vendors left too much trash in the rooms one too many times, because I think he recommends people eat in the room to save money, and also he recommends that hotel. I have never encountered that in any hotel I've been in and wouldn't stay in one that had a rule like that, because it reflects a certain ambience I don't care for. I think you can assume they have this rule because they've had problems, though, not just for no reason. <BR><BR>I guess they don't have room service or minibars, huh? I wonder if you can eat a candy bar.

We stayed in the 7th last September and meet some people who were staying there and the food thing is absolutely correct!!! I have seen the rooms. Do not stay there.. OVerrated Rick Steves hotel!! I stayed at the Hotel Relais Bosquet about a half a block away. It is wonderful without all that BS about not eating in your room which we did everyday with wine &amp; cheese before we went out for the evening.. They look at the front desk what you are bringing in. The rooms are soooo small!!! I have heard wonderful things about Hotel Champs du Mar!!

Tamara: Do you have a web page for Relais Bosquet? What are the rates like? I need a single w/shower and WC. Did you like the 7th? I'm debating about the 7th or Latin Quarter, St. Germaine area. I've also heard the Hotel Minerve is a good budget hotel. The Rue Cler area just really appealed to me. Is this within walking distance to most things? Thanks for your help.

While the Minerve is in the 5th district which is pretty central and has lots of restaurants and shops, the Relais Bosquet is a much nicer hotel than the Minerve.

I have stayed at the Grande Hotel Leveque twice and it is nice, clean, has a great location and is a ** hotel that has clean ensuite rooms.<BR><BR>Nothing more and nothing less. We enjoyed our stays and would stay there again.<BR><BR>I do not know of any &quot;no food eating&quot; rules when we stayed there and the last time was 1999.<BR><BR>US

Ditto Uncle Sam's experience at the Leveque. If you're discreet, you shouldn't have any problems with snacks in your room. They'd just replaced the carpet when we were there in Nov. 2001 and I think there was a sign somewhere in the room reminding the guests to be careful.<BR><BR>In contrast to Tamara's post above, I'd stay at the Leveque again, but not at the Champs du Mar. Hang on to that confirmation, Barb.

Have seen thre rooms at Hotel Leveque and found them very plain Have stayed at Champ de Mars twice; returning for a 3rd time in June. Twin accomodation at HCDM is 78 Euros/night for my son and I. HCDM is very prettily decorated in blues and yellows, clean, and suited us just fine. Some people complain about street noise but coming from a large city this didn't bother us. Another place you might want to check is Hotel Muguet, about 5 min away. Also a very lovely hotel, just a tad pricier.

Barb -<BR><BR>If you type any hotel name and its city into a search engine like Google, you'll likely get its website, or at least links to booking sites which include it. &quot;Relais bosquet hotel paris&quot; =<BR><BR>http://www.relaisbosquet.com/<BR><BR>It is a 3 star hotel, whereas the Leveque is either a 1 or 2 star. And rates reflect that. Single rooms are $150E/night (double bed for sole use), as opposed to $53 (no doubt a single bed and tiny room)....

Barb, After going for the first time to Paris this last Sept. and walking everywhere in Paris, I have to say that the 7th district was the best..Relaisbosquet.com I was just quoted single 100 Euro for Feb/Mar. We had a superior room with view of Eiffel for 160 Euro. The view of the room on their website was our room. Hotel Leveque we went to which was a minute from our hotel and I asked to see what Rick Steves was raving about and I rode the glass 1 person elevator to the room and for 85-95 Euro I would rather pay the extra for the Relais.. i have heard good things about the Muguet as well. Good friends of mine stayed at the Hotel Champs du Mar and they loved it! I would not like to see you stay in the Latin Quarter if you can. 7th is Very Safe for a single woman and the location is awesome. I believe all rooms have shower/bath and W/C.at the Relais.. The supermarket/marche is 2 stores down, the best pastry shop at the corner and the best bistro's and cafes everywhere. If you can get out of Leveque I would do it!!

We stayed at the Hotel Leveque over New Year's this year (was our 3rd time staying there) and brought in food every day for breakfast. No one said a thing about it and I'm sure they knew. They probably post this to keep people from making a mess in the rooms but if you are &quot;discreet&quot;, as they say, I'm sure nothing will be said. We love this hotel because it is clean, comfortable and in a great location. Yes, the rooms are not huge but most 2 star hotel rooms are not large. You spend so little time in the room that this should not be a big deal. They have a nice big closet/dresser combo, a small but relatively new bath and the people have always been very friendly and helpful. And the price is right! If you want a big, fancy room you will have to pay a lot more to get it so I guess it depends on what your priorities are. Definitely think the 7th is a great area to stay in and rue cler is a delightful market street with wonderful shops.

We found the Leveque to be a quite pleasant 2* hotel. The room was decent sized, good bed, good bathroom, and a big plus is the in-room safe (very rare in this price range). We had no problem with taking food into the room. We were never challenged by the staff. The 7th is a great area to stay in. I am sure that they ask you to avoid eating in the room just to help keep the place clean and neat, but I doubt if they have food police patroling the halls. We really liked this hotel and would stay there again. Compared to other hotels we have used in Paris it is quite good. Remember it is a 2*. If you want luxury go over to Le Bristol and pay your 500 to 850 euros a night and you can have all the luxury you want. We have done that and for our money we will take the Leveque over the Bristol anytime and pocket the hundreds and hundreds of euros we save.

Yep the Bristol is expensive that is for sure. I paid $850 per night there and I agree that I could have saved about $750 by using the Leveque, and would have slept just as well.

Thanks for all your honest opinions. I too would much rather stay in a 2* and spend the money saved on good food/wine, as long as it is clean and safe. Tamara, why not the Latin Quarter? Do you feel it is not safe for a single woman, or just not as quiet as the 7th.

In my experience... the Latin Quarter is just sooo much *busier* than the 7th. Easier to get lost, hussle &amp; bussle, noisy, traffic. But I felt completely safe as a solo female in both neighborhoods.<BR><BR>As an aside (I know nothing about Leveque) when I eat in my room I normally remove my own food-type trash and deposit it into a public trashcan or at least tie it neatly into a used grocery sack (i.e., not a bunch of stinky or gooey sh*t left for the maid to deal with).

The 5th arr. (Quarier Latin) is pefectly safe for a woman traveling alone. I have stayed either there or in the 6th on several trips. It's right near the Sorbonne and there are many restaurants in the area, so there are lots of people walking around at all hours. Which I prefer to deserted streets. (I personally find the 7th a bit &quot;dead&quot; at night.)<BR><BR>Text search here for &quot;paris and solo&quot; to find many threads offering opinions and advice on this subject.

we had no other choice but to eat in our hotel room.. it was so cold outside (january) that we just grabbed a pizza and ate it in the room..

Barb, I love the Latin Quarter..I just feel that if you have a choice the 7th is great...Very upscale neighborhood and quiet at night but trust me you will appreciate it when it comes to trying to sleep... The essence of Paris in my opinion is the Rue Cler area.. Let us know how it goes..Good Luck..<BR>Tamara

Barb,<BR>I stayed at the Leveque last March, and I did notice the signs stating no food in the rooms. I know we ate a few things in the room, but we were very careful with the crumbs, and tossed our trash the next time we went out. There is a small room where there are tables (where they serve breakfast) which also works. I enjoyed my stay there, and would stay there again - great area!<BR>Have a great time!

Good news, I went to see Rick Steves speak last night and afterwards I asked him about Hotel Leveque and their no eating policies. He had not heard of it, but said a light snack would probably not be a problem at all. He said they were probably just concerned about stains on carpets and bed linens. I got the feeling he preferred the Hotel de Champ de Mars, but he did not really say so. Again, thanks for all the responses.