My three sisters and I are talking our mother to Paris for her 75th Birthday. The only time we can go is in January. We are having a tough time agreeing on a hotel- given different tastes and budgets. We have narrowed it down to Hotel Grades Des Ecoles or hotel Caron de Beaumarchais. Can anybody help us pick. We will be in the room for 9 nights! Our concern is size or the room; do they have a common room, is the location close to a metro. Are the beds good!? THanks

Welcome back N,

The last time you posted was over 3 years ago. Did you ever make it to London in 03? BTW, how many rooms are you requiring for your group of 5?

For nine nights, why not consider an apartment? You could all be together and have space to enjoy breakfast, dinner or just wine before going out to dinner. The cost might be less than hotel rooms.

Judy: Any suggestions. This is an idea. The good thing about a hotel is that we can separate too!

Noelle

Yes - we did make it England and had great rooms. Went to Scotland too. We plan to stay in 3 rooms. Although some suggest apartments, I think I like the idea of separate space! Hotels provide some of that. We like the two hotels we picked and just need some advice.

Hi N,

The Caron has gotten good recommendations here.

You can find the nearest metro stops at www.mappy.com.

I can understand what you mean about a hotel giving you more privacy, basically. If you rent an apt., you can bet it will be very small, you probably won't have 3 bedrooms or 3bathrooms, and you'll kind of be very aware of what others are doing and when (or when they come in or whatever). There are very few 3 bedroom vacation rental apts (fewer with 3 bathrooms), and many would cost more than the hotels you name. If money isn't an object, you might have more to choose from. But, if you want, there are tons of places to look for them (apts), like www.vrbo.com but then you really have to be more aware of facilities, location, size, etc. when you try to check them out, and you'll have to pay deposits and probably the fee in advance.

For the hotels you picked, they are both near a metro stop, so no need to worry about that. The Caron de Beaumarchais is farther from one, though (it's about 3-4 blocks from either Hotel de Ville or St Paul) and I've heard its rooms are very very small unless you get the superior category. The Grandes Ecoles is near the Cardinal Lemoine metro stop (about a block away. It's also a couple blocks away from the Monge stop, which is a different line. There are buses that would go near either one of these hotels.

I don't know about the beds, I'd check reviews. I'd personally pick the Grandes Ecoles because I like that area better. It's a more laid-back area, also, and not as congested or near the busy business area as much.

Noelle, I would vote for the Grand Ecoles for the location alone, but be forewarned the rooms do not have T.V. if this is important to you. Have a wonderful trip!

Grandes Ecoles vote #2. IF you can get a room (they fill up very quickly, even in winter)!

I'm surprised that most like Ecoles only because Caron has been so helpful!? Is there anybody who votes for Caron?

I've never stayed at the Caron, but did stay at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles this past May. I know it's received very positive reviews (one of the reasons I selected it), but I did not enjoy the hotel and would not stay there again.

Personally, I didn't like the location in the 5th. But specific to the hotel, the room was small and getting to be somewhat shabby, it was facing the courtyard, which was noisy (may not be an issue in January when guests aren't sitting outside), and my husband and I did not find the staff to be very pleasant or helpful. On a positive note, I did think the bathroom was decent size, clean and well-lit. As one poster mentioned, the are no TVs in the rooms, which was not an issue for us, but something to be aware of.

Diane

Okay - Now I'm really confused. Caron too small; Ecoles too shabby. But, they both get great reviews on Tripadvisor and in most travel books. I'm tempted to try Hotel Residence Henry IV instead! Thoughts?

try checking out the followinng link:
http://destinia.com/hotels/hotels--i...urope/48942/en
hope its of use to you.

Make your mother the priority seeing it is HER birthday. At 75 your mum will need a really nice soft comfortable bed!
The best beds we had out of the three hotels we stayed at was Hotel Duquesne, rue Duquesne in the 7eme.
Our rooms 41 & 42 were a single and a double and both had stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.
The bus stop is practically outside the door and the metro Ecole Militaire just down the road.

Actually, I think that location (the Duquesne) might be just as or more enjoyable than the ones you name, especially for your mother. The Relais Bosquet hotel is a nice location in that area, also, and a nice hotel. I think it and the Duquesne are a step up from the Grandes Ecoles. Actually, although I do like the location of that hotel, I probably wouldn't want a hotel without TV myself. But you must know that and don't care. I don't watch it that much, but do like being able to view the news and weather sometimes just to relax. Also, I do like watching French programs to some degree (although many are not that good).

I only voted for the Grandes Ecoles due to the location and because I know the Caron has small rooms. But, I think the Caron is known to be very nice (and I don't really know the size of the rooms at the Grandes Ecoles). These are questions you could ask the hotel, though, I always do (what is the size of the room). I don't usually book hotels just because someone has been nice to me, although if I really couldn't decide and had totally equal choices, I probably would.

YOu said you were concerned about the room size, though, so I would find out specifics. FOr example, one nice thing about the Relais Bosquet is that they actually give you room sizes on their website
http://www.relaisbosquet.com/

Their std room is 17 m2 (about 180 SF) and a superior room is 22 m2 (about 230 SF). By contrast, I've heard the std rooms at the Caron de B. are maybe 11-12 m2 (about 125 SF). That's a big difference. I can't swear to the Caron, that's what I remember, so check on that.

The Relais Bosquet also has winter special rates of only 133 euro for their superior room (125 for the std). By contrast, the Caron's rates are more than that for the small std room (142 euro) and about 160 euro for their larger rooms. The Grandes Ecoles is about 130 euro, I think.

Anyway, I haven't stayed at the Relais Bosquet but know someone who has and liked it, but that's just an example that maybe there are alternatives that are better value than the ones you named.

Thanks everybody. You are all so helpful. Has anybody stayed in the Caron!?

N

I've been following this thread and it struck me I may have the perfect hotel for you. Hotel de Notre Dame is a small establishment in a good section of the 5th...a short 50 yards from the river right at Notre Dame. I'm thinking your mother might prefer to stay near the hotel sometime while you and sis go out on your own. From this hotel she could easily walk across the bridge to the Isles and enjoy the park area around ND.

I've stayed there twice. Clean rooms. Not large, but not tiny either. The baths are all marble and more modern than most. Beds were comfortable. Elevator. Staff is on hand 24 hrs and they speak english. There's a small lobby and a larger breakfast room where people sit during the day. Metro is right around the corner. LOTS of good restaurants nearby.

A couple of the rooms involve a few steps. So inform Mme. Dominique that your mother will be with you and request a room with easy access.

Hotel de Notre Dame
http://tinyurl.com/tyja5

Sorry, I meant to add: Double, 150 euros.

Hi Noelle, I have not stayed in either, but I have stayed at another hotel near the Caron de Beaumarchais (our was fine but the Caron has more charm from what I have heard/read). My view is slightly jaded as I love the Marais, so I would vote for the Caron. Metro is close, nice restaurants, cafes and boutiques close by (bit I realize this is also the case in other areas!) The rooms are small in most Paris hotels, if there are only 2 of you in each room it really shouldn't be too tight. Both are nice properties, have you showed your Mom the websites to see what she thought?

Thanks - this is very helpful.