hotels in Paris
 

I am looking for an exceptionally charming hotel in the 6th arron. (St. Germain des Pres) area. I am willing to spend $200-250 per night for a twin . Its my daughter's birthday and this has to be special. Any recommendations?

Oh gosh, there are quite a few especially with your budget.

This topic is an ongoing one here too and you can see what options there are by typing in the Search box above "Paris and hotels and St. Germain" for a start.

In any case, these fall in your budget range I would think:

Hotel Le Madison
Hotel Bel Ami
Hotel St. Germain des Pres
Hotel des Saints Peres
Hotel Le Sainte Beuve
Hotel Luxembourg Parc

The Sainte Beuve and Luxembourg Parc are closer to the Luxembourg Gardens but are in the 6th district also.

You don't mention when you are visiting as the rates may vary.

I highly recommend the Hotel de l'Abbaye on rue Cassette. Charming as all get out. Pretty, cozy public rooms, lovely garden, set back from the street by a courtyard, nice staff. Having said that, the standard rooms are Paris-size: small (cozy, IMO). There are several larger rooms, some with their own terrace, but I'm not sure of the current cost. Standard rooms are within your budget.

I have to disagree with francophile03, at least in regards to the Hotel Madison and St. Germain des Pres. Depending on the season, a budget of $200-$250 USD will not get you an exceptionally charming hotel in this area. 200 to 250 Euros (approx. $244 to $305 USD) might get you something charming in St. Germain des Pres at the correct time of the year. The Madison, although an excellent choice for both it?s location and rooms, raised it's rates more than a year ago. Don't forget the city tax. Sometimes it is not included in the posted rate.

There are a number of good, and sometimes charming, hotels in both the 5th and 7th Arrondissements that you might want to consider for this special occasion.

Hey Robert, oops, you're right. I was thinking in euros-ack.

Saint Germain is one of the most expensive places for hotels in Paris. I know this is subjective, as I wouldn't say you could find anything exceptionally charming for that price in that area (at least in normal high hotel season), but partly that will be the size of the room. I'm sure some other folks might think a room is exceptionally charming that I consider average, though.

The city tax really isn't important though, so don't worry about that in checking rates. It's only one euro per day per person in a 3* hotel, I believe, slightly less in a 2*. I think it might be 2 euro pp per day in a 4* but I'm not sure as I don't stay in 4* hotels in France.

Thanks everyone. I have now narrowed it down to :
Le Madison
Hotel L'Abbaye
Hotel Le Relais Medicis
Hotel des Marroniers
I am travelling at the end of July.
Can anyone help me decide? I would like a larger room, great location, beautiful decor and friendly and informative staff.Any advice wuold be greatly appreciated.

Ago- Let me know which you stay at and what you think of your choice, please! My wife and I are going to Paris in October with our granddaughter and presently have a reservation at Hotel Pas des Calais which we have stayed at in the past- right off blvd St Germain- and would like to hear of your selection. Thank you.

These are all quite nice. Ago, did you check out the reviews of these hotels yet on tripadvisor.com? The reason I ask is that for the Madison, someone recently posted a review who claimed to have stayed there 26 days and still raved about it- plus, there were other reviews of the Madison that I found to be very detailed, so that might help you make up your mind.

Are you sure Hotel de l'Abbaye has room available for July? It seems that this hotel fills up months in advance.

I think the Hotel des Marronniers has lots of charm, especially being set back from the street in a courtyard, but my rooms (three stays) there have always been very small, even by Parisian standards.

HI
I stayed at the Marronniers years ago, for one night, we escaped the next day.
For the price even at that time, our standard double was excruciatingly small, when sitting on the bed we could touch the wall on either side. Charming decor, good location, but at the time it didn't seem a good value for the money. The 6th is prime location, and values for the dollar in the price you mention with the exceptional charm are hard to find.

Look into the Grand Balcons, and the Bonaparte. While perhaps not the fanciest, they always get good reviews and are very Parisian in feel. I have not stayed there yet, but am booked at the Balcons for later this year, on a repeat visit to Paris. The Hotel de Lys on rue Serpente also has good reviews, charming decor is mentioned, but no elevator.

I wouldn't even THINK of staying at the Bonaparte. The fact that it consistently gets good reviews from one poster on this website (and who also posts good reviews on tripadvisor for this hotel as well) does NOT mean that this hotel is in any way charming, because it is not. It's perfectly okay if all you want is a room and a bed and a central location where you can put your stuff for the night- it is certainly NOT OKAY if you're looking for an "exceptionally charming" hotel. Really, to even think that the Bonaparte falls into that category, as a 2 star, is a stretch outside the bounds of imagination!

Two of our friends visited the Madison recently and gave very positive reports; the renovations have been completed, and everything looks fine again.

For the end of July, Paris hotel rates often drop, preceding the August discounts. Ago might be able to get excellent rates for good hotels; try Orbitz first, as we got a superior twin at the Madison in September (very tight month because of the fashion shows)for 220€. The Ste-Beuve is another good possibility--it was our second choice. Both are 3* hotels in good locations.

agp- as I said previously- my wife and I will stay at the Pas des Calais in October but have also stayed at Le Sainte Beuve and found it very good. Pas des Calais, in my opinion, has better location but both are close to Metro. Don't forget to let me know your choice and report when you return!

Dear Airlawgirl

Let us agree that "ago" is not looking for a 2* hotel, OK.

The rest of your remarks about the Bonaparte could be easily refuted.

I definitely recommend the Hotel de l'Abbaye as well. I stayed there in 1996 and loved it. Great hotel, great location. In fact, my husband and I are staying there again for 6 nights at the beginning of July.

As for availability, I only booked my room a week ago for the beginning of July, so you might have some luck.

again, thanks everyone. Ok, so now I have narrowed it down to the L'Abbaye and the Madison. It seems that no one has heard of Le Relais Medicis.Any feed back on that one?
Anyone know if the rooms at the Madison are bigger or smaller than the rooms at the L'Abbaye?
This is my first time on this forum and I am so delighted with all the responses! This is just great!
And don't worry, wherever I stay, I will write about upon my return.

Le Relais Medicis is a 16-room hotel with Mediterannean type decor. It's been well-recommended in Great Sleeps by Sandra Gustafson.
From what I have gathered, the Madison's rooms are much larger than the Abbaye's definitely. The Abbaye is known to have very small rooms in general unless you reserve a suite.

..the Duc saint simon..for the location... if you want glitzy this is NOT for you..if you want understated quite elegance this is.