I am looking for a 2 star hotel in Quartier Latin. Found HOTEL DE FRANCE and HOTEL DE SUEZ? Any comments on these or other suggestions?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Victoria

Hi Victoria,<BR> I'm going to Paris for the first time and will be staying in that area in July. I'm on a budget and have looked up countless 2 star hotels in the 5th arr. I booked a bit late and couldn't get my first few choices so I'm staying at the Hotel du Mont Blanc. It's on a busy street. Other hotels that I've found are: Hotel Europe St. Severin (one of the few 2 star hotels with A/C), La Familia, the Minerve, Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. I'll post some of the websites where you can access descriptions of the hotels.<BR>Hope this helps!

Okay, here are some websites:<BR><BR>www.paris-touristoffice.com<BR>www.france-hotel-guide.com<BR>www.hotelboulevard.com<BR><BR>Have fun!

Victoria: Another one hardly discussed in this forum would be The Hotel "Du Lys"**, 23, Rue Serpente, 75006 Paris.<BR>Tel. 01 43 26 97 57 <BR>Fax 01 44 07 34 90. <BR>Métro: Odeon. <BR>Some 22 rooms for about FF 600.- (double). Very quiet street which is not the case with Blvd. Saint-Michel and Rue Monge.<BR>Had a look at it, but all rooms were booked. Helpful reception desk.<BR>Hope this helps too!

We are thinking of staying at Saint Severin next April. Do we need A/C in April? Another site listed that they have a fridge in the room. I have email them to see for sure. The web site www.123france.com has a special.

Victoria, I think the two-star hotels often mentioned by guests and guidebooks as the best deals in the Latin Qtr are: College de France, Cluny Sorbonne, Cujas Pantheon, Familia, Minerve, Mines and St-Jacques. I am not familiar with the two you mention. I have stayed in the Hotel Sorbonne which has a convenient location behind the square; my room was very nice, actually, but the hotel was a little noisy for my taste--partly due to location (noise from drunken riffraff going out at night, it's near bars) and hotel construction. The people were very nice and you could do worse. It has a long history of pro/con reviews on www.hotelboulevard.com, apparently they often have construction; my room (a small double) was very nice, though, and the bathroom was excellent--it's funny but a lot of negative comments on HB focus on too small bathrooms or funny configurations, but mine was very good. The Grandes Ecoles is now a three star. There are actually several very reasonably priced 3-star hotels in that quarter around the Mouffetard area (St Christophe, for example). The Europe St-Severin is a new business, I believe, and I have heard nothing on it; rooms are very modern from what I've seen, typical two-star--I liked the Sorbonne better than that, it was pretty and more French in style (textured fabric wallpaper, older furniture, pretty flowery bedspread).<BR> Finally, Paris is not anywhere near the equator, you don't need AC in April. I don't usually get it even in summer, but would never say it's recommended for picky people outside June-Aug. The Parc Saint Severin is a nicer hotel than the Europe Saint Severin.

Marge: I suppose you are speaking about the Hotel "Parc Saint-Séverin", 22, Rue de la Parcheminerie, Paris 5th.<BR>We had a look at it and would definitely consider it. Looks very nice (hotel was fully booked, we could not see a room). All rooms have A/C and in a three-star you usually have also a minibar in your room. The hotel is on a very quiet street close to the Saint-Séverin church. Looking at the hotel, I especially liked the rooms on the top with terraces and Notre-Dame view. The place has gone under renovation, but from what we saw it's all finished now. They also offer internet-access for clients. Definitely a place to consider.<BR>Singles FF 560.-/1100.-<BR>Doubles FF 660.-/1100.-.<BR>Doubles with terrace FF 1100.-/1600.-.<BR>www.esprit-de-france.com

Victoria - I'm planning a trip for December and have spent a lot of time researching 2-3 star hotels in Quartier Latin. Invariably, Familia Hotel, Minerve Hotel (Familia's sister hotel), and Grandes Ecoles are rated tops. Further, National Geographic Traveler magazine March 2001 issue did an expose on Paris hotels for $100 or less, and (in addition to the aforementioned) listed the Hotel Saint Jacques and Residence Le Vert Galant.<BR><BR>And yes...after much research I chose the oft mentioned Familia.<BR><BR>Good luck, Frank