The Hotel Nicolo in the 16th arrondissment has been recommended to us. I can't find a website for it. How many stars, and are the bathrooms up to date, with tub? Thank you.

Hi Daphne,<BR>This is a two star hotel between the Passy and La Muette neighborhoods in the 16th. It's not fancy and is used a lot by people going to the OECD (a multinational organization) nearby. I've not stayed there but have walked by a few times. It wouldn't be at the top of my list, but maybe you are getting a really good price. Rooms have private baths and TVs, which now have international reception (CNN), I believe. How much are they charging? If it's anywhere near $100 a night, I think you could do better elsewhere. The pictures I saw showed rather old style bathrooms, not really up to date. <BR>There are several other hotels in that general area that may give you a better value for your money BUT remember this is a residential neighborhood and is not very close to tourist sights, with the exception of the Marmottan and Guimet (Asian arts) museums. I wouldn't recommend it for a first or even second visit to Paris.<BR>BTilke (Brussels)

if you type "hotel nicolo paris" into a good search engine, like Google, you will find several pages of references and websites. The best appears to be on www.123france.com with some photos, but not of the bath. I guess it's mentioned in the Hello France guidebook but that guidebook seems to mainly list facts rather than opinions or comments, it seems to me--I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a recommendation or not. I mentioned that because it comes up on that Google search as it's the headline on her website www.helloeurope.com From the photo, it doesn't looking charming to me, but there is a style for everyone.

The hotel Nicolo has recently been renovated, quite nicely, accoring to Gustafson's "Great Sleeps" book, at least I think it is that book. I visited the hotel a couple of years ago, and thought it was nice even then. the rooms are rather large, and quiet, and it is in a "chi-chi" part of Paris. Not tourist central, but that is not necessarily negative. The metro stop is not too too far away, the Trocadero is in the area, the Eiffel Tower on the otehr side. Apparently there is a food market near by.You could find out how the rich Parisians live!

My husband and I stayed at Hotel Nicolo for two nights in 2000. We did so only because it was near a friend's apartment. It was okay, but not charming. Our room on second floor was large and quiet, the bathroom ordinary but sufficient with very large old fashioned bath tub. Neighborhood is fine, although not altogether residential, as very near a large commercial street (forget name). It is within walking distance of Trocadero and Eiffel Tower along lovely boulevards. Hediard gourmet shop nearby! I would not stay there again, or on my 1st visit to Paris, because there are many more charming hotels in Paris and in more interesting neighborhoods. Double room rate with private bath was around $100 then. Breakfast available in small room off tiny lobby.

Daphne, if you're willing to stay outside of the city centre, there's a small (39 rooms) hotel in the 12 that you might consider. It's a 2 Star (supposedly because it does not have men's and women's bathroom on the ground floor and lacks its own restaurant), very modest cost. Owned by on site couple; he's French, she's American.<BR><BR>Hotel de la Porte Doree<BR>273 Avenue Daumesnil<BR>Paris 75012<BR><BR>You can find it along with a few pics by using the Google Search Engine at:<BR>www.google.com<BR>

I don't know about the restrooms on the ground floor, but the restaurant is not the reason it only has two stars. You are not required to have a restaurant until 4 stars and, in fact, I don't think you even have to have one in-house then, but only room service availability (which could be from next door)--not sure about that, but I think I've been in a 4star without a restaurant. If it doesn't have an elevator, I think that can be a reason to not get 3 stars in a place that otherwise would qualify.