Hi to all,
We just arrived back last night from Paris. Just thought I'd pass along a few insights....
We stayed at the Hotel Bonaparte (after viewing all posted recommendations.) I may have a more mixed view than some, certainly don't mean to offend.
It is in an awesome location. The people working there are indeed extremely helpful and friendly. The rooms were clean and the tubs nice at the end of the day as the hot water was plentiful.
However, the rooms were a bit too scratched up, worn and thin-walled for my taste. In the mornings we were up whenever our neighbors decided to be up and you could hear people talking in other rooms through the bathroom pipes.
This may not be a big deal to many, especially considering the good location. Just my personal preference.
The other aspect that wasn't our favorite (and only discovered the last day) was that if you didn't take breakfast there, they would deduct 10 euros per room. As we had several rooms, we certainly would have enjoyed eating breakfast elsewhere.
The breakfast wasn't bad, just the same roll and croissant, coffee and juice each morning.
Many mornings we only requested water and juice, thinking we'd get a good pastry somewhere on the run. If we had known that breakfast wasn't necessarily included, meaning you wouldn't pay for it if you didn't eat there, we wouldn't have.
I am sure others enjoy having something available onsite, which I can understand. But we were anxious to enjoy all the variety we could find at the wonderful pastry shops, meaning chocolate.
I didn't know it was an option to not pay for the meal, so live and learn.
As the weather this past week was in the 60s and 70s, we were in heaven walking around the beautiful streets. The shops are awesome, the museums to die for, the subways, efficient but hard to get used to at first (as our French leaves a lot to be desired.) We used buses frequently so we could see where we were going.
We particularly enjoyed the many Greek, Chinese and Italian restaurants, which had a different flair than those we experience in the states. But the breads, pastries, cheese and crepes kept our pockets empty of euros the entire week. Oh, and did I say "wine".
We did see a few too many mice in several bistro's (one at the Cafe Bonaparte came out several times to get crumbs from under the table. I think he must have been a pet. Yuk.)
But the city was as beautiful and interesting as we remembered from 5 years back and my children viewed it through new and "older" eyes. They did love the flea markets.
Thanks for all the help people supply on this forum. It makes planning trips very fun! Jane

That's too bad, Jane, that you didn't care for the Bonaparte. When Marcy and I stayed there, we supplemented our breakfast with cheeses and yogurts and juice that we kept in our mini-bar. We ended up eating very well for breakfast! Pity about the room and being able to hear through the walls. If you ever go back, ask for Room 21, which is a large double twin. I promise, you won't hear a thing.

I suspect the mouse/mice at the Bonaparte will bring many comments!

Hi Jane, this is an interesting report. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Now about that "pet mouse", yuck! LOL.

To clarify, the mouse was at the Cafe Bonaparte, not the Hotel Bonaparte, right?

Either way, I'd be happy enough not to see it .

How old are your children, Jane? Thanks for the report.

Jane was talking about the Cafe Bonaparte, not the Hotel. I assure you the hotel is spotless!

Yes, the mouse was at the cafe, definitely not the hotel, which was spotless. And as I said, I am sure for the price, the Hotel Bonaparte was a good choice for the location, friendly personnel, etc. Maybe as I am getting older, my comfort level at hotels is changing a bit.. ha ha....My kids are 17, 15 and 10. They love to travel as my husband and I do and are becoming very expensive. But college is looming and we take advantage of every vacation! Jane

Pet mice under the table at breaky? How Hindu!

I can't abide paper-thin walls. Once, in a hotel in Florence, I thought I was in the middle of a porno movie set. "Oh...oh.....oh......oh......ohohohohoho.&quo t;

Pet mice at my favorite cafe? Nothing can keep me from returning but I will keep my eyes on my feet!

I think these kinds of reports are very useful for others to get an idea of what a hotel is like. Of course this is a budget hotel, and is just expensive for the level it is because of the location. That is worth the price to some people.

The breakfast is unfortunate because most hotels make that very clear in the room rate when quoted that it does or does not include breakfast (and most do not in Paris that I've stayed in--it's always an extra charge per person per day). If they didn't tell you, that isn't right.

However, the pricing of that breakfast is quite unusual as a room rate rather than per person. If I understand they deduct 10 euro per ROOM for the breakfast if you don't take it there, whether the room has one, two, three or four people in it? I guess that breakfast would be a real bargain just for the coffee alone then if you had a triple or quad (if they have such a thing).

Question for ThinGorjus.

Mind sharing what hotel and room number that was?

There's a brasserie in the 7th that we go to when we're in Paris. We have never noticed any mice running around on the floor, but you should see the size of the cat that wanders around the restaurant!

Anselm

Ahhh, Parisian hotels....Thin walls, plumbing noises, doors opening/closing, elevator sounds, furniture w/scratches, scuffed baseboards.... these are very typical of 2-star and a few 3-star hotels that I have been in. The bedding and bath will be clean, the TV will work, and hopefully you will be able to walk around your bed and bags without tripping.

To avoid these 'flaws' you will have to pay many more &euro;&euro;&euro; and, even then, your room will not be <i>perfect</i>.

Let's face it: there are a LOT of people who would LOVE to be on the other side of that &quot;thin wall&quot; and in some cases on the &quot;action&quot; side.

You've been listening!!!!

Nothing is perfect, but there are Paris hotels that come very close. They are indeed expensive, and they may not be &quot;centrally located.&quot; Nor may be many of the wonderful things to do and see here. That's why we take the Metro and ride the buses, like the local folks do.

Please don't tell me &quot;local folks&quot; have stopped taking taxis in Paris, Dave.

JohnG, LOL

I have never seen a mouse in Paris..was it wearing a beret or a little scarf, perhaps?

&gt;...this is a budget hotel, and is just expensive for the level it is because of the location. &lt;

It is a 2*, w/an elevator and AC.

It compares quite favorably with the rates at other hotels in the area that do not have AC and/or elevators.

I agree with you about the location.

&gt;...the pricing of that breakfast is quite unusual as a room rate rather than per person.&lt;

It is 5E pp. It says so on the notice on the back of the door.

I saw a mouse in the Seine, doing a back stroke!