Hi all,

Thanks again for all the trips you've helped me plan over the years.

The good news is my husband just found out he's going to a convention in Paris the 2nd week in June. The bad news is that means I'm searching for a hotel in Paris in June . I'm big on planning/researching far in advance so this has thrown me for a loop.

My first plan was to use Priceline but after reading some posts here and on biddingfortravel.com that doesn't sound like such a great idea. (Besides I already made a couple of bids and didn't get anything . )

I checked a lot of the "favorite hotel in Paris" threads but most of those properties were already booked. Now I'm looking at laterooms.com and Hotwire and have also checked Travelocity and Expedia. But the choices are overwhelming. Can anyone recommend any specific properties to look for (or avoid!) on these websites?

Here is my wish list:

$150 a night (100-120 euros)
We are staying (at company expense) at the InterContinental Legrand near the Opera Garnier for the first 3 nights, then will have to move for the last 3 since the rate is 400 euros per night .

So my thought is to move to the Left Bank just to experience a different area. Looking at the map in the Fodor's guide that looks like the 5e, 6e or 7e but basically I'm looking for a clean room in a safe neighborhood, convenient to the Metro, and hopefully nearby a bakery for a morning pastry and cafe for a reasonable dinner. I've traveled some in Europe and will not be shocked at a lack of elevator, small room or no washcloths . I would like air conditioning though. My husband is a business traveler and usually stays in chain hotels so that's fine. Bottom line is I'm OK with sacrificing charm and local color for convenience and price at this point. We're in our 40's and more into history and culture than shopping and partying.

Sorry to be long winded but I'm hoping to get some advice to narrow my choices down. Any experience with booking a last minute room through the above-mentioned sites (or other recommendations) would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!

Karen

Hotel Balcons in the 5th is very nice.

http://www.paris-hotel-grandbalcons.com/

They have an elevator (very tiny one person and luggage), clean nice rooms, new bathrooms and you won't have to sacrifice charm and local colour. A double is 100-150€.

It's located on a very quiet street (rue Casimir Delavigne) just off busy Boulevard Saint-Germain. So you get quiet for sleeping, but you are close to the action. The Odeon Metro stop is just a few steps away. Lots of places to grab a bite for breakfast or lunch (the hotel also has a very nice breakfast) and there are literally more restaurants than you can count all around this area. (There is even a small restaurant run by a lovely couple right across from the hotel).

The Luxembourg Gardens is just a couple of blocks away, and you are within walking distance of Notre Dame, the Louvre and Seine.

Try these sites:
http://www.ratestogo.com
http://www.laterooms.com
http://www.accorhotels.com

Your A/C requirement might make it difficult to find a central place in your price range at this late date.

Sorry, I missed the part about you wanting A/C. I'm not sure the Balcon's had it. You would have to check though, they didn't when I was there a couple of years ago.

Sorry again.

A friend and I just returned from a week in Paris. We booked the ** Hotel St. Thomas D'Aquin the day before we left (a very last minute trip!).

We loved this hotel, and vowed to return. Located on the border of the 6e and 7e (I liked it much better than the 5e, where I had stayed previously), a quiet street, recently remodelled interior with a nicely decorated bedroom and sparkling bathroom with tub & shower, close to Metro and bus stops, etc. I submitted a fuller description to TripAdvisor if you want to read further. E130 for a twin room.

Enjoy Paris.

Another apology, Hotel Balcons is actually in the 6th not the 5th.

Have you looked to see what www.venere.com has available for your dates? Very easy site to use with reviews and maps and ability to narrow choices by arrondisements.

I booked the Hotel Monge in the 5th just a week or so ago, for a stay in early June. The rate they gave me was 96E per night, for a double room with a shower (they had nothing with a full bath left). You might try it- it's nothing glamorous for that price, of course, but they have pretty good reviews on Trip Advisor.

Try the Ste-Beuve, near the Luxembourg Gardens.

I see folks recommending a lot of hotels, but do they all have AC? I believe I chose not to stay at the St Thomas d'Aquin one summer because they didn't have AC. I would double check on all the recommendations here, if I were you, to make sure they have AC.

That year, we chose the Hotel de Varenne in the 7th for their AC. The price was higher than you are aiming for, though.

The problem will be finding AC in your range.

I'll just add the Hotel Monge DOES have AC. But it's a good point- it's not easy to find that in hotels at your price range.

Hotel du Palais Bourbon - near Musee Rodin and Les Invalides, walk to Orsay. In the 7eme. http://www.hotel-palais-bourbon.com/english/main.htm

The front desk staff can be aloof, but it has AC and is in a quiet area not too far from the Seine and most of all, it's in your price range w/ AC.

Melissa84... I didn't mean to sound like all the hotels recommended didn't have AC. I was pretty sure that I saw one or two being suggested that I kind of remembered didn't have AC.

mdmomo: I stayed at the Palais Bourbon, too, although in cold weather. The older folks at the desk were totally cold, but the younger ones were pretty nice. They have a top floor room they call "the honeymoon room" that is worth going for. Nice and roomy with a pretty rooftops view, but the price might be above 120 E.

Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestions.

I've sent booking inquiries to St. Thomas D'Aquin and Hotel Monge.

Grand Balcons, Varenne and Palais Bourbon were all booked.

I'll try venere.com as well since they can be sorted by neighborhood.

Anybody got any good suggestions for hotels with A/C if I up my budget to $200? (other criteria same as above)

Thanks,

Karen

Underhill mentioned Hotel Saint Beuve, around metro St Sulpice - that would be my pick.
A lot of people seem satisfied with Hotel Henri IV Rive Gauche in the 5th, as well.

You might also try this search site as they list last minute deals.

Also try Parisby.com as you can search by neighborhood, price, etc.

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75006regs.htm

Try also www.parishotels.com. Most hotels offer instant booking confirmations.