I'm looking for a good hotel in Paris for early May - on the Left Bank ? so we can walk<BR>to sights. About US$100/night. <BR>Anyone had any good experiences lately?<BR>RCA

I've stayed at the following hotel 3 times (just under $100). Great location near the Odeon metro and the Luxembourg gardens; 15 minute walk to Notre Dame.<BR><BR>GRAND HOTEL DES BALCONS 3,rue Casimir-Delvagine 75006 Paris<BR>Phone: 01-46-34-78-50 Fax: 01-46-34-06-27. Email: [email protected] <BR>http://www.balcons.com

Again, it's Margo -- she must have come back from hiding. Go away again please.Your advertising on this board should not be tolerated.

Hey there Go Away, Looks to me like she's doing a great job of giving RCA the advice he's looking for. I don't see where she's asked for anything in return. Lighten up.

Grasshopper, you obviously have not been exposed to Margo/Hello Europe before. She used to flood this forum with cut and pastes from guidebooks of her own. Finally Fodor's got her off .. she was gone for months and now we have her back again. She will answer nearly every inquiry with some recommendations from her book. Many are out of date.

Hey, "Go Away," I'm not normally one to jump in on these kinds of threads, but Monica Pileggi most certainly isn't Margo (although I actually like Margo's books). Monica is a very helpful Fodorite who posts lots of good information, trip reports, photos, etc. In fact, I used a lot of the information that Monica posted on this forum in planning my trip to Paris last year and found her hotel info (Balcons) & restaurant recommendations (Bistrot de Breteuil, l'Epi Dupin, Chez Maitre Paul) to be very good.

Lisa, I think that there was a comment from Margo but that Fodor's deleted it?? Sounds to me like Go Away has been on the forum for a while and would certainly know who Monica is. But yes, Monica's website is certainly helpful. I cribbed a lot of restaurant info from there recently for an upcoming trip to Paris. Only problem is, I can't remember her website address (not on my computer where I have it bookmarked). Anyone?

topping

www.luvtotravel.homestead.com/home.html

It appears Fodor's has eliminated Margo/HelloEurope's comments (copied from her guide book). I was not referring to Monica. I e-mailed Fodor's yesterday about Margo and they seem to have deleted all her comments (and she was a busy lady yesterday).

I don't really mind her so much because she never says anything except copies her extracts. So how come they won't eliminate all of Fred's posts that are also excerpts from his commercial web site which are even followed up with him soliciting business by asking people to email him (not mentioning his fee)? That is even more advertising than Margo's and his info isn't even very good.

I'm not sure I understand. Someone writes for information. Someone offers information requested. Isn't that why we're here?<BR><BR>Jennifer

Christina,<BR>I guess some one needs to e-mail Fodor's about Fred. Anyone that copies stuff straight out of some guidebook gets bypassed by me very quickly. I like personal references, if I want info from a guide book I get a guide book not Fred or Margo (maybe they are married??)<BR>(or they are the same person??)

I guess I should also contribute to the thread -- unfortunately, I have not stayed in one lately at that price in an area within walking distance to the sights, as I stay further out. So, I can't give personal recommendations, but I'll toss you a few ideas from compilations of numerous guidebooks, travel forums and friends:<BR>7th arr (many as it's cheaper, but not within walking distance except to Eiffel Tower unless you really like to walk):<BR>Hotel Muguet, Hotel Champ du Mars, Hotel Turenne, Hotel l'Empereur, Hotel Palais du Bourbon, Hotel la Motte Picquet, Hotel Danube, Hotel de Suede, Hotel du Quai Voltaire, Hotel de la Bourdonnais and Hotel Varenne and Duquesne Eiffel (maybe at that rate). Actually, almost any 2-star hotel in the 7th should fit that criteria and most are pretty decent.<BR>6th (prices are higher, so few choices at that rate):<BR>Hotels Clement, Recamier, Balcons above, Regents, Perreyve, Globe<BR>5th or Latin Qtr(little cheaper than 6th):<BR>Cujas Pantheon, College de France, Trois Colleges (may be high), Hotel Residence St Christophe, Residence Monge and Hotel des Arenes (these last 3 are near place Contrescarpe, my favorite area), maybe Claude Bernard is close and Parc St Severin. There are some others up near St-Michel but I don't like that area so don't remember them.<BR>I have stayed at the St-Thomas d'Acquin in the 7th which is very convenient to things and the staff was very nice and a good breakfast. It's a 2-star and certainly ok if you can't find something. I just thought the rooms themselves were a little too spartan and dull for my taste (kind of modern motel-ish furniture and prefab bathrooms).<BR>

no, Fred copies stuff from his own guidebook, as does Margo. Well, it's their own stuff so their opinion is as good as anyone. <BR><BR>No, we are not here to solicit business. Fodor's says that in the terms. Offering to give info to people for a fee or to sell a product or develop an email mailing list or asking them to email you so you can sell them something is not why we are here.

Lori, et al--Fred's "guide book" is a compilation of his and others' experiences from 20+ years of travel to France. His hotel listings are good because they report actual people's comments who have stayed at the property (as does Margo Classe--she's stayed/seen at all of them too). I don't want an advertising board but I do want informed opinions--rather than ranting off.

Gee, I was looking for my posting "Fodorites in France in May?" and came upon this. I'm glad to know that it has been cleared up that I am NOT Margo. I do know of her many postings of her book. <BR><BR>Anonymous, thanks for providing my web site and thank you Lisa and Mary clearing matters up. <BR><BR>Ciao!<BR>Monica<BR><BR>PS: If anyone finds my posting "Fodorites in France in May?" please bring it to the top. Thanks!

You're welcome, Mon!!!