Paris Hotel
 

I've been online for a few days researching hotels. The Clement is often recommended here, but someone on Trip Advisor submitted a very negative review recently. I've considered Bonaparte but many reviewers claim it is "shabby." I've also considered "Invalides" near Rue Cler and Eiffel, but it's just not centrally located enough.

So I'm back to looking at the St. Germain area, as I would like a hotel in easy walking distance of St. Sulspice, Orsay, Rodin, Cluny, Notre Dame, and boutique shopping.

My budget is up to $200 per night. I'm staying 4 nights, so need to keep it reasonable. I may have to pay a little more to get what I want, though.

Any suggestions?

I'm back to considering Bonaparte. It has received many great reviews for the service and location.

The Bonaparte is in a great location. You can walk to all the sights you mention above. There are tons of restaurants and pastry shops nearby and also the Luxembourg gardens for a late afternoon stroll.

Here's another hotel you can look at. It's been updated and looks very modern. I stayed here a couple of times before it was redecorated and liked both the hotel and location. I actually prefer the previous shabby Parisian decor.

http://www.balcons.com/

Susan001, I would be wary of many reviews. Some folks see a spot on a rug and denigrate the whole experience.

Last June I stayed at the HOTEL DUAPHINE on the Rue Dauphine in the 6th a few minutes from Pont Neuf and a short walk to Notre Dame. Very French, small rooms, nice bathroom, and great location. It’s a three star which I thought was reasonable. As I strolled around, I noticed many other hotels that appeared to be similar. To me location is the most important factor.

Good luck…

Thank you, LateDay. I remember, and I have considered the Dauphine, based on your experience, but with four nights that will be a hefty bill. I'm still considering it, because the location is great.

Adrienne, the Balcons looks great, and I have written to them. Thanks for the recommendation.

I'll give all of this some thought. At least I've settled on area!

Hi Sus,

My Lady Wife and I have been staying at the Bonaparte since 1984. Recently, having yielded to the opinions of many who thought that we could do a lot better, I spent a couple of days searching Paris hotels that we might like.

These included Atlantis, La Perle, Le Regent, Saint-Jacques, St Thomas d'Aquin, Jeanne d'Arc and Bastille de Launay.

I could not find a place as nice and as convenient without paying about 20% more.

It is old, but not shabby.

If you are looking for a single, one of their larger, at 135E is well within your budget.

I hope the list of other hotels helps you.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Thanks so much, Ira. I was thinking the same thing; hard to beat the Bonaparte for location and price. Adrienne's recommendation of the Balcons might be another option. Reasonably priced and good location. I'll give all some thought. Another thing: (and not quite sure this matters) I've noticed the Bonaparte is listed in several reputable guidebooks.

Hi again Susan, just wondering what were you quoted for a single at the Dauphine? Looking back I paid 228 euros a night for five nights.

The reason I decided on the Dauphine is that I have a friend who had been there the previous year who was quite satisfied with her arrangements. I didn't want to take a chance with the unknown. But on this site, Ira and others will provide good suggestions.

Enjoy Paris...

Hi, LateDay. I just now wrote to the Dauphine (along with Balcons and Bonaparte). I know the rates mentioned on the sites; sometimes in emailing I get a slightly different rate. So I have it narrowed down to these three, unless someone else suggests another option I like. The Dauphine is the most expensive, but the location is wonderful. I will consider this, at least until the morning when I hear back from the hotels.

Thanks for taking the time to write. I've already booked my B&B in Bruges, where my trip begins.

Have you looked at any places on airbnb ?? Sometimes you can get an apt.

Hi BeniciaChris. No, I have not. I've decided I want the convenience of a hotel (at least this time).

I'm leaning in favor of Hotel Bonaparte due to the reviews I've read and Ira's comments. I want to hear the pipe organ concert at St. Sulspice, visit the Luxembourg gardens, the Cluny, Ile St. Louis, Rodin, Orangerie and Orsay. I believe I can do all of this on foot. Hopefully. I'll have no trouble finding line 69 bus for a trip up to visit Chopin's tomb.

I also want to get to Montmartre, Square d'Orleans (where Chopin and Sand lived) and Marmottan and I'm Metro phobic (I've never done it), but I'll figure it out -- or take a taxi or bus.

When you go to Pere Lachaise be sure to get a map from the information center so you can find Chopin's tomb. This is a huge cemetery.

Adrienne -- Yes, I've heard. I got lost on the virtual tour! I've considered hiring a guide for a "Chopin tour." It's pricey, though.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm

As for the Clement, I have stayed there several times as have many others and was fine with it. There are those who have stayed there more recently than I have as I rent apartments now, and they have also had positive comments. You can read the comments on my thread. And I agree with Latedaytraveler regarding some people giving bad reviews for what appears to be small things.

Happy Travels!

One bad review among many good ones, its as if I don't even see it, sorry some people whine about the stupidest things,, or things they should expect ( if you are staying in a place where the building is 200 euros old why on earth is someone surprised that the stairs are narrow , or that the elevator is small, its been retro fitted duh) . I also use TA reviews as part of my research and I read several pages of reviews to get a consensus, and decide what my personal standards are, sorry, when I read " the carpet in the breakfast room looked tired " and yet they are paying 100 euros per night I feel like smacking those posters.. you sometimes ( not always ) do get what you pay for... and lets keep in mind we do not live in hotels we sleep and change clothes in them. Clean, a/c for summer visits, and great location are all that matter to me , within my budget .

Thank you so much, Guenmai, for recommending the Clement. I'm considering it.

Yes, Justine, I know that some reviews expect luxury for 109E per night. I'm realistic, and also read all the positive reviews. The one very negative (and recent) review of the Clement was from someone who had stayed in the hotel a total of 4 times and loved it, but $3000 was stolen from the safe in the room. Why someone would travel with that much cash, when there are ATMs everywhere, is beyond comprehension. However, theft concerns me. If I leave anything valuable behind while sightseeing, I always lock it in my suitcase and have never had a problem.

Yet another poster said the hotel accidentally booked them twice, and then charged their credit card as a no show. After explaining the situation, the hotel refused to reimburse them.

I'm still considering the Clement, despite this, as it's a grade above Bonaparte and Balcons, but maybe not quite as nice as the Dauphine.

I stayed at the Clément in May of 2012 and a second time last month, March 5-10. I like it very much and think it is very good value for money, excellent location. My first stay was in a large double room, the second in a junior suite, both rooms of the junior suite were small. I thought the service and breakfast were excellent.

I would not want a room on the courtyard unless on a higher floor, too dark otherwise. Work was going on while I was there, I was advised of this when I booked. It was right next to my room but I heard virtually nothing, they started at 9:30 and were finished before I was back in the afternoon.

Hi Cathinjoetown -- I was offered an attic room on street side at the Clement for one person at 160E. I don't mind an attic room as long as it's fairly nice and the elevator is working.

I've never seen one of the attic rooms--could be hot although the hotel has AC. I would ask if it has a shower or bath if that is important. After the post about bad reviews on TA, I read all the negative reviews (total of 9 in lower two categories) and one was a negative review of an attic room that said it only had a sitz bath i.e. very small tub.

The rooms I had in '12 and last month (both on European first floor) had been very recently completely re-done including immaculate modern bathrooms, but I would query them closely.

Thank you, Cathinjoetown. I will do just that.

We have stayed at the Clement twice in the past, each time with two rooms. Both times, it was extremely hot in Paris, and both times one of the rooms we had (not attic room) was rather hot. Like Cathinjetownn, I wonder whether the attic room might be warm if you happen to have hot weather..

<but $3000 was stolen from the safe in the room>

That would not be a concern for me since I wouldn't have anything for anyone to steal.

True. I never use the safes, as I have nothing to put in them :-)

Digby-- I have written to the Clement asking if they have a first floor room or another room facing the street, rather than the attic.

susan,

Good idea.

I think the problem is you just have to be realistic about what you get for a budget hotel. And lots of people think the Bonaparte is shabby, I have heard that repeatedly, so I suspect the issue that a lot of people obviously would judge it that way. Ira doesn't, but I have heard that numerous times over many years.

I've added another possibility: Hotel des Grandes-Ecoles. Has anyone stayed at this one? It looks quite nice and has a garden setting. Near the Pantheon.

I have stayed there and would have recommended this hotel but you said you wanted to be in St-Germain. Hotel des Grandes-Ecoles is a very nice place with a garden and tables to sit at. You can bring back take out foods and eat dinner there or have your breakfast in the garden. The largest rooms are in the building across from reception.

Thanks, Adrienne. I just marked my Paris map with these hotel locations; Clement is the most central. I will write to Grandes-Ecoles and see what rate they submit. It's less central but the environment looks quite nice and the fact that one can bring take-out food and eat in the garden there is a plus.

<< Clement is the most central >>

It's no more central than the Bonaparte. They're very close to each other.

We stayed at Hotel des Grands Ecoles on our honeymoon many years ago and loved it. I have a friend who stayed there recently and loved it. However, I like the location of the Clement much better. You don't say when you are going, but Grands Ecoles does not have A/C.

Chaeck the hotels on Rue jacob we have stayed at The Millesime, the D'anglterre. the des Marroniers and at \the verneuil around the corner they are all excellent the danube is our favorie now as we love the staff and the rooms are larger. You'd have to check the current prices though as we now have an apt!!

Thank you Digbydog & Avalon. I'll definitely explore these options. And you are right, Adrienne. I guess the Clement is slightly more central, though.

I'm going in September. Hopefully AC won't be an issue then.

I had settled on the Dauphine, based on positive reviews, the location, and LateDayTraveler's experience (fellow English teacher). It's over budget, but I guess I wanted something charming. (Quoted rate 221 E per night, street side - quite a bit less than website says, and this is why I write.)

Then, the Clement wrote back this morning saying they could give me a renovated street side room for 160 E. So... I'm back to considering this (on first floor or high floor).

Thanks to everyone for suggestions. This will be my first time solo in Paris (I was there in '05 with a tour). I want the hotel to be convenient and charming.

I have stayed at the Dauphine (3 years ago) and the Clément last month.. I thought the Dauphine was nice but honestly not 61€ nicer than the Clément. In particular, I much preferred the lounge and breakfast room and quality of the breakfast at the Clément.. As far as location, you can't go wrong with either. They are very, very similar.

"susan001 on Apr 1, 13 at 3:18pm
" I just marked my Paris map with these hotel locations; Clement is the most central." The Clement and Bonaparte are about a 5-minute walk from each other. The Clement though is one block south of Blvd. St. Germain.

Happy Travels!

Thank you so much, Cathinjoetown & Guenmai. The one comment I read about Clement gave me pause. A traveler stated there is a soup kitchen right next to the Clement and due to this, some undesirable types on the street near the entrance. Cath, did you notice this? I may cancel with the Dauphine and book the other.

Thanks again, to everyone who commented here.

Yes, there is soup kitchen on the same street and a few (10-20) people queue up at lunch. I don't think it is open at night. I never thought about mentioning it because I didn't consider it threatening at all. It is very small and looks like a restaurant front.

Yeah, the soup kitchen is next door. However, its presence has never been an issue for me. I have never had any problems with the people at the soup kitchen and I travel alone and am out and about all day.

I'm used to being in skid row types of areas here in L.A., where the soup kitchen is located. Trust me, rue Clement is far from skid row.

Happy Travels!

Susan - you're way over thinking the hotel choice. You can have homeless people any place; the soup kitchen will not draw them. I remember a homeless man and his mattress moving around St-Germain, sleeping at different locations each night.