All of the hotels suggested were great and there are definitely some I'd like to try next time but I had a very specific idea of what I wanted and the Hilton Paris Opera completely fitted that bill. We had already had a few nights in Paris staying in a friend's place so by the time we got to the hotel, the location close to the large department stores was ideal as we had done a considerable amount of sightseeing and I, for one, was ready for a little mooch in the shops.
Grand lobby/ bar tick, good size rooms tick, close ish location for Gare de L'Est tick. We were right to have some concerns about transportation. Traffic was a nightmare in Paris and it took us 1 hour to get from the hotel to the train station (2.6km). Another couple of the train had had their driver take them to the wrong train station . They missed the departure time of 16.10 and arrived in Gare de L'est at 16.30. Fortunately for them, there was a technical issue and departure had been delayed by 40 mins and they made it- just. They asked what would have happened had they not made it on time and were told that they would have been put on a TGV to catch up. They would have arrived on the train 6 hours later!! Anyway, it all worked out for everyone and we had the absolute best time.

Wonderful! Thank you for reporting back.

Hi Callin Deas,
Just saw your post re a 'posh hotel' in Paris near Gare L'Est. Check out Hotel Mademoiselle.--we stayed there in 2022-and I'm very picky. It's neat, clean, very comfortable/not noisy (request a quiet room) and reasonable. The staff is courteous, speaks English fluently and helpful. Really it surprised me. The lady at the desk actually walked w/me to the corner store and helped me find toiletries (bc my French is only 'un peu'.)

Hotel Mademoiselle
https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

CailinDeas, I'd love to see a new thread where you would do a trip report on the Orient Express experience. 😀

Yes, please do a TR on the Orient Express.

Yes indeed. I must do a trip report. I decided not to take notes or too many photos as I wanted to actually sit back and enjoy and engage with the experience but will definitely do something. Thanks again for all the help.