Hi newman,

I don't know that one but I've stayed at both The D'Aubusson and the Lux Parc this past year which you were considering before (don't know how I missed this post but I have been traveling alot).

I always obsess over where to stay because unlike many Fodorite's when I'm in a special city I want a special place to stay. Especially if traveling with my husband, as nothing kills romance for me like a dingy or depressing room with questionable bed coverings...

And I've stayed also at the Marriott's Renaissance Paris Vendome (a boutique hotel just around the corner from the lovely Place Vendome)

(On a return from 3 days in Normandy my daughter and I switched from Renaissance Paris Vendome to the Duminy Vendome across the street for about half the price - it was nostalgia as I'd stayed there on my very first European trip as a young single gal 25 years ago. It was a bit dingy, but not too bad, and we used the savings for a fantastic dinner out. Plus we got to see a lot of a different neighborhood which is always fun.)

Do you want feedback on any of these?

So glad you are out of Champs... my kids do love it there though;)

gruezi

If anyone does stay in the new Hotel Vincent, I hope they post it on the Hotel thread I just started up. I'm trying to get as much hotel info on two, central threads, as possible. It takes too much time to pull up all of these individual posts on different threads.

Lots of times friends ask me for info and they might want to stay on the right bank although I'm a left bank person. I really can't recommend right bank hotels for them. But, if they're listed on one thread then they, along with others, could just print the whole page and then decide. Happy Travels!

Please everybody - stop enabling our poor OP! :)

newmanparker: Yes you are <u>most definitely</u> obsessing. I've see less angst over which house to buy. You have gotten tons and TONS of great input/advice. The more properties you ask about the more &quot;crazy making&quot; it will be.

Don't get upset when folks say things like you are obsessing. we are looking at your various posts/threads and you are just confusing your self and are bound to over-analyze things until you won't be happy anywhere.

I knew you were over the edge when I saw you &quot;bookmarked&quot; this thread. Bookmarking is a way (not really recommended) to put a tag on a thread so later you can find it by clicking on you own name. So far you have posted 38 times on this thread so bookmarking is the <i>least</i> of your problems . . . .

Obsessing? I haven't looked at this for weeks. If you don't care to put anything positive in my post,then don't waste your time. I only want positive opinions. Maybe you travel all the time, therefore where you stay is not an issue. Well, it is to me.

what do u recommend gruezi?

I'll try to be brief...

The location of Aubusson for a first time trip to Paris is really wonderful. Esp. if you will not be there in spring or summer and want to be close to things in bad weather. We stayed there during a November transit strike and walked everywhere. Plus it's a really fun neighborhood with lots of restaurants and boutiques. The lobby is tired, the breakfast service poor although well-stocked, the bedroom was fine with very nice linens, Hermes amenities in the bathroom, but a bit dark and needing some new more cheerful upholstery (all very dark emerald green) - we had the upgraded room so it was spacious enough. Concierge was excellent. There is a jazz bar if that interests you. You won't feel like you got a bargain that's for sure, but you will be fine here.

Luxembourg Parc is in a pretty spot but perhaps not as central to as many tourist sights so will require a bit more walking. Our room and bathroom were charmingly and romantically decorated and very fresh, bright and cheerful. I stayed with my daughter there, and the beds were teeny tiny twins but we're small so that was okay. I liked the room and bath much better than Aubusson, but not the location. Breakfast was just okay and concierge service not as professional, but the price was better by a bit.

Renaissance Vendome was in a more upscale and establishment kind of neighborhood and so we enjoyed seeing a different side of the city. The hotel is pretty newly refurbished and has a kind of businessman feel. Couldn't get too excited about that, but it was bright, clean and comfortable and I liked the location. Cost was comparable to Aubusson.

The Duminy Vendome, directly across the street from the Marriott is a bit tired, but a great price for this neighborhood. I bet you could find other better recommendations here on Fodor's for a 3 star with perhaps more recently renovated rooms. It had the same baths as when I stayed 25 years ago, and when you used the shower the whole place flooded. Would not use this for a romantic week with my spouse but would for a quick getaway on my own.

I'm still looking for the perfect hotel in Paris. I will probably try something new again next trip.

(My husband did once treat me to 2 nights at the 4 Seasons and I absolutely loved it, but I actually didn't love that neighborhood and couldn't feel comfortable with dining there (you know like a drink or burger at the bar) as it seemed a bit sinly to pay the prices they ask. Of course, I'd go back again in a minute if he offered, but you do need a Santa-sized bag of money to stay there or eat there.)

Good luck Newman. Hope I haven't completely confused you now!!!

Can't wait to hear what you decided and what you thought.

Last piece of advice - go with low expectations and then hopefully be pleasantly surprised. Worse way to ruin a romantic trip is to be disappointed in things like the room or a dinner out.

gruezi

A belated post regarding our stay last month at the Bellechasse. It was wonderful. We had a twin room (my daughter and I) that overlooked the courtyard. It was large (by Paris standards) and the bathroom was huge and particularly good for two women and our hair and make up requirements. The staff is so friendly and the decor is like walking into a dreamland.

Location was great. Basically half a block (or less) behind the D'Orsay and one and a half blocks from the Solferino station.

We walked down University every night to find a new, exciting place for dinner.

Although I understand some rooms are quite small, we had a &quot;Privilege&quot; class room and it was just lovely and roomy.

&quot;<i> If you don't care to put anything positive in my post,then don't waste your time. I only want positive opinions.</i>&quot;

Sorry - but you don't get to say who can/can't post and whether every single post is from Little Mary Sunshine or Pollyanna. It simply doesn't work that way. You post and we answer. But in your case you have now posted 40+ times to this thread and asked about at least 15 different hotels.

Sorry again - but that IS the definition of obsessing. By fretting so much about just <i>the</i> right property you almost guarantee that something about your final choice will disappoint you. No hotel will survive this sort of nit picking and you are bound to second guess where you end up . . . .

Sorry yet again - you have picked a fine hotel and booked it - but now are looking for still more opinions/options. You are simply confusing yourselves (is your wife as OC about all this?)

&quot;<i>If you don't care to put anything positive in my post,then don't waste your time. I only want positive opinions.&quot;</i>

I just looked over some of your other contributions - you post some pretty negative things yourself - like telling one person looking for help to forget about going to Europe and stay home since the economy is tanking. So a bit of pot calling kettle . . . . . . . .

WE WANT SOMETHING NICE AND &quot;FRESH&quot; ,NOT STALE AND STUFFY.........

Hi Janis,

I know it would be odd to some, but for others the planning and obsessing is actually half the fun of the trip.

I'm married to a guy who sometimes spends so much time obsessing, he actually thinks he took the trip even though we never left our home!

gruezi

newmanparkerF~ I've not been following your thread and my comment is small but I think a valid one.

Paris is huge, so it's easier if you first decide on which arrondisement(s) you wish to stay in &amp; research only those hotels. It will make this entire process less stressful with better results.

Makes sense. I thought about the 1st, but then I read that it is quite &quot;business like&quot; in that area.. with a lack of cafes, etc. so we are leaning towards the 6th.

As a rather obsessive hotel picker myself, I'd suggest you go with D'Aubusson and MOVE ON. If you're like me, you're always going to question your choice and wonder if the one down the street was just a little better... I do understand, believe me, but this is getting to be a bit much.

It's Paris. You've made a reservation at a really lovely hotel. Move on to planning what you'll do while you're OUTSIDE the room!!!

Stopped reading all the responses so sorry if this dupes anything else, but we passed by on Ave. Montaigne the following hotel on our most recent trip:

Hotel Plaza Athenee Paris, www.plaza-athenee-paris.com

Every window had a box filled with red geraniums! It looked really cool and was just up the street from a great place to people and valet watch, L'Avenue. Very expensive place and area I'm thinking but with your hotel budget, you might find a fit. About a 15 minute walk to Champs. Yes, it's became a cliche but everyone should walk down it once and think about WWII and how the world has changed.

the plaza looks great, but the rates are high... 700eur per night! any other suggestions?

Why don't you just book yourself into the Ritz and be done with it. You can probably get the Coco Chanel Suite.
Honestly. Are you worried about any other aspects of your trip? Or are you planning to spend the whole time in your room?

Have you stayed there? Would you recommend it?

Please keep going, I'm getting such a laugh out of this!!

How about Relais St. Germain--great location and hotel guests get priority at their restaurant Le Comptoir which usually has lines stretching down the street.

Let me check their website, it might be a good choice.