ginabee

OK, after much assistance from this board - and failed reservation attempts at many of your kind recommendations, including Claude Bernaud, Central-St-Germain, and countless others...we have confirmed reservations at the Hotel Chomel.

It appears to be nice, conveniently located, clean - if not luxe. 140 euros per night.

We can also get a room at the Hotel Terminus Orleans, in the 14th district. Is is only 60 euros a night - reasonable reviews, RIGHT near a Metro stop. For four nights, we could use the 320 euros we save by staying there for some good eating!

I am shocked how little availability there is in the 5th/6th district while we are there - we have contacted at least 20 places thus far.

Thoughts? Everyone has been so incredibly helpful thus far...

Surlok

ginabee, since you thought of a more expensive accommodation, like the Residence des Arts, I guess you won't have to compromise on the hotel to afford a nice meal. Porte D'Orleans is not where I , and I think you too, would like to be in Paris. Go for the Chomel, it's a nice little hotel, in Saint Germain, whereas the Terminus is the periphery of central Paris.

Read reviews on the Chomel here, before making your mind up:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...de_France.html

ginabee

Surlok, thank you for your reply. Reviews appear to be good for the Chomel - clean, friendly, centrally located if small - and relatively consistent.

My husband and I plan to do lots of walking and "live like Parisians" so I think it will fit our needs nicely (and in honesty, 180 for the Residence des Arts was a stretch anyway - 140 is much more comfortable).

Thanks so much for everybody's help. We are looking forward to our days in Paris!

WillTravel

I suggested the 14th, but I also think Porte d'Orleans is further out than I would like to be.

Surlok

I think Hotel Chomel location is just perfect for what you and your husband want_ a neighborhood feel, as well as the proximity of the touristic sites. It's close enough to Musée D'Orsay, the Notre Dame, the Seine, the Luxembourg Gardens, and not at all with a heavy presence of tourists.

There's another, nicer, hotel, the Lidbergh, at Rue Chomel that might have available rooms. If you want to check it out:

http://perso.club-internet.fr/linhotel/

You'll be a block or so from Le Bon Marche, which has a wonderful grocery store, Le Grande Epicerie, as well as a very nice "brasserie". It's a much more "French" magasin than are the Galleries Lafayette or Le Printemps. Le Bon Marché address is 38, Rue de Sévres, and Le Grande Épicerie is at 24, Rue de Sévres.

http://www.lagrandeepicerie.fr/index_en.asp