Paris: Hotel Claude Bernard or Residence des Arts?
 

Just rec'd a recommendation for Hotel Claude Bernard in the Latin Quarter for a few days in September - it is one of the few with availability at just over 100 euros a night. Looks quite good for the price!

More expensive, but glorious looking, is the Residence des Arts - studios at 180, including a kitchenette. This appears to be a residence, without hotel services - OK with us since we'd rather venture to the market for breakfast/lunch anyway.

Anyone have any firsthand experience at either? Or additional recommendations?

There is a trade show when we are in Paris, so availability in the 5th/6th district is very limited.

We stayed at Claude Bernard in 1998 and were pleased for the price.

We stayed at the Claude Bernard in August 2003. It was just fine- good location, A/C, elevator, very helpful staff and nice rooms. Not glamorous - kind of a shabby chic I guess. If you go to their website, we had the room pictured. Excellent location and close to Notre Dame, Pantheon, Sorbonne, two or three metro stops, etc. We had a quad room - very good sized, large enough bathroom and nice closet - also had a small fridge.

About Residence des Artists: we stayed there last October, based upon pictures on their web site and comments on this board.
It was a big mistake. The place is a disaster. The people who own it have opened a hotel across the street, and clearly all their time, effort, and money goes there!
When we finally found the "residence",and that in itself was a trick, we couldn't get in. The door was locked, and though there is a small desk in the lobby no one was there then, or at any time during our stay (which we cut short). If I hadn't known that they owned the place across the street I would be still standing there trying to get in.

We had one of the suites that you described (supposedly the best in the place), and it was small, dark, seedy and depressing. We never even considered using the "kitchenette" as there was no place to sit and eat. Our baggage had to go on the coffee table as there was no other place to put it. I don't know why it has the star rating it does unless the gov't hasn't inspected it lately.

If nothing else, I learned not to base my selection of a hotel on pictures on a web site. It's hard to believe how deceiving they can be!

I'm going right back to the Red Michelin Guide which I used successfully for years,
and recommendations from friends.

IN the Latin Quarter, I stayed at the Hotel Central Saint Germain...It is a good hotel for its location and the prices are very interesting too. Maybe have a look on their site: www.centralstgermain.com...You will discover a little bit more of what they offer...and if they have rooms available for the period you want to come in Paris...Have a good trip!

Note to Lynfrance above:

Government star ratings are based on measurable criteria: having an elevator or not, size of lobby, number of rooms with private bathrooms, etc. The stars have nothing to do with the style or level of decor or whether or not there is space to open or store your luggage in the room.

I seriously doubt that the gov't would award hotel stars to an establishment whose front doors were always locked (requiring a code to enter) and whose lobby never, at any time, had anyone in attendance!

I was not suggesting that the stars were awarded on room decor or size.

Stayed at the Claude Bernard during my first trip to Paris in 1999. My room was on the 1st floor(2nd here in US)overlooking Rue des Ecoles. A picture postcard view of the Latin Quarter. Great, great location. Friendly staff and very good continental breakfast. Didn't use the sauna so no comment on that. Noisy location so if you want quite nights ask for a room at the back of the hotel. Also, a busy early morning delivery street - that means trucks - that means diesel fumes. Can't leave the french doors open in the morning. I'd say book it. You won't be sorry. Try to eat at the Brassarie Balzar right down the street-the lemon tart has world renown.

Stayed at the Claude Bernard a few years ago. Had a corner room on a high floor -- 4th or 5th I think, no extra charge maybe because we were staying 10 days. French doors, extra window, view of Notre Dame, cable TV, not fancy but OK furniture, minibar where we kept our own fruit vegs cheese for picnics, good bathroom. The staff was friendly. The breakfast was better and had more than than the usual Parisian bread jam coffee. Nearby market 3 days a week, and plenty of food shops near Metro, neighborhood restaurants were good, walk to Cluny, Notre Dame, etc. Fully recommend this place.