Hello dear Fodories,
thank you to those who provided great help and advise to my post and question on Loire Valley chateau to stay. I finally booked Chateau de Perroux(spelling?).
Now I am trying to book hotel in Paris for 2 people in September (coming soon, I know), and here is my question.
I am trying to find a hotel that is centrally located and is truly a 4 star hotel in essence in terms of appearance, service, atmosphere, but may not have that number of stars on the front only because it doesn't have all the facilities. We would like to be in a hotel where rooms and bathrooms are NOT small, furniture and bathrooms are in good shape, where they don't try to pass shabby furniture and worn out look for the old-world charm. The actual number of stars doesn't concern me, I understand that star rating has its own rules and tricks.
But what we are looking for is a great location and a great hotel, preferably a small or medium size as it feels more personal there. not hung up on big chains. Budget is around $250.
thanks in advance

Given your requirements and your budget, I think the big chains, most likely American ones, will be the primary ones that will suit you.

The star rating system isn't that quirky, I doubt if you will find what you want in a 3* hotel (you definitely would not in a 2*). Mainly because of talking about the service that you want (what do you mean by that? just nice, competent people or you want things like room service, bell boys, concierge, etc?) You can certainly get furniture and bathrooms in good shape at 3* hotels (they may be in good shape in a 2*, but not many are very stylish or upscale, so furniture that is particle board and modern may be in terrific shape but won't be the "atmosphere" you say you want).

I'll admit I've never been in a 3* hotel in Paris that sounds like what you are expecting, even though I've been in ones that I think are pretty nice for me. I haven't been in the Madison in St Germain, but some folks like it a lot and it is only a 3*, but I don't think it is that cheap.

I think your budget may be too low for what you expect (that is only about 170 euro, which is now about the rate for many ordinary 3* hotels in Paris) during peak season rates, which is what September is. For example, I was going to suggest the 3* Hotel des Saints Peres in the 7th as maybe acceptable to you, but that's their low season rate.

I like the hotels in the Esprit de France management group, and do often stay at one. They are nice 3* to 4* (Hotel des Saints Peres is one of them), you could try their website. The Mansart might be possible at that rate. The Brighton is more like 200 euro.

You will be lucky to find just a good hotel for September at this time in that price range, the best values and best hotels in the best locations will probably already be booked up.

Well, that's about 170 Euros, and I would be very surprised if you find a hotel in Paris with your requirements even close to that price range.

We really liked the Hotel des Saints Peres when we stayed there in May of 1998. We paid $225, right around the price you say that you would like to pay now when we stayed there then (pre-Euro!), so it does not sound very likely to be able to get a room there within your budget.

Here are a few links to ideas for more stylish, interesting, non-worn-out hotels in Paris:

http://www.selecthotel.fr/fr_content/hotel.php

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tra...cle3284049.ece (my favorite in the article is the Bonne Nuit - www.bonne-nuit-paris.com)

http://gridskipper.com/65988/excelle...paris#pointmap

My Wife & I have stay in a Hotel that is about 3 blocks from the Eiffle Tower on a Market street- Rue Cler by the name of Grand Hotel Leveque and we just love it. The street does come to life early with the venders putting their wares out but you can get a room in the back and avoid the noise from that but we like the atmosphere from that also.I think you can get a double for about 110 or so Euros a night if I'm not mistaken. We love it and if you do you will go back again and again. If you want to go to their site at grandhotelleveque.com and check your dates & rates.

But the poster is looking for NOT SMALL rooms. THAT, to me, is the big issue. The Grand Hôtel Leveque and a zillion others of its type are wonderful, but I don't think the poster is going to be pleased with the size of the rooms. If he/she wants big rooms, she's not going to find them at the kind of hotels that the average Fodorite likes to stay at in Paris.

NOT small, what is small? I had a place in Jackson Hole try to tell me that a broom closet was a small room once when they had given away our paid room ( four nights ) by check that had cleared two months before that I had the canceled check with me with the receipt. This broom closet was 6'by 10' and came with a cot. Now that's small.If you have not been there don't judge. If you want a suite, ask for a suite.The poster ask for help not what she doesn't need. I just told her about the Hotel, it's up to her to make up her own mind by asking the Hotel about the size of the rooms & she is doing it quite late. I think that the big chains are OK for some people if you want to compromise on where you are & pay for no atmoshere at all but I have done it & probably do it again, but not without trying my hardest not to. Sorry to go on but!

I don't know why you're railing at me, RONREYN. I just made my 105th trip to Paris and I think I have a pretty good clue about what hotel rooms there are like. The poster said, in effect, she wanted big rooms. The vast majority of Paris hotel rooms aren't big my American standards, and the ones in the Grand Hôtel Leveque sure aren't, at least the ones I've seen.

For what she wants, within her budget, I maintain she's best off at some big American chain hotel. If she asks for a suite at some typical Parisian hotel, it'll be over her budget.

Read her requirements before you go making suggestions that don't fit the bill and getting all huffy.

I'm not railing at you. I'm just telling you to give advice not to dumb on other posters advice , unless it's just plain wrong. I did this on purpose to show you what I meant. I gave advice to the original poster not to you. If you go to Paris 10,000 times this still will not give you the right to tell me how to give my advice. Give your own advice.I did read what she ask for and she ask for a NOT small room and as far as You are a mind reader and know she meant a room as big as a Suite(that's what I meant) and not a tiny room like the one I a unknowing common person recommended. I only have been to Paris ten times and have had stayed in six different hotels and found that evan the American Hotels that were suppose to have larger rooms and be so great were not what they were cracked up to be. I was looking at the fact that she was looking for a great location & a great hotel. Preferably a small or medium size as they feel more personal and she isn't hung up on big chains. Now I'm sorry you feel railed on but remember give advice to the poster not to others that are also giving the said same advice. You don't have to agree with it.

ST.CIRQ: Could you please respond to my post regarding Marriott Hotels in Paris? I know those aren't what you prefer, but we are trying to use our Marriott points for this portion of our trip. We like to walk, use the Metro, so it isn't absolutely essential that we're in the midst of the big tourist items, but we wouldn't mind, either. Our usual hotels are small, local if possible, and not always in touristy places. We're into WWII sites and do a lot of places that are out of the way. Still, any help on these hotels and plusses or minuses would be helpful. And from your posts, I know you are very knowledgeable about Paris. Thanks in advance.

whether the Grand Levecque is small or not and what the OP expects on size, it is not remotely a 4* hotel in service and style and atmosphere and service, and I can't imagine how a hotel of that level would be what the OP is expecting. That is what you may get for that price (the GL is probably a bit cheaper), but it is not remotely like a 4* hotel in terms of appearance and atmosphere. Yes, I've seen it and its rooms. I stay in a moderate 3* hotel I find very nice, but wouldn't suggest it for those criteria, even though I think it has slightly above avg. size rooms (if you book the superior). Even the 3* hotel I often stay at is now charging around 170 euro for the basic level in high season, though.

I think the request is just not realistic. It may be realistic for a 2* hotel, or even some 3* hotels, but not for 4* hotels or ones that seem like 4*.

I think Priceline maybe be a good idea.

Kiramoli - You will need to change your criteria. There is absolutely no way you will get a four star hotel in Paris with a large room for 169 Euros. Zero possibility.

We have stayed at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles several times and had large rooms that were attractively furnished. The last room we had was 128 euros per night and overlooked the pretty terrace. Had a huge Beech Tree just outside our window. Room as well as bathroom done in yellow toile--very French and had much more character and charm than a chain type hotel room. HGE is *** and convenient to Metro, restaurants, Notre Dame, etc.

Levecque would be the LAST hotel I'd think of to fit the criteria listed!! LOL