Traveling to paris with two children, age 3 and 6... only 3 night prefer not an apartment, looking for good location, safe, clean, prefer modern type design hotels but as you know hard to find one room w/ 4people althought the 3 yr. old could share a bed. Any reccomendations. Price range beween 200-400 USD ... a suite would be ok

Look for hotels with "chambres communicantes," two rooms, each with a bathroom, with an adjoining hall.

The two hotels I normally stay at in Paris, the Hôtel de France and the Duquesne-Eiffel, both have such rooms. I think each of them also has a quad room.

You might look at this hotel:
http://www.hotellabourdonnais.fr/eng/reservations/

In the 7th, great neighborhood, very close to the Ecole Militaire metro and the Eiffel Tower. I have not stayed here but have read great reviews of it from families who have.

I think you may have to give up on modern in order to get the room configuration you want in your budget. and to me 2 comunicating rooms - so the kids can got to bed while you stay up - is by far the best option.

Oh yeah, I missed the modern-type design bit. Sorry, don't know of hotels like that - never stay in them by design; only end up in them sometimes if they seem like the best deal for where and when I'm going. Don't even know any Paris hotels like that.

About 10 years ago, we stayed a the Residence Henri IV on Rue de Bernardins near the Sorbonne. We had 2 rooms that had a tiny kitchenette and a very modern bathroom (the hotel itself was not otherwise modern). It's on a very quiet street. It was great due to the two rooms - not two connecting rooms (which would have two entrances I guess), but two rooms with one entrance. As I recall, the front room had a futon, and the other room had two singles, but I think they might have other configurations. The neighborhood is wonderful.

Le Meridien Montparnasse has two queen beds...

lisa357 - The Ibis chain has great deals over weekends and they are scattered all around Paris.
We like the one at La Defense which is 8-10 min by metro from the Champs Elysees.
On top of the metro station is a wide expanse of concreted modern garden with a view towards the Arc de Triomphe. We saw families with kids running around letting off steam!

You could give Le General (http://www.legeneralhotel.com/) in the 11th a go. Not sure of their prices at the moment, as I stayed there around this time last year but know that they have triple rooms/suites that are reasonably priced.

It should hopefully also fulfil your modern design criterion (I can't bear chintzy, olde worlde hotels either).

It's just a short walk from the Marais, but also near Republique metro and there are a couple of nice squares with play areas for your kids (one of which is built on a section of the canal St. Martin that was reclaimed, I believe) where they'll be able able to burn off the Nutella...

I think it's pretty easy to find modern hotels in Paris, in fact, many of them have modern decor when people would prefer something more traditional. However, the modern tyep "design" hotel means high-end boutique ones, and I think that's the problem. There are not a lot of them that would have a family room or two connectings rooms at that budget -- that's the problem. That's only about 300 euro, and that's pushing it, so expecting two standard double rooms at that price in a high-end boutique design hotel is just not going to happen.

I do have a couple suggestions, though. These are all modern. The Hotel du Cadran in the 7th may be your best best www.cadranhotel.com

They have what they call a afamily room at 300 euro and that is two connecting doubles. The hotel I often stay at has redecorated to be Art Deco (I prefered the older traditional, but it's nice know and does have fancy schmancy flat screen TVs which are nice) and they have suites and even a 2-bedroom apt. that might fit that budget. that is www.paris-hotel-aiglon.com It is not high-end designer boutique, though. They do have a suite for 280 euro on their website and you might fit the little one in on that. Their apt. which I know would work (I've toured it, it is two full bedrooms and a living room) is also about 300 euro. I don't know if they've redone that, probably by now.

The hotel Le Walt in the 7th is the style you want www.hotel-lewalt.com and does have doubles in your range (about 157 euro for a std.) so you've have to ask if they have two communicating.

I think there are some others that would have that, but not at that budget -- I mean not the high-end boutique designer stuff at that budget. YOu could get a room at the 4* Holiday Inn Republique which has two double beds and is a historic monument, and would be cheaper than that, but it's not high-end boutique-y. It's a convenient location, though, and actually is modern decor inside, so that might be the kind of thing you'd like. You can get some good rates on their website
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/350/fr/hpt/PARDL

I think maybe the HI Republique or the Cadran might work best for what you want.

We have stayed at the Cadran, in a double room, and the staff is WONDERFUL. Also v. close to the Metro and all of the shops on Rue Cler (and a laverie and yummy ice cream shop right at the end of the block!).

A good family spot.

I just looked at the website for the Cadran and it looks like it might fit the bill for you (and for me in the future!). Modern, clean design, and they have a "family room". Be sure to scroll to the second set of prices, not the "public" price list. I just googled "cadran hotel paris" to find it.

HOWEVER, I looked at the "travelers photos" on TripAdvisor and not all the rooms are "modern", so just be aware of that if you decide you're interested in this hotel. (Very good reviews on TA though).