Michaellip

Guenmai: Now I can't decide. Le Clement, Bonaparte or Welcome. Do you have any thoughts. Welcome is the cheapest. We can only stay 7 nights on this trip.

Thanks Mike

danon

you might look into renting an apt.,
if you are staying 7 nights!

For 150 euros ( or less) you'll have more room and the kitchen.

ekscrunchy

I know you don't need to be confused even more so I will not mention additional options, but I do concur with Tod's recommendation of Hotel Grandes Ecoles. Prices range from 110-135 plus 8 Euro for breakfast. It is in a good area in the 5th.

Michaellip

ekscrunchy: It does look very nice, but we are partial to the area around rue de buci. We stayed in the 5th many years ago and it was not as convenient for us. We like to come back to the Hotel in the late afternoon and relax before going out to dinner. We then stay in the area to eat. We have found many good restaurants with-in a easy walk.

Thank you,
Mike

aliska

We stayed for a week at the Hotel Clement in Dec 2004 as it was one of the few hotels that offered a triple and actually we put 4 people in this room for a couple of nights. The breakfast room was extra, but we didn't find this a problem. There is a wonderful bakery/boulangerie a few steps away, I believe the name is Fabien le Doux. There is a Brioche Doree across the street in the shopping mall and a Paul's within 5-10 minute walk. We had a room facing Rue Clement, which is a very quiet street. We liked the neighborhood very much, much activity going on but our hotel was quiet. You are less than a 5 min walk to Monoprix, the Target of Paris. Although there was not a fridge in the room, we managed to store some fruit and drinks on the wide ledge outside our room. The hotel was extremely clean, they were very accommodating with cleaning our room as late as we needed (had teenagers with us), the concierge made reservations for us with restaurants. They have the smallest elevator I have ever seen, but I understand that is typical of Paris. We didn't care about the small room, as it was a place to sleep or dress, we spent all our free time roaming the city.

scatcat

I stayed at the Hotel Bonaparte in September per Ira's recommendation. I was quite pleased with it. We had the more expensive room which I'm guessing is more spacious. We also had a fridge. The toilet was separate from the bathtub-shower. I REALLY liked all the shops that are all around the hotel. A Monoprix is only a couple of blocks away. I went shopping while the others were resting. I don't like to nap or rest during the day. So this location was perfect for me to occupy myself.

aliska

Here is some info I gave to another poster regarding the area:

"We stayed at the Hotel Clement in December 2004. We enjoyed our stay there but be aware that like most hotel rooms in Europe they are VERY small. It is located on a fairly quiet street one block off Blvd. St. Germain and convenient to 2 different metro stops at Mabillon & St. Germain des Pres. We also used the bus. We walked from there to the Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre. We chose it for the location and because we needed a large room for 4 of us. We found the room very tiny but very clean. We did not take the breakfast there as it was 10E each and there were 4 of us. There is a terrific boulangerie a few steps away called Fabien Ledoux. We also enjoyed the Marche St. Germain across the street. DH thinks he saw Catherine Deneuve shopping (we all need dreams). Other neighborhood restaurants we enjoyed included Chez Fernand. We also liked le Relais d'Entrecote, basically a steak and french fries bistro behind Cafe Flore off the Blvd. St. Germain. There is a great little pizza place next to the Hotel Clement I think it is called Golfe di Napoli. We didn't care for Cafe Vesuvio, very weird atmosphere and the food was marginal IMHO. Be careful stopping for a snack at the big cafes on Blvd. St. Germain. We stopped to people watch and have 2 plain ice creams that cost $20 because we didn't ask the price in advance. There is also a Monoprix (the Target of Paris with a grocery store!) a few minutes away if you want to buy snacks or drinks to keep in your room. There are lots of great places in the neighborhood. We loved sitting in a cafe on the Blvd. St. Germain and people watching."

ekscrunchy

Mike: If you are not already tres confused, take a look at:

http://www.hotel-marronniers.com/fra...page-menu.html

Guenmai

Michaellip...Deifinitely go to the Hotel le Clement. I stayed at the Welcome for several years since I wanted to stay in the neighborhood. I then made friends with the hotel manager there. She was a few years younger than I was then and we used to hang out. She even visited me in L.A. We became very close friends and I even stayed with her and her father at their apartment a few times.
The Welcome is very cramped and noisy. But, I stayed there so long because of the price and because of my friend, the manager and I could easily get a room. When I was ready to move out of the Welcome, she went with me, after she got off from work, to various hotels in the area and introduced herself and told them that I was looking for a new home away from home. They handed us keys and we checked out rooms at a LOT of hotels in the area. She said that she really felt that I would like the Hotel le Clement the best. I hadn't heard of it, but we went over and checked it out and liked it...especially due to the quiet street/square that it's on. So I moved in in early 2000. Get a room on a high floor...5th or 6th...and facing the street if possible. I've had both front rooms and back of the hotel rooms. It's not that noisy to be on the front as the hotel is not on a main street. I always take foam earplugs to Paris anyway as I'm a light sleeper. So, I'd pay the extra and go to the Clement.
It's so funny, I think that in this month's issue of my Departures magazine, I think it was, they list two hotels in Paris and one was the Clement. I almost choked. I thought that now it's probably going to be even harder to get a room. The word is really out. Smiles. Happy Travels!

grandmere

Agree with Guenmai; the Welcome is very noisy b/c of its location.

I stayed at the Marronniers for 3 days during my recent trip, and was pleasantly surprised. I'd not been there in many years, and they have become much more friendly and helpful, IMO. Wonderful location. I was solo, and the price was just about the same as for lesser hotels (think I paid ~110 euro) but for doubles, the prices increase substantially.

Christina

Welcome is the cheapest for a reason. The noise may not be too bad if you book the very top floor, I've heard. I can't remember what kind of room that is, but this hotel isn't that great from what I've read (and I've read reviews from people who've stayed there). It is cheap, you do have that.

I can see how the Clement being right in front of Marche St Germain might be noisier than the Bonaparte, although neither is on the main blvd like Welcome.

Guenmai

Christina...I stayed in many rooms at the Welcome and stayed in the attic-looking room on the top floor for years. They were all horrendously noisy. The Clement is not like that.
Grandmere...I agree about the Marronniers...I haven't stayed there, but it is quite nice. The same abovementioned friend of mine, who managed the Welcome, also managed the Marronniers. I used to drop by there a lot. It's owned by the same family that owns the Hotel de Seine and the Welcome unless things have changed. My friend introduced me to the owner, one day, when he dropped into the Welcome to take care of some business. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Cherikem...I really think you should look into vacationinparis.com. I've reserved an apartment on rue St.Andres des Arts which is the street that rue Buci dumps into. I will have a 40 square meter loft apartment...apartment #122. It's about the same price as Hotel Le Clement with much more space. And the apartment was completely renovated in 2004, I think it was. Vacationinparis.com is located in New Jersey and has been very easy to deal with. I only had to send a $300. deposit and then in January will pay the balance of $1202....since I'll be there in March. So, $1502. for 7 nights. Happy Travels!

francophile03

Thank you Guenmai for your helpful comments especially about Le Clement. I’ve kept an eye on this hotel for a while now and thought it offers really good rates considering its location. Thanks as well for the Vacation in Paris link.

Guenmai

You're welcome. Happy Travels!

ira

Hi Mike,

For 150E you get a bigger room.

We have been perfectly happy with the 128E rooms.

Double bed, separate bathroom, mini fridge, armoir, table and 2 chairs, fireplace with mantle.

Some have a little balcony that you can climb out on for a better view or a smoke.