Paris hotels
 

Hotel des Grande Ecoles or Grand Hotel des Balcons? We're visiting Paris in November and want a clean room with a comfortable bed and a little ambiance in the 5th or 6th. Any chance of getting a non-smoking room? Which hotel is preferable? Thank you!

There are many posts on these two popular hotels. Just do a "search" in the text box above.<BR><BR>Both hotels are pretty good. However, I'd choose Grandes Ecoles for ambience over des Balcons. Grandes Ecoles while located in the 5th and des Balcons is located in the 6th, the Grandes Ecoles is situated in a garden setting away from the street.<BR><BR>Also I get more of a personal feel with Grandes Ecoles. I was thinking of staying there and couldn't in the end. However, the hotel had room available and offered to provide more food at breakfast if needed as they only serve a basic continental breakfast. I think that's thoughtful. In respects to breakfast, however, des Balcons is the best since they offer a lavish buffet.<BR><BR>I'm not sure about the non-smoking room for either hotel. Not too many hotels offer this in Paris. <BR><BR>If you want to stay at Grandes Ecoles in November you should contact them now as they accept reservation 3-4 months in advance.<BR><BR>Have a nice vacation!

My husband and I very much enjoyed our three night stay at Grandes Ecoles in Oct/00. We stayed in the garden building and had a good-sized, clean, and comfortable room with a full bathroom. If you do decide to stay there, ask about room size as I understand that a few of the rooms are quite small (3m x 3m). The hotel buildings are in a quiet setting with a garden courtyard. The hotel is conveniently located near three metro stops - also, within walking distance of Notre Dame, Jardin du Luxembourg, etc. I can't say enough about the place - highly recommended.<BR><BR>I'm not sure about a non-smoking room but its worth asking. I have found the manager to be very helpful and responsive via email and phone.<BR><BR>There is a great thread entitled "Back from 2 weeks in Paris...and our "loose game plan" worked!". The original poster provides a recommendation for Grandes Ecoles as well as nearby restaurant info. Its a great posting.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful trip!

I can't speak for the Balcons, but Grandes Ecoles was near-perfection when we stayed there for two weeks in May! If you book there, ask for a room NOT in the main buiding. Those rooms are smaller. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.<BR>Gina is correct, contact them right away, as the hotel tends to fill up fast.

We stayed at the Hotel des Grande Ecoles for several days in 2001. It's a delightful place and we liked the location except for nearby restaurant choices. The rooms are all charming, but vary greatly in size. The more you pay the bigger the room. There is a wonderful street market not far away.