Paris Hotels
 

This forum has been tremendously helpful to my efforts to find a good inexpensive hotel in London, and I now wish to tap into the same generosity to find one in Paris. From previous forum discussions I began with a list of 22 hotels that fodorites seem to have liked, which quickly expanded to 30 because some hotels are linked with others on a common website (e.g. Chopin/le Bretonniere, Sorbonne/Henry IV/des Grand Hommes), while others share a common name (e.g. there are 2 de Nevers and 2 Excelsiors).

For some reason – probably because I got my original list from only 3 earlier threads – I expected all hotels on my list to be similar in price and standard, but such is not the case. However this is a good thing, because it helps me to shorten my list (by eliminating those that are outside my price range). Using tripadvisor reviews is of some help, but can add to confusion because the same hotel can receive widely differing remarks from different people.

I used the price I paid for London (which was a little more than I had budgeted) as a guide for Paris. So I am looking at a maximum of €100 a night for a double room with shower and WC. The hotels from my research list of 30 that fall within this figure are:

Chopin
de Nevers (both of them – one in rue du Bac (7e) and one in rue de Malte (11e).
des Grand Balcons (actually €110, but looks too good not to leave on the shortlist).
du Lys
du Septieme Art
Excelsior (the one in the Latin Qtr 5e).
Jeanne d’Arc
le Regent
Royal Phare

There are others that might fit, but whether they do or not is unclear. Places like Claude Bernard, Familia, Monge, all quote a range of rates, but do not adequately describe the difference between a room at the top of the range and a room at the bottom of the range.

It may help to know that we have been to Paris before, but have always in the past stayed in outer areas (Cergy-Pontoise, Villeparisis, Louvres etc) because on those occasions we have had a car and didn’t want to drive in the city centre. This is our first chance to experience the city at night, and while we’re not into nightclubs (we’re a mature-aged couple), we are looking to make the most of the evening atmosphere, cafes, bars, strolling around, etc.

Grateful for any comments you can offer on the above (or other) choices.

Just posted this recommendation to another poster.
Hotel Familia, 11 Rue des Ecoles, 75005, www.familiahotel.com

Double with shower/wc 104 euros, with balcony 114 euros, deluxe double 124 euros. Includes breakfast and taxes. Has a/c, lift, mini fridge, located in Latin Quarter, walking distance to Notre Dame, convenient to metro and bus systems. We (another "mature couple") stayed there last year and have booked again for next September. Very pleased with accommodations and location.

I really don't know the exact difference between the rooms. We stayed in the double with balcony last time, but this time, to save euros, we're staying in the double without balcony @104. It couldn't be much smaller than the one with balcony. All Paris hotel rooms seem to be small.

Thank you. The Familia is a possibility, and it is good to have some feedback on it. I didn't have it on my list only because I found the rates on their website confusing.

Can I add the following hotels within my price range, for people to compare with others on my list of possibilities?

de l'Avre
des 3 Colleges
Flor Rivoli
Cujas Pantheon

Thank you

Are you willing to consider an apartment? For that price I've found you generally get more for your money.

yes, an apartment is not out of the question. Are the available for only 5-night stays?

one agency that is Vacation in Paris, they rent nightly for many of their apartments. you just need to look at each on individually and see. you can search by # of bedrooms and district.

I'd rank the first list like this, based on recollection of what I've read in the past, and on location:

le Regent - - are you sure????of the price?
Jeanne d’Arc
des Grand Balcons (actually €110, but looks too good not to leave on the shortlist).
du Lys
Chopin
du Septieme Art
Royal Phare
Excelsior (the one in the Latin Qtr 5e).
de Nevers (both of them – one in rue du Bac (7e) and one in rue de Malte (11e).

I have stayed at the Grand Hotel des Balcons a couple of times. The location is great, close to the Odeon metro and the Luxemborg metro/RER lines. The double room had a wardrobe and drawers so we could stow our suitcases away and it freed up some space in the room.

They have an expansive buffet breakfast with eggs and meat. You don't say when you are traveling but this hotel does not have A/C. It was an issue for me so I won't stay again when it is might be hot at night. But any other time, I would happily stay again.

I don't know any of the others.

I have stayed at the Hotel Residence Monge a couple of times and would recommend it.

Try calling the hotel and talking with Julie to get your questions answered and also make your reservation. Calls to Europe from the States are not that expensive anymore.

http://hotelmonge.com/

Randy, read up above - there is no more 'Hotel Monge', or Julie....

whoops, my apologies - the news on Hotel Monge is on the Hotel Monge thread, duh. To restate, the hotel has been bought, revamped and is now the Hotel Acte V.

http://www.hotel-actev.com/?myref=ad...FQPGsgodpShIDw

Travelnut: thank you for that ranking. You are right - on revisiting le Regent, it is more expensive than the others. Du 7 Art is also hard to gauge pricewise, because they have such a variety of room rates from 85 to 145 euros.

The cheapest room rates are Jeanne d'Arc, Flor Rivoli, des Mines, Royal Phare, Excelsior Latin, and de Nevers. Based on your ranking and Tripadvisor reviews, I have dropped the last 3 of these off the list.

However, when you adjust for the fact that the Familia includes breakfast in its rate, then it is suddenly right up there among the best bargains too.

crckwc 1 - does the Familia have a lift (elevator)?

"Does the Familia have a lift (elevator)?"

Another question about the Familia: it is in the 5eme, but somewhat away from the part of 5eme that I am familiar with. I am familiar with the area around Saint-Michel. Is the area around the Familia similarly lively and interesting for cafes, boulangeries, strolling around etc?

Excerpts lifted from the TA reviews...

There is an elevator although small....

a short walk ( 10 minutes max. )to Notre Dame...The location was a big plus, in walking distance to the Seine, Notre Dame, the Sorbonne, Pantheon, Luxemburg Gardens...

Restaurants: from holes in the wall to out of this world. Here are a couple of places we liked, d'Ambassade Auvergne, Restaurant du Tibet, just to name a couple. Explore - experiment......there are plenty of boulangeries & pattiseries nearby, and lots and lots of restaurants....down the street is such an insanely good boulangerie (Maison Kayser)

It's probably NICER than around St Michel - 'Tourist Central'.

that last sentence was 'me' talking..

Fair enough, travelnut. It's you (and others) talking I want to hear. You've bben there; I haven't. (Well, I've been in Paris, but as said earlier I've only stayed in outer parts of the city).

With advice from this forum, traveller reviews, and researching websites, I've narrowed it down to 3. Interestingly, all are in different areas. They are:
Familia
Jeanne d'Arc
Flor Rivoli

Before making a final decision, anyone's input re these hotels and localities would be welcome. Many thanks to all of you who have helped.

topping

I've stayed twice at the Royal Phare. The location just above the Ecole Militaire metro stop is very convenient, but the hotel had gone very much downhill by the second time I stayed there. The old genial old man who ran the place the first time I was there was gone, and in his place were indifferent and rude people. The rooms were no longer kept up. It was a disappointment.

Thank you Leburta. Royal Phare was one I had considered, but your comments confirm I was right not to include it in my final 3.

These are Familia, Jeanne d'Arc and Flor Rivoli. All different localities, and I am hoping there may be some people out there who can comment on how these localities and the hotels themselves compare.