I'm planning my first trip to Paris in Oct 2008, any suggestions for a hotel? MERCI!

I suggest you tell us your budget. LOL

We have stayed at the Hotel de Fleurie in the 6th the last few times. Close to the Odeon Metro and lots of nice restruatns nearby

http://www.fleurie-hotel-paris.com/e...-hotel-01.html

My budget would be at least a three star hotel, around $200-$250.00 usd/night.

Read biddingfortravel.com. Bid 3* on priceline.com, and offer $100. You'll probably get it.

Gaston
You probably will be able to find a three star in your budget, but not anything more than that in the stars category.

We liked this little three star, both for facilities and location:
http://www.varenne-hotel-paris.com/pages/rates.html

October is soon!

Hotel Grande Leveque on rue cler...love the place!

The Hotel du Danube might work for you. We stayed in a superior room which would be a bit above your budget but if you're two people who are staying more than a few days it would be worth it for the extra room.

http://www.hoteldanube.fr/

Have a great trip.

Hotel Des Grande Hommes, excellant location, excellant staff, small but beautiful rooms. Right beside it is Hotel Des Ecoles, owned by same people, very nice. Both hotels have nice views of Pantheon as they are on the Place du Pantheon.

Hotel Le Regent on rue Dauphine(there are two Regent hotels I think, I mean the one in the 6th arrondissmont) in the St Germain area,, lots of nice cafes and shops in area, but not as congested and busy as parts of Latin Quarter. Same as above, excellant area nice big bathrooms, rooms still smaller then most Americans are used to though.

I think you budget is a bit low for true luxury, in a central area anyways, but you can get a nice hotel for that amount.
I think you are looking at about 135 to 170 euros, so you are looking at sale prices and deals to get into most central 3 stars. There are more very nice 2 stars in that price range. Better a really nice two star then a poor 3 star. The star system in France is not about levels of luxuries, but amount of amenties.. ie does hotel have an elevator( yes, but maybe it is tiny)does staff speak english( yes, maybe only one or two staff) , does hotel have a/c, ( Yes, but they only allow it on in July and August, and they control it not you) etc. etc.

Since you are booking a bit last minute, try lastminute.com
I don't know if you can get into the hotels I mentioned with your budget, I travel during a lower season( believe it or not, late July through August are cheaper months for Paris hotels) and have paid from 120 euros to 200 euros for these places. Good luck

Whatever you decide you'd better get on it--it is high fashion season and hotels are booked well ahead of time.

Another 3 star recommendation is the Hotel des Marronniers, which is in a great location in the 6th arr.,on the rue Jacob. It's set back from the street on a courtyard.

www.hoteldesmarronniers.com

Also second the reco for Hotel le Regent, rue Dauphine.

I think the budget is unrealistic for the expectations, as no luxury was mentioned, but I think the idea that you'd get "at least" a 3* implies some 4* would be possible. Not in Paris proper, besides that is only a month away and in peak hotel rate season and when they are likely very booked up already. So you'll be lucky to find a suitable booking in your range without a lot of choices, I think. That is a 2* hotel range, maybe some 3* but not the better rooms.

I generally prefer 3* hotels and don't agree that there are lots of nice 2* hotels in Paris in that range that would be nicer than 3* hotels. I've never been in a 3* hotel in Paris that was inferior to any of the 2* Parisian hotels I've stayed in. I've probably been in about half and half. So that's just a personal opinion about what wonderful 2* hotels there are in Paris, never seen them. They are adequate, sure.

The 3* hotel I often stay at in Montparnasse is now around 170 euro for a standard double, 190 euro for superior double, which is larger and is what I'd want for two people. Now I did just book a 3* hotel around the Pantheon in Paris for October, actually, for 150 euro for a standard double. That was the Hotel Elyssa Luxembourg which is a great location near Luxembourg Gardens (I just chose it as I wanted to take the RER to the airport and it's within a block). I can't say what it's like yet as I won't be there until beginning of October, but it has decent reviews. It has good rates for October for that level of hotel and location (the superior rooms which sound very nice are around 190 euro--much bigger and with views).
http://www.paris-elysaluxembourg.com/

Still, I know from experience not to expect luxury in a 3* Parisian hotel, so I'm realistic.