paris hotels..help is welcome
 

I'm planning a trip to Paris the last weekend in February and I still have to decide where to stay. It's just so hard. My budget is 200-250 euro's per night. Although I could afford the Four Seasons George V or the Park Hyatt, I just wonder if this very over the top price is worth it. I have already made a little selection and would like to know if anybody has good/bad experiences with these hotels and maybe somebody knows another great hotel.:
- Le Dockans Trocadero
- Radisson SAS
- Majestic hotel
- Le General Hotel
- Hotel le A

You could review any comments on www.tripadvisor.com while you are waiting, if you have not done so...

Perhaps additional feedback on www.venere.com, don't know...

Anyway, my post pushes yours back up :)

It's the Sofitel Trocadero Dokhans.

I didn't know you could get that hotel at 200-250 euro. Webscapades lists them at 360 euro, so that sounds look a good deal.

sorry, I do not really know that level of hotel. Have heard the Lancaster is nice, but there are many nice hotels in Paris, you know.

Well, from your list i think that the Dokhan's is by far the best. New, chic , decorated by Frederic Mechiche, near Avenue Kleber and Trocadero Sqaure , is an upscale boutique hotel . Classic rooms cost around 200euros and deluxe(rooms with sofa) 320euros. Now from the other 4 i'd choose the SAS because is a safe choice-new and comfortable, near the C-E and The AdT). Last but not least i'd like to suggest you 2 very good hotels near the C-E and 1 near the Opera Garnier.:

1.Hotel Raphael-a member of the leading small hotels of the world- a trully luxury establishment located 8min from the C-E and 1 block from the AdT, good restaurant ,famous bar,with very big rooms and an atmosphere of a bygone era. but it is a bit pricey(370euros for a classic room)
2.Le Faubourg Sofitel Demeure Hotels
a modern,chic, upscale hotel, with good restaurant, between the Madeleine Church and Place Concorde-classic rooms at 240euros but on the small size-
3.Hotel Scribe Opposite the grand Hotel IC it's a well run 4L establishment with 2 restaurants, 1 bar , spacious rooms with new bathrooms, classic rooms at 200euros i think.
For further infos do not hesitate to ask me!

I also just noticed the Champs Elysees Plaza hotel, which offers great rate at 230 euros but without breakfast and I also like the hotel Vernet, 240 euros a night including breakfast, vip treatment(what this means?), and entrance to the spa and pool at their sister property and if available an upgrade. This last one sounds a real good offer to me...do you have any experiences with the Hotel Vernet..not so much reviews on tripadvisor.com so I don't know

We usually stay around the corner from the Sofitel Dokhans at the Sofitel Le Parc. Dokhans is known for their chic little champagne bar. If you were staying in warmer weather, I would recommend Le Parc instead because of its fabulous terrace garden, one of the nicest terraces in Paris, but in Feb., I think you'll like Dokhans.
The neighborhood around Dokhans is great. Avenue Raymond Poincare has several nice cafes and restaurants and the you're a short walk from the Place Victor Hugo, home to my favorite cafe in Paris, Scossa. Also, the Ave. Victor Hugo is a great shopping, strolling street. You are a short walk from the Trocadero, a perfect vantage point for watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night. You have a choice of a few metro stops and also some bus routes.
Overall, we've been very happy with our Sofitel stays. Their hotels are our normal default hotels of choice and we've been pleased with their style, amenities and service in several countries. Oh, and FYI, Sofitel toiletries are very good--generous sizes of Roger & Gallet products. You usually are offered a complimentary large bottle of mineral water and welcome box of chocolates on arrival.

The verner is a good hotel 1 block from the C-E but from their brochure i think that only the deluxe rooms are quite spacious not the others: also the decoration is less chic than the Dokhan's and their sister property , Royal Monceau, is 15-20 min away , and i think that from early march 2005 will not offer free entry to their fitness center because it will be a member of Mandarin Oriental. If you want a hotel with a fitness center , the Hotel Le Faubourg SDH is a good choice.

hmm I should stay at the Royal Monceau because I love Mandarin Oriental! I thought it was very pricey but I just took a look on mandarinoriental.com and they have also an offer of 240 euros, so the same as Vernet. I think I prefer the Royal Monceau because of the pool and it's the same price. I just don't like it's bigger. Rooms in Vernet are 25sqm, Royal Monceau 28 sqm.

On the Mandarin Oriental website it's said that the hotel is currently undergoing renovation but they ensure any disruption will be kept to a minimum. The hotel has excellent reviews on tripadvisor. One of the reviewers calls it even a step above George V, but I doubt that.

Anyway, it's now between the Vernet and the Royal Monceau. Which to choose?

The Royal Monceau was undergoing renovations when i was in Paris(new year's period) and i have visited it to take a brochure because we had reservations at this hotel; thank God we did not stay there, the lobby was full of smoke and under construction as well as the Carpaccio restaurant, the staff was good. Well, the MO website states that some rooms are renovated, but not all and the rieviewers in tripadvisor stayed where the renovations was in the public places not in the rooms.Plus in the rate breakfast is the breakfast included or not? If you'd go to the RM you have to take a risk. Vernet is less splendid than RM but it is not undergoing renovations. Do you have a third choice?

My third choice would be the Champs Elysees plaza, 230 euros without breakfast. The Mandarin Oriental website states that the major work is completed and that public spaces, the spa, restaurants and bars are remodeled. Currently they're working on the rooms and they state that a high number of renovated rooms is already available. I doubt now if I shall take the risk. For this hotel 240 euros is not much, when renovations are done prices will start at about 450 euros. And I'll be there only two nights at the end of February.I don't know if the rates includes breakfast, it includes taxes but they say nothing about breakfast. I can't find out.

Mandarin Oriental states:''The first phase of this extensive project was completed in October 2004--(in late dec2004 there was some cunstruction in the lobby and the carpaccio)--, when all public spaces, restaurants, bar, banqueting facilities and the spa were full remodeled, and all structural work was completed. The room interiors are currently being redesigned, and on completion will comprise of 180 luxurious and spacious guestrooms, including 56 suites, all exquisitely appointed and featuring the very latest in-room technology, entertainment and business services.

The guestrooms are being introduced in phases, with a high number of newly renovated rooms already available. As the structural phase of renovation has already been completed, there is no disturbance to hotel guests and residents, and we very much look forward to welcoming you.''
my opinion:
--(in late dec2004 there was some cunstruction in the lobby and the carpaccio)--
--the hotel used to have 204 rooms, upon completion 180, they state that the structural phase is completed but how they convert and redecorate the rooms without any disturbance?--
--upon completion the rack rates(some leading hotels in paris have cheaper rack rates for better rooms) will be higher but not the promos-420euros for a deluxe room in april05 same price that i would paid for the same room type in dec 04--
--the promo that you saw does not include breakfast wich is at 27 euros per person for the continental and 40 for the buffet.--
From the other 2 what room is that in C-E plaza?
What characteristics must your ''ideal'' hotel have?if you answer my question i think that we can find a good hotel that fits all your needs.
Hope my reply helped.

In the Champs Elysees Plaza there is the executive room for 230 euros and it's 35 sqm, breakfast exluded.I'd love to stay in a not to big (less then 100 rooms) hotel with an excellent location, and good service. I think the Royal Monceau is not what I'm looking for since it's quite big and even the 'attraction' the pool doesn't look attractive. I also saw on the net the Plaza Paris Vendome, I love this hotel but it's a more pricey. I don't know if you know something about this hotel? Is it worth the price(around 280 euros per night)..the rooms are smallish.

Otherwise it's between the Vernet and the Champs Elysees Plaza. I like the Vernet cause breakfast is included and there might be an upgrade to bigger room. I don't know if you any other great hotels in my price range.

Anyway thanks for your help so far. It made me able to make a good selection, although it's only for 2 nights but I just like to have a good hotel.

Plaza paris vendome is a good hotel with modern style 1 block from the place vendome, it's a member of thr prefered hotels & resorts group, rooms are new but a bit on the small size. Some other boutique hotels are:
1.Marignan-Elysees Sofitel -a boutique hotel halfway between c-E and ave montaigne, clean , well decorated b-h in the haert of paris.
2.Le Dokhan's-very good with real boutique hotel feeling,if i were you i think that this would be my selection!-
3.For other boutique hotel you should look at the www.slh.com for more infos concerning the SLHotels and the 2 sofitels ask me!!!

I'm now making my final and last(that's the same) selection and then I will finally decide:

1. Hotel Vernet
I like the price, 240 euros, and breakfast is included. The rooms aren't big but they will upgrade me if available to a bigger room. Good location as well, and good reviews. Access to pool and spa is still possible( I asked) but I doubt if I will have time to swim so unimportant. Also I'm a member of the SLH group.

2. Le Dokhans
I like the style and it's small. Price is okay, 235 euros but without breakfast and breakfast is a ridiculous 26 euros per person, but I can have breakfast outside the hotel so not a big problem. Location is good.

3. Champs Elysees Plaza
The rooms are the biggest here (35sqm) with a 230 euros price tag without breakfast but same story as with le Dockans. Location excellent and not too big. It looks very nice and exclusive.

4. Hotel Duret
A kind of a designer hotel, it looks good and it's also small. This hotel has the best prices with 200 euro for a deluxe room, and 250 euros for the suite, breakfast inclusive. The interior looks fine, a bit different then the other more classic hotel I stated. They don't mention room sizes on their site but I think size is ok.

Now I have to decide..do you have a last comment or advice..where would you go?

do not know if this is much help, but...we used to stay at hotel etoile de maillot which is now duret...since it was a former apt. bldg. the rooms were very spacious as were the bathrooms...i do not know if walls were moved in their total remodel-if not, the rooms are great. also we liked that neighborhood a lot...

If i were you my first selection would be the Dokhan's, it's very very chic and stylish and it's a boutique hotel!I think that if you telephone and ask them they will include the breakfast(they also have a internet rate at 260 euros breakfast included). As for the location , it's very convinient, 2 blocks from Boissiere metro stop, supermarket in the same street and 1 block from ave Poincare where many restraurants and shops are located...The rooms are normal to spacious and very well decorated.
Now, my second choice would be the Hotel Vernet because it's in a better location than the Duret and the C-E Plaza(far from metro stop!!), it's a block from the C-E and 2 blocks from the ADT. But the rooms are not recently renovated and the classic are very small.

mmmmmmmmmm, but the George V would be sooo decadent! They have a winter special going right now, around 600E a night will get you a sumptuous room, a few spa visits, bottle of champagne on arrival, Musee et Monument pass...

Did you ever see French Kiss? That was the hotel where "Charlie" stayed.

As I said before, I could afford the George V but I think 580 euros per night is not worth the money. For the same money, I can sleep two nights in another fine luxury hotel. By the way, for me personally the George V is a bit too big. Rooms are nice but the size is about the same as in other luxury hotels premium rooms with lower fares. I'd like to spend the money, which I save by not staying in the George V or Plaza Athenee, on restaurants and shopping. I absolutely love Four Seasons but their prices are a bit overrated, literally.

Nevertheless I admit the George V is decadent, but for that price I should stay the whole day in the hotel to make the hotel the money worth.

What's your final desicion?
If you want a 5star hotel with big rooms descreet service and boutique hotel feeling with 360 euros breakfast included for a spacious room (335m2) then the Raphael is The Place.

What's your final desicion?
If you want a 5star hotel with big rooms descreet service and boutique hotel feeling with 360 euros breakfast included for a spacious room (35m2) then the Raphael is The Place.