We are going to Paris in December and have found the top palace hotels little too expensive. Have researched and now thinking of Lotti or maybe Regina. Looking for a hotel with some special charm and polish, and hopefully a little glamour. We like the area these are in, but not wedded to it if there is a compelling hotel somewhere else. Can spend up to $400. or a touch more.

Thank you for any ideas you may have...

Just returned from a one night stay at the Hotel Regina. Location is excellent across the street from the Louvre. The concierges and hotel staff were great with helping us plan our activites and spoke and understood English perfectly.

We went with the expedia special promotion standard room rate of $339 over the $288 room rate. We had asked expedia to specify for a King Bed but this was not available and the receptionist quickly upgraded us at no charge $-) to a Mezzanine level Junior Suite that faced the Louvre with 2 large operable windows. After researching this forum we were concerned what kind of room we would find in Paris, and we were very impressed with our massive room with 2-comfy single beds arranged together, couch, coffee table, letter writing table, card table, spacious very clean bathroom and tub with movable shower nozzle. Very minor observations; the carpet showed wear on the mezzanine level, and an occassional small crack in the room corners could use a touch up with some paint. We dined at the hotel and the food was great though service was on the slow side as only 2 waiters were attending to the dozen guests dining around us.

IMHO with our special rate room, would say the Regina is more charming and functional than glamourous and polished and would highly recommend it.

In past posts the Regina has not had the best of reviews (type in Hotel Regina in the little search box and all previous posts mentioning this hotel will come up).
As for the Lotti - don't know. Maybe do the same again for this hotel.

Favourable posts have been for The Hotel Brighton (get a Tuilleries facing room) and one I found very interesting was the Sofitel Demeure Hotel Le Parc.
A four star that looks a bit like Hotel de Sens from the picture!
Check it out - it's sure different.

Thank you JohnD and tod, this is helpful. I think the Regina doesn't sound quite right for this trip, as we are looking for a touch of glamour or elegance this time, maybe something old world. We have researched quite a bit, including the traveler reviews on tripadvisor and postings on this site, but there is a worrying use of words such as "faded" and "worn" in reviews of the Lotti.
I did look at the Brighton, which apparently has been very recently renovated, and the views from the hotel look wonderful, but it does not have a restaurant or bar, although the Sofitel Le Parc looks interesting.
We have not ruled the Lotti out as it has good location, some character and many very good reviews, but we are now also looking at the Intercontinental Le Grand near the Garnier, and the Hotel Westminster. If anyone has something they might add to what's already been said about either of these two places, it would be great to hear more.

The Intercontinental gets very good reviews, but is quite large and maybe a bit corporate.

We recently stayed at the Sofitel Le Faubourg near Place de la Concorde. We really liked the hotel and the location was excellent.

Thank you almesq, the Le Faubourg looks good, elegant, definitely an option especially at that location.

I think for charm, beauty, convenience, service, and location (though it is left bank) you should consider the Aubusson Hotel. A superior room is in your price range and will be more spacious.

The Aubusson hotel looks charming and love the location, but we ended up booking with the Lotti after all, and will certainly report back on the experience. Next time am hoping for a left bank base, and top of the list will probably be the Aubusson. Thank you for the tips!