<< fairly central and have a clean, not-too-cramped room>>

I sure you'll like it. It is fairly central and very clean, but, like I said, "cozy" (i.e. small rooms). Ours had a double bed, table w/ 2 chairs, 13" TV (antenna - not cable), and a tiny bathroom. The best feature is the price and the bistro across the street "Le Cameleon" - you MUST plan on a meal there...

Drink the French wine and you have a chance. Order imports and it will be iffy.

bardo, on another thread, I was told that le Cameleon had been closed 'for some time'...

Travelnut,

Tragedy! My last meal there was Oct. 2004. What happened? They did a good business and won constant raves from the most discerning reviwers. No next of kin?!?

I don't know anything other than another poster mentioned it.
I just checked pagesjaunes - a travel agency is listed at 6 rue de Chevreuse now...

Can't let this go yet...has anyone stayed at ETAP HOTEL Paris La Villette 19ème, Avenue Jean Jaurès? I'm getting a quote of 53 eu/night and would like to decide once and for all between this, Hotel de Chevreuse (75014-63 eu/night), and Cosmos (75011-56 eu/night).

Thanks.

The ETAP is quite far out. I don't know the area offhand, but I seem to recall it's not a great one. I'd go with either of the other two options mentioned.

Gemeaux,

I don't know anything about the Hôtel ETAP, but given the locations you mentioned, the 19th is a bit off the beaten track.

I know the 19th is far away from what I said I wanted, but it was really the price that drew me. One more question: how about Hôtel de Roubaix, 75003 @ 66E? Love the location and price is about right. Any negative experiences I should be concerned about? Any particularly positive experiences?

I think Cosmos might not be as far out and has some nightlife in the area.

The Tripadvisor reviews for Hotel Tiquetonne make it sound wonderful:

http://tinyurl.com/hzso5

and on Fodors Hotel Reviews:

http://tinyurl.com/gjyg8

Search on Tiquetonne and you will see some recent reviews here.

I like to be in a location where I can go out at night without having to hop on the metro to get somewhere else.

Hotel de Chevreuse is on the <b>6th</b> side of Blvd. Montparnasse - not the 14th.

The Chevreuse is in a great neighborhood, Montparnasse, and is accessible by Metro to other things. You can have a drink at the restaurant on the top of Tour Montparnasse and look at the Eiffel Tower, and, as someone once said, you don't have to look at the Tour Montparnasse.

The Roubaix is also a good location, close to the Marais. Tough call.

To everyone who wanted to know, Cam&eacute;l&eacute;on is definitely closed. I walked by there a couple of weeks ago. I'm disappointed.

I wouldn't trade a location as close to Jardin de Luxembourg as is Chevreuse for anything!
For-get the ETAP, it will be very near the peripherique.

Re: Hotel de Roibaix. Stayed there last May for 64 euro with breakfast. Rooms are clean but small, bathrooms with shower tres petit. Monsiers at front desk are very friendly but know no english, so you have to wait for day person if english required. Word of warning, when they tell you to reconfirm, they mean it. That line got cut off our fax, so we were walked across the road for the first night.

Did you pick one yet gemeaux? You will have to let us know so we can tell you what restaurants are nearby, etc.

Ah Ronda, I'm so tired of searching. I decided to take a little break and let my brain cool before delving back into this.

Does anyone have an opinion of Hotel Madeleine Opera?

Here's the situation: I'm a student in Paris right now, have been dreaming about Paris since I was 16--which, let's just say, is a while ago. I finally made it here but have had to do everything on the cheap. My boyfriend of 10 years whom I've been promising to show Paris (I visited twice in the last 12 years) is FINALLY making it here with me and I want to stay somewhere where you can feel that you are in Paris.

This was one of the reasons I didn't really like the Chevreuse. I lived near Montparnasse when I first got here but I needed to see the Eiffel Tower to remind myself that I was in Paris. I want to be able to walk to the Champs Elysees because call it what you want, the sight of the Arc (or any postcard attraction) makes me weak and I want him to have that too.

Soooo....I like the Madeleine area and have a tentative booking at Hotel Madeleine Opera. Please, PLEASE tell me it's not a miserable dive. I plan to take a peak inside as soon as I have a minute.

Next up, itinerary....good grief!

well, this is tricky given your limitations. I would have liked the Montparnasse area better, but it sounds like you want to be near some grand sight and maybe some quainter, older streets? That's hard at that budget as that rules out some of the better-value options, to me.

The Tiquetonne does sound like a good option for you, as it isn't that far from Hotel de Ville, etc., and that's an older area than around Montparnasse. I don't know about the Madeleine Opera, but why were you even considering some crummy ETAP chain hotel out in the burbs then? You said then it was only the price that drew you.

Lots of the 11th isn't that glamorous, you know, I don't see how one would get worked up about being around there if not Montparnasse. You may want a change, I can see that, just my general impression. St Andre des Arts would be good, but I think it's much more expensive that your budget.

How about the HOtel Nesle in St Germain? It's in a great area and will really feel very Parisian.
http://www.hoteldenesleparis.com/

I think it's only a 1*, maybe 2*, and even it has doubles at 75 euro. You know the 1* Hotel Delhy's in St Germain is a great location, and is supposed to be respectable for a 1*. It should be in your budget. I don't know anything personal about it, but heard it was okay from someone who stayed there. No website, you don't get that a lot at that level. It's mentioned on www.bonjourparis.com in the inexpensive Paris hotels section.

The ETAP thing was just because it seemed like Sacre Coeur might be nearby so photo op!

Anyway, I'm over that madness. Hotel Nesle is soooo cute and in a good spot for walking to things. I'll call them tomorrow and check availability, thanks a bunch.

The Tiquetonne keeps coming up and it's not that I'm ignoring the recommendation, I just can't seem to get a hold of them. I'll try again tomorrow.

I really appreciate all of your help with this, even I am sick of the topic at this point!

Don't know anything about the Madeline Opera. Looks like it is by the big department stores. Tripadvisor rates it well. It looks very nice from the web site and the rates are 86 euros (?)

Have you looked at Hotel du Bois someone listed above? Yes, the rooms start at 115 euros, but check out the specials; there might be something there that will work for you like 50% off on Sunday. This hotel was recommended by BTilke who used to live in Brussels and went to Paris often. I don't know if she still recommends it. It is right by the Arch and just off the Champs. The Tripadvisor reviews are excellent. I also know that the hotel appeared in a movie but I don't know which. I always wanted to stay there but it has no AC and we were there in July. It looks very romantic.

http://www.hoteldubois.com/

I think stopping in to see a couple is a great idea.