I'd stick with an air-conditioned place - September and May were almost too warm for me; I'd be a miserable wretch in August without a/c.

Thanks Travelnut

I don't know, your guess is as good as mine regarding whether you would regret not having AC. I stayed almost right next door to that hotel once (at the HOtel de la Sorbonne) and it is a very convenient location, and it looked like a decent hotel. It's on a smaller street off the main blvd, so not noisy like it would be out there. Still, it was a little noisy with the windows open because there are loud drunks and young people hanging around that area in the evening and some bars. So, people yelling in the streets and making noise when they go home wasn't that appealing to me (around 12-1 am).

I really dislike street noise, though, it wasn't horrific or really that unusual for areas in a city where you are in the middle of things where people are going out at night. So don't take that to mean it was really unusually bad. Just didn't like it, and it wouldn't be like that around the Mines or Claude Bernard as they are not right near bars or lots of tourists/young people hanging out in public. Of course, they have AC, anyway, so you wouldn't need the windows open, but if it's not that hot, you might want them open just for air.

Did you hear from the Claude Bernard or not? You'll just have to decide what it's worth to you and how tight your expenses are.

Thanks. No I have not heard back from them; sent them 2 messages-weird. Maybe I'll call them if I get a chance. I'll have to call from work so not sure...maybe will wait till the weekend. I am a light sleeper so maybe staying where Sorbonne is not a good idea then plus I do think I'll regret no AC. Will wait to hear back.

I guess that's a good thing to do, as there is no rush. I notice their online booking form will reserve you a room automatically, but getting a direct quote may be better. That form says they have two quads and they are 209 euro a night next August.

So maybe you can be deciding what you will do if that is the rate as if you are going to call, you might want to be prepared to make a decision on-the-spot. They don't have that many quads, no hotel does. I thought it would be a little cheaper than that, though.

Ok. CB got back to me. 198E includes breakfast. This is definitely my upper end of what I was hoping to spend (unless the dollar/euro gets better). I almost feel I should go all out and spend for the kitchen now. So confused. Since CB includes breakfast, I think it’s worth it. St. Michael didn’t back in touch with me yet.

At least that's better than the website. I think you have a few days to think about it, I'm sure they won't all book up for next August right away.

If I understand, you want a kitchenette and Citadines has one, but you didn't want to spend that much. How much is Citadines? If it's also around 200 euro, I can see your point.

Citadines was 300 plus. I found another and still am waiting to find out if they have AC but it's close to RER: http://www.excelsior-paris-hotel.com/ They quoted 92E for a quad which is just a phenomenal deal...what do you think.

ok scratch excelsior-just read the horrible reviews on tripadvisor.

198EUR for a quad at the Claude Bernard***, including breakfast?? I'd go for it. I haven't read on TripAdvisor about it, but its website looks fantastic, its location looks good, it has all the amenities (including Wi-Fi and A/C). Plus, other fodorites recommended it, non? I would seriously grab it now and nail down that price. You could spend less, but I think the CB looks like a great value at 198.
:)>-

I think it's a good value, also, just that P67742 didn't want to spend that much. As for the Excelsior -- if something is too good to be true, there's a reason. You won't get a decent quad hotel room for 92 euro in Paris, with AC (probably not even without).

If Citadines was 300 euro and more a night and the Claude Bernard only 198, I wouldn't choose Citadines. That's a lot of money difference. If it was $300, I guess that is bout the same price in USD. I could see it if your kids were babies, but they are old enough that you shouldn't be needing a kitchenette that much. The Claude Bernard does have a minibar which you can use to store a few things.

I understand 200 euro a night is a lot for many people, but you really probably aren't going to get anything that great cheaper. The Hotel des Mines was probably your next best bet, but wasn't that 170 euro without breakfast? Then it's not really that different, I'd go with Claude Bernard.

When we were looking for a quad room in Paris a couple of years ago, $225/night w/o breakfast was the best price I could find for a good location, w/A/C and lift, etc. That was the Hotel de la Bourdonnais.

That's why I recommend you grab the Claude Bernard now.
:)>-

It all depends what you want. Depending on your dates in August, you can get a Novotel hotel for cheap rates, even less than 100 Euros per night. In most cases, although you should check for each individual hotel, these allow two adults and two children under 15. Mercure often has a similar offer (although typically they aren't quite as generous with allowing two children).

www.accorhotels.com

Some of these are air-conditioned, and some not.

At this point, mostly all the hotels got back to me: I am including the ones with AC only:
St-Michel-220E (no breakfast)
Claude Bernard-198E with breakfast
Delambre-150E (breakfast free for children only)
Grande Hommes 2 rooms at 110E so 220E
Lyon Mulhouse-140E (no breakfast)
Des Mines-174E (no breakfast)
Novotel Les Halles-198E (rep said this price may go down as it gets closer)
Hotel Balcons-200E (no breakfast)

I originally hoped to find something closer to 150 and I was able to, but these places seem so nice. So which would you pick? Which is most convenient with kids? We will be traveling light and hope to only have 2 bags so I want to be able to use the metro in and out of Gare du Nord. Of course, we can also use the taxi if needed.

Thank you again for all your help. I can’t tell you how much this board has helped me plan my trips.

I am leaning towards CB.

I know you didn't want the 7th arr., anyway, but I'm not clear on Maureen's comment about the Bourdonnais at $225 as I would expect they would quote rates in euro, not USD. It's just that $225 is a lot less than 225 euro, and even though the exchange rate has gone up in the last two years, US$225 would be less than 198 euro two years ago. Still, I guess the point is you won't find a lot at less than 200 euro with AC, and I agree.

From your list, I wouldn't even consider some of them -- like the Balcons. I'd choose the Claude Bernard or the Delambre if you wanted cheaper. Third place would be the HOtel des Mines.

I have another idea which probably won't work -- but you could query the hotel I usually stay at in Montparnasee, which isn't too far from the Delambre. That is the Hotel Aiglon. They have a very nice two-bedroom apartment with kitchenette (which I've viewed, so I know it's nice) that is listed as 255 euro on their website. However, they give me a discount of about 25 pct off their website rates in August. I've been a long-time customer of theirs, so maybe that's why, but I kind of doubt it as they've changed managers recently. Also, I book a std. double room, and they only have that one apartment, so they may really not discount it at all, now that I think of it. A lot of hotels that give August discounts won't do it for quads, actually, you are lucky the C Bernard did. However, the Aiglon's apt. rate may not be much different than some of the others you are considering, if it would be less than the standard 255 euro on the website.

Their website doesn't account for August discounts, at least not now, as it quotes the regular rates for rooms in August (you can compare them to a June date), not a reduced rate. And I know they give discounts on regular doubles in August. They wouldn't be in the Latin Qtr, of course, and may not seem as much fun for you, but it's a nice area and very convenient. The Delambre and H des Mines wouldn't be in any better place as far as that goes,, although the Mines is just a bit closer to the Lux. Gardens. Also, the Aiglon is directly across the street from the Raspail metro stop, so you could take that metro line from Gare du Nord easily. It wouldn't even be a couple block walk, like the Delambre would be from the Vavin stop (same line). Another option would be the RER to Denfert and then Raspail is one stop away.

This is their website
http://www.paris-hotel-aiglon.com/

If you want to ask them, just email them directly to: [email protected] and address it to Reception or Reservations. They answer within a day or two. If by any chance they'd give you that 2-bedroom apt. for 175 to 200 euro, I think it could be a very good deal. Be sure to ask them if they have a discount for August, as I think sometimes hotels forget to include that so far ahead in their quotes.

Thanks. I e-mailed them but I think I do want to stay in the Latin Q area. I'll keep comparing; in the meantime I did go ahead and reserve CB on my credit card.

Actually I am looking at the Delambre location. It looks fairly convenient as well.

"I know you didn't want the 7th arr., anyway, but I'm not clear on Maureen's comment about the Bourdonnais at $225 as I would expect they would quote rates in euro, not USD. It's just that $225 is a lot less than 225 euro, and even though the exchange rate has gone up in the last two years, US$225 would be less than 198 euro two years ago. Still, I guess the point is you won't find a lot at less than 200 euro with AC, and I agree."

Christina, to clarify, I'd reserved the Bourdonnais through Expedia, so we were quoted in USD, and paid in USD. My point is that 200 euro w/amenities that CB has, sounds like a good deal to me.
:)>-

Christina, TravelNut, Maureen, anyone….

I did reserve CB but I was looking at the Novotel site and I found a really good rate at the Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon for 109E, breakfast inclusive. The reviews on tripadvisor seem great and it’s right next to the train station. I checked Novotel Les Halles and they come up at 190E, but I think this Gare de Lyon would work as well. We will not be in the room most of the time anyway.

Although I agree that it would be more fun to be right in the Latin Q, this is a savings of 100E per night. Plus the reviews for the Novotel state they have a pool which my kids will enjoy; may be a treat at the end of the day if they behave all day sightseeing! Your thoughts? I want your input before deciding because it’s non-refundable. Of course I have to check with DH, but usually his comments are just “you know best”. The room that’s included in this rate states 1 double bed and 2 single beds (I think these are from a pullout sofabed).

We stayed at that Novotel by G.de Lyon in 1996 (1st trip, bus tour) and it was very nice at that time. My husband wanted some escargot, and the kitchen prepared him some, even though the dining room had closed. Our room was very large, if memory serves correctly.

109euro/ room for 4/ with breakfast is a fantastic rate. Did you specify there are 2 adults -and- 2 children in the booking? You do have to be specific as to how many bodies will be occupying the room.