francophile03

I guess it's the same as elsewhere, 4* hotels offer more amenities, furnishings are higher quality like antiques, etc. Someone else will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's things like that which distinguish a 4* from a 3* hotel.

That 120 euro rate you got for Le Regent sure is good. I can't believe you got it! A hotel that's located in the heart of St. Germain, a room that's the hotel's best category, and a huge (for Paris) room. If you don't take that room I will!

Iregeo

Lol, francofile! More than likely, I'll stick with Le Regent. It's just too hard to beat. But, the RSG is so pretty and elegant. At a minimum, a visit is definately in store!

Christina

I sure would go with the Regent for that difference. As far as official difference in 3* and 4* -- actually, from what I've seen, amenities don't have much of anything to do with the star ratings, although people tend to think that because they are correlated with them. They mainly are related to very basic things like bathrooms, room size, elevators and telephones. (They have something to do with reception people speaking foreign languages and breakfast being served in rooms, but those are diff. between 2* and higher levels). The star ratings don't have anything to do with minibars, hair dryers, ironing boards, television sets, bathrobes, provision of fancy soap/shampoo, inroom safes, etc (which is what I think of as amenities, maybe other people don't).

I think Patrick sort of summed up the usual differences one feels (aside from possible room sizes which you can find out) -- 4* hotels generally have a slightly different ambience and feeling, and may be decorated more nicely or have better quality furnishings, etc. They often do have more amenities but those aren't officially required. Lots of times they are related to business services (business center, etc).

Officially, however, these are the main differences in a 3* and 4* hotel in Paris:

the reception area need be only 80 m2 in a 3* and must be 120 m2 in a 4* (this is also related to number of rooms, but those are the max. sizes required);

an elevator is required in a 3* of four levels, and in a 4* at only three levels;

the minimum room size is slightly greater for a 4* than 3*, but still lower than you were quoted (a single must be 9 m2 in a 3* and 10m2 in a 4*, a double must be 10 m2 in a 3* and 12 m2 in 4*);

a 4* must have private bathrooms in every room, but is required in only 80% of rooms in a 3* hotel;

the bathroom must be a min. 2.5m2 size in a 3* and min. 3 m2 in a 4*.

That's pretty much it officially.

Iregeo

Wow, Christina! How do you know all that?