I'm planning to visit Paris with my girlfriend on October for 6 days (26-31) this year and though i have been a traveller for all my life, i've never been to France before so i don't have any previous experience. I would like some reccomendations on a good hotel, with comfortable rooms (i've heard that most of the hotels in Paris have too small rooms), in a good area close to the basic tourist attractions (or at least easy access with the metro and the busses). I agree with some opinions that i read, which say that you don't need a very good hotel when you're in Paris, but experience has tought me that after a day of sightseeing and walking around, at the end of the day you need a nice hot shower and a nice bed in a good room to have some rest and some quality time with your companion. My father owns a travel office and i thought it would be easy getting a good deal but the choices i've been given aren't very helpful. I am willling to pay around 120-150 euros for a room with a double bed and the basic facilities. The suggestions i got for this money are the Hotel Du Bois, the Duminy Vendome, the Dacia Luxembourg and the Pulitzer Opera hotel. I browsed through their websites a little, but that wasn't very helpfull and i know from experience that the pictures on the Internet never agree with the real thing. I am so confused and as time goes by i must choose soon what i will do or i will be left with nothing. I would appreciate it a lot if you could help me out guys with some alternatives or some opinions on my current choices!!

Hi
Paris has hundreds of good budget-minded hotels, more so than in other big cities such as London or Rome.
I'm not familiar with the hotels you mention except that I've seen the Duminy mentioned if not here then elsewhere.
Besides searching right here (in the little box above) for each hotel by name, check tripadvisor.com as it has guest comments on many hotels.

Concentrate on hotels in the single-digit arrondissements (districts) as those areas are the most central. The 5th, near the Sorbonne, has many decent hotels; just two are the Residence Monge and the St-Jacques. The 6th is a great area too, but some of the hotel prices start to creep up; look at the Bonaparte and the Grand Hotel des Balcons, for two. The problem with many of these hotels is that they often book up months in advance, and October is the time for some fashion trade shows which makes it busier, don't know if that coincides exactly with your dates or not. If you reserve anywhere, be sure you know the details of the cancellation policies.

I have a long file on Paris; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

Hi tsa,

You might try entering "Paris AND Hotel" in the "search this forum" box.

PS

I always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte in the 6th.

Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67

Since October seems to be very busy this year, I'd make at least one reservation ASAP and then keep looking. Knowing you at least have one reservation, it will put you more at ease.

My husband and I stayed at the Duminy Vendome 3 years ago and really enjoyed it. It wasn't particularly fancy, but the staff was friendly and the location was wonderful - right down the street from a metro, but walking distance to a lot as well. The room we had was small, compared to what you might get in the states but slightly larger than many other hotels we've visited in Europe.

Have fun!

It may be difficult to guarantee your room won't be small; many hotels have rooms of differing sizes due to shape of the building, for instance.

According to this website, these hotels have availability: (www.hotelsearch-in-paris.com).

Cardinal Rive Gauche ***
http://www.hotelcardinal.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...de_France.html

Timhotel Tour Eiffel Invalides ***
http://www.h-invalides.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

Hotel Saint Dominique **
http://www.saintdominique.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

Timhotel Palais Royal Louvre *** (best reviews but small rooms)
http://www.h-palais-royal.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

I stayed at Dacia Luxembourg and liked it very very much (in 1999 but I don't imagine it's changed much). My friend chose it for us, because he had stayed there once before.

Excellent location, beautiful 3-star hotel, pleasant front desk staff. The room was small but not tiny & nicely 'French' in decor, modern bathroom... we chose a streetside double room with a view out over St Mich Blvd.

I'm happy to answer any specific questions you might have about this hotel.

Susan

Oh yes... it's right in the 5th/Latin Quarter, the Sorbonne is probably the closest landmark on a map. Easy walking distance to Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens, the Seine, etc. Shops, restaurants, movies, all nearby.

additional good comments on the Dacia Luxembourg at www.tripadvisor.com

We recently spent five nights at the Hotel de la Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter. We paid 110E/night. Our room wasn't spacious, but it was clean and comfortable, and we had our own bathroom. The location can't be beat. I'd look in the Latin Quarter, St. Germaine, and the Marais--there's so much to do and see in these areas, and the transportation options are plentiful, especially in the LQ. Good luck!

There are many hotels available at the price range you desribe. It all depends on where you wish to stay. Having said that, the Metro system makes most of Paris easily accessible from all points, thanks to the Metro. We've stayed at the Grand Hotel Leveque in the 7th, and the Hotel Lyon Bastille in the 12th, and not felt inconvenienced with regard to the usual attractions. Both were under 100 Euros for a double with bath, with plenty of nice restaurants nearby.

Although there are certainly plenty of hotels they are not all so great and you can't always tell (as OP mentioned) from the website...

We ended up (thanking our lucky stars they had a vacancy) at Dacia Luxembourg, because the hotel we had chosen and stayed the first night was pretty darn bad. These two hotels were the exact same price and within 2 blocks of each other and appeared very similar by description. In reality they were not.

So my caution is I'd rather choose a hotel that someone I knew or who posts here had actually stayed at, or even using Trip Advisor rather than pick by location, ammenities, descriptions or even photos.

..2 of my favorite hotels for a first visit to Paris..both on ile st louis- hotel de lutece (careful there are other hotels with similar spelling) and deux iles..central, quiet and charming....and in your price range

I've stayed in both the Hotel Cluny Square and the Parc St Severin, both in the 5th about 2 blocks apart from each other. Both would fall within your $ range. I wouldn't hesitate to stay at either again. http://www.cluny-paris-hotel.com and http://www.parisby.com/severin/

Thank you very much for all the responses and the great suggestions! The truth is that i am getting even more confused! Most of the hotels i've been browsing are very good, and seem to be exactly what i am looking for! Tully, especially the last one, the Hotel Park St. Severin looks amazingly cute and warm!!! But this is my first time in Paris and i have no idea WHERE i want to stay, i just want to go there and have a nice time and all these suggestions are great but i can't make up my mind on which area is ideal.

You need to make a reservation for this timeframe <i>immediately</i>. You can continue to browse and possibly make a change if necessary, but delaying much longer will relegate you to a hotel that is less nice or further out.

You probably should make inquiries to 2 or 3 of those that are most appealing, and see if <i>any</i> of them are even available.

As long as you have a decent hotel near a metro, and it has favorable comments here or on Tripadvisor.com, you will be fine. Paris is very walkable and it doesn't matter <i>that much</i> where you stay.

How about renting a studio apartment? Lots of options available if you consider places like VRBO, CyberRental, and many more. Even booking for a week instead of five nights is affordable--and gives you use of the apartment the day you arrive/depart. I disagree about the exact location of your lodgings--the Paris Metro is so good that you can get just about anywhere easily on the Metro.

I think you have some good ideas -- the Parc Severin should be fine, and even a couple you found before. I think staying on the island (Lutece?) would also be a good idea. I wouldn't recommend the Pulitzer Opera, not because there is anything wrong with it, but I don't think the location is best for a first time visitor. It's not as attractive an area, either.

I really do not think renting an apt. is a good idea for a first time visitor staying 6 nights, especially from private owners.

Topping this thread for a new poster same topic today.