i really want to stay at the balcons in september on the strength of so many recommendations on this site...i've emailed twice with a month in between and can't get them to reply. they wouldn't be closed at the moment would they? is this indicative of the type of serviceand interest i can expect from them if i do ever get there? <BR>joy

Hi Joy. I've no idea why they wouldn't have replied to your emails. I suppose they *could* be closed, but I sure wouldn't think so in February. Anyway, two friends of mine have stayed there and really liked it and that seems to be the consensus from any other posts I've ever read about it. It has a very nice art nouveau lobby (I haven't seen the rooms) and a superb location in the 6th.

Joy: I recently made a reservation with them for September and got a very quick response the next day (I didn't send the email 'til late afternoon). In addition, I had to change the dates of my reservation and again got very quick response. I used this address: [email protected]

I hate to be the dissenting vote, but I've always been amazed that the main thing people say about that hotel is that is "very clean". I've always thought that clean should go without saying, and if that is the best thing you can see about the hotel, other than the price is good, is that the hotel must be a dump. I must admit I've never seen it, but it sure sounds shakey to me -- but at least we know it is clean.

They sent me a fax attachment that I couldn't open, so I had to call them anyway to find out what it said.(Mail response from Balcons was quite prompt when I sent them a confirmation of my telephone conversation.) I had two hotels in Honfleur that didn't bother to respond to e-mails, so I just assumed that they were booked and too rude to respond. We have had such good luck with all other countries responding to e-mail requests that I am really disappointed with France--as far as two-star hotels go, the country seems far behind. (And I am a died-in-the-wool francophile!) And, Sam, you're a dweeb.

What did I say? Am I wrong? With all the posts on that hotel I've never heard anyone say that it was beautiful, that it was beautifully decorated, that the rooms were spacious, that the baths were sensational, or anything else except that the rooms were clean. If that's the best thing one can say about a hotel, then I'll look elsewhere. I guess that's what we "dweebs" do.

Sam, check out my post above; I said "It has a very nice art nouveau lobby and a superb and a superb location in the 6th." although I noticed I forgot to mention that the lobby was very clean. :~) <BR> <BR>Seriously, I understand what you're saying. Like you, I pretty much expect that a hotel will be clean and also, like you, if that's *all* someone says about a hotel it makes it sound -- to my ears -- like it's functional, without any charm. But, to other people, I think it might be very important to specifically hear that it's clean. We all put different priorities on different things. While I wouldn't want to stay in a hotel with cockroaches scurrying about and grimy linens, I also don't require a hotel to be spotlessly clean, whereas I suspect some people might. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I can assure you, and anyone else that the Grand Hotel des Balcons is definitely not what I'd call a "dump." Far from it. If it was a dump, I can assure you that my friends who stayed there would've said so, as their standards are more exacting than mine.

Sam - If you've ever stayed in a hotel that wasn't particularly &lt;clean&gt;, then you would understand what is meant by the "It's clean" comments. Unfortunately, some of us have had to experience the underside of the word &lt;clean&gt; at some point in our lives.

Fyi, the guide book that I have been reading states that if you send a fax and you do not get a reply that they are most likely booked. Maybe the same goes for e mail. Sending a fax might be another thing to try. This was for hotels in general in Italy, not the specific one that you mentioned. Good luck getting your reservation! <BR>

I'm one who has stayed at Balcons 3 times, has recommended this place, and yes, have stated that the place is "clean" as I do with other hotels. I think people know if it's NOT a dump, then it's clean, but I have had people actually ask me "is it clean?" So that is always one of my comments when I talk about a hotel. This hotel is in a very good location, the rooms are small, but the sizes are the "norm" for typical 2-star hotels in Paris. <BR> <BR>Yes Joy, I have been told that if you do not get a response, then the place is booked. September is a busy time of year for tourism in Paris. <BR> <BR>

Interesting sideline but I am another one who is always surprised at how many people talk about a hotel being clean and wanting that. I've never stayed in a hotel in Europe that was not clean, and I've stayed in quite a few 2-stars, I do sort of consider that a given that a hotel is supposed to be clean, but I guess it's always good for someone to say that. Now I did have a friend who stayed in a Rick Steves' recommended place (in the 7th, where else) because her mother made her (she was a Rick Steves groupie) and she said it was not clean (Hotel Alma). Anyway, to the subject at hand, I would FAX them rather than email, that gets more attention in my experience. I always FAX hotels even when they have e-mail addresses because I want them to know I'm serious and give me priority, which I think they do. Frankly, I don't really blame them for ignoring emails, can you imagine how many emails these hotels must get nowadays from people asking casually about stuff? In fact, I've seen people on travel forums talk about how they've emailed hotels with questions 4-6 times (size of rm, availability, very specifics) and the hotel finally stopped responding. No wonder. That's why I write a FAX, I make sure I ask all the relevant questions in one letter. Partly, I think you have to understand France is different culturally from the US (and probably Australia), there is more protocol, charm and class even in simple correspondence and email just doesn't cut it as much. I have had charming letters from desk clerks in France going to great lengths to describe rooms, etc, and they always end with language such as "with sincere and distinguished sentiments, ...blah blah)" and that's the way I write them in French. Now I know if you don't know the language, you can't do as well (and I didn't in Austria), but even in Prague I was learning Czech and wrote the beginning of my letter in Czech for politesse before switching to English. This may be overkill for most people, I know, it's just that I write a lot for a living and study languages and enjoy doing these things and think it is important and I've always had good responses when doing so. I am rambling on, I know, but I'd just suggest trying a FAX for greater attention, bottom line.

Christina, regarding your comments about cleanliness & hotels... I don't think I've ever stayed in a hotel that was more than 2-stars and, in all the hotels I've stayed at in European countries, and Mexico, there's only been *one* I wouldn't consider clean (by my standards anyway), and that was the Hotel Petit Trianon near the Rue de Buci in the 6th. Super location, and very nice woman who ran the hotel, but the room was grimy, the sheets were threadbare, and the shower was pretty disgusting. On the other hand, for that great location, it was a very low price (about 300FF, as I recall), so I basically got what I paid for. I suppose there are a lot of unclean hotels out there other people have stayed in -- which is why cleanliness might be a prime consideration for them -- but, as I said, I've only stayed in one.

Funny thing about the "clean" issue... One time many, years ago my girlfriend and I stayed in a hotel in Earls Court area of London. When we went to pull the sheets back on the bed.. a million little jumping bedbugs lept out into the light... so cleanliness is INDEED an issue. <BR>But Sam regarding Balcons... it is a lovely hotel, well decorated, friendly staff, super location, great b-fest. I have some interior photos saved as jpegs and will be happy to email them to anyone who is interested. Also, I first heard about Balcons, from reading Fodor's Hotels of Character and Charm in Paris.. believe me, Balcons has both Character and Charm, for a price thats wonderful. Joy, if you can't get through via email you could try a fax <BR>01/46 34 06 27 fax. Good luck

My goodness, i was also looking to go in September & stay at the Grand Hotel des Balcons - could they seriously be booked out 7 months ahead?? What a pity if that were the case. I wasn't going to make a reservation for another 2 months or so when I could be certain of dates - I thought tourism would be slowing down a bit by that time of year...

thanks everyone for you encouragement and responses. I sent another email and got an overnight reply this time with an offer of accommodation. <BR>Susan and Lucy...I might see you there in September....maybe we could have a glass of vin rouge together! Why don't you send me a reply here or an email to tell me when you'll be there?? <BR>regards <BR>Joy

After communicating with and helping people going to France for many years, I would suggest you not use e-mail for communication. Lots of people complain about not hearing from them (not all certainly, but many). Make personal contact- pick up the phone and call, or at least send a fax. They're not always good at e-mailing. For more got to: www.anamericaninparis.com <BR>[email protected]

Fred: what part of DON'T ADVERTISE HERE do you not understand? <BR> <BR>Go ahead folks -- flame me. But when a Fred if left alone and Ed & Julie are harassed and hounded anonymously well -- a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do. <BR> <BR>Fred. If you want to post please leave off your email and site. And before I get any s*** about E&J -- they are NONCOMMERCIAL and only point to their site when they ahve information on the particular topic.

I AGREE FRED STOP HAWKING YOUR WEBSITE you do it on the frommers board also. It isn't even a very good website, it's obvious if people can find their way to this and other websites if they were interested they would promote your site you woulnd't have to keep doing it. if i continue to see you and your shameless self promotion i will write a letter to the editor of this site and formally complain

A word about "clean" - If a person heard of a very well-located hotel in midtown Manhattan or downtown Chicago and the price was in the $80 range, they would have serious, and deserved, concerns about just what kind of a hotel it was. The range of really nice hotels in Paris for just under and around the $100 mark is a big surprise to someone who's a first-time visitor. And the first thought is: what kind of a hotel am I getting for that money? So I think the assurance of 'clean' is a helpful and entirely suitable one. Then - to learn that in addition to clean, you are also getting pleasant, charming, etc...is a real plus. <BR> <BR>In our travels, we encountered one really bad experience when we arrived late in the day in Chester, England w/o reservations. The local tourist office referred us to the last room available, and it was a dump! Dreary room, formica 50s furniture, and a bath out in the hall that was truly grungy. But that's travel for ya....an occasional bump in the road is to be expected.