I ended up booking at the Hotel Metropolitan (http://www.metropolitan-paris.com/). Has anyone else stayed at this hotel before and would advise against it? The reviews from tripadvisor were mostly positive, and they have a winter special for rent 2 nights get the 3rd free. I'm staying for 6 nights so it works out well for me since I'll get 2 free nights. This is my first time in Paris, actually Europe as a whole, and so I want to take my time here to explore the city without feeling rushed. Please feel free to give any inputs on some must-do things in Paris or the surrounding areas.

I travel a lot in the states for business, and most of the time I'm by myself so I specify that there would be one adult when I book the room. Once in awhile I would have a companion tagging along, usually unplanned for when I booked the room, but the hotels I've stayed in never questioned or charged me extra for it (and I didn't have to sneak anyone in).

I've actually asked a Marriott representative once when booking if it matters how many people I put down since at the time of booking I wasn't sure yet if there would be 2 or one in the room. His reply was that it wouldn't really matter as long as I don't have 3 or 4 people since you probably can't fit more than 2 people on their beds if I only got one bed. But of course this was just one representative I talked to and doesn't necessarily reflect the company's policy.

French hotels traditionally charged per room, not per person. Therefore, a double room would cost the same whether it was occupied by one or two people. This is why a "single" often costs the same as a "double". If a hotel offers a single which is cheaper than a double, then that's because it really is a single, probably with a bed less than 3 ft wide.

Hi nona1
> In America you can book a single room (paying for one person) and take another person with you?<

In the US, we almost always pay for a room. These are generally one large, one very large or two double beds.

The hotels don't usually care if there are one or two people.

Some motels do charge a few dollars more for two people than for one.

Hi C,
>I ended up booking at the Hotel Metropolitan...<

Looks like a nice place, at a good price.

You are out behind the Trocadero, not far from 2 metro stops.

You can see your location at www.mappy.com.

You can take a tour of the neighborhood at www.pagesjaunes.fr.

"..If a hotel offers a single which is cheaper than a double, then that's because it really is a single, probably with a bed less than 3 ft wide..."

actually, I've seen a separate room rate described as "double used as single" on many websites.

Oh I see, thanks Ira.

Ok to clarify for Europe

double - this is for two people, one big bed.

twin - this is for two people, two small beds

single - this is for one person, one small bed. Often the worst rooms in the place, very very tiny, as if they could possibly have squashed a double bed in they would have.

double used as single (or often called single occupancy of double).This is a normal double room - one big bed intended for 2 people - but with only one person using it. The rate will normally be very slightly cheaper than the double rate. Don't try to book this and sneak that extra person in though.

Practices, both by law and custom, vary greatly between countries.
In Italy, hotels are, I believe, legally obliged to offer a discount if a double room is occupied by only one person - though the discount will be off the official rate which is often inflated.
In France, hotel rooms were traditionally priced per room, with no discount for unused beds. Breakfast was extra and, obviously, charged per person.
Hotels anywhere can charge whatever they like in order to attract customers. I doubt whether there is any country where hotels would allow people to sneak in extra guests: even if there is bed space and there's no extra charge, the hotel needs to know who will be sleeping in the room.

Yes, you want a double room in Paris (for two people).