danna

No specifics here, but another vote for speed. Last year I spent months aggonizing over hotel choices and when I finally started trying to reserve for September 2 1/2 months prior, my first dozen choices were full. It's easy to let the time slip away!<BR><BR>ALso a vote for the 6th, near Rue de Buci.

elaine

Re the Aviatic<BR>Can't comment on the hotel, but I don't think that location is the same as some of the other hotels under consideration.<BR>Not quite as much of the narrow streets,<BR>and old-world atmosphere of St Germain or Latin Quarter area, imo, it is more Montparnasse than St Germain. Less-touristed area, but maybe that's what you prefer. Just depends what you are looking for.

Kay

I have to add the Hotel Motte Piquet to your list. Its right around the corner from rue Cler and steps away from the ecole militaire metro stop. Staff were very nice. I asked for a room in the back but the ones in front have a lot more charm from what I could see.

jeanne

Kay, thank you for the suggestion but I've pretty much decided on the 6th, particularly the Saint-Sulpice locale. Hotel Bonaparte just quoted me 104 Euro per night INCLUDING breakfast and tax. That looks pretty good. <BR><BR>Other replies I've received so far:<BR>STE BEUVE--too high (162 Euro plus tax)<BR>BERSOLY'S--112 Euro<BR>MUGUET --100 Euro queen size<BR>DU PALAIS BOURBON--90 Euro or as low as<BR>61 Euro for single bed (but scratched from the list)<BR><BR>No word yet from Balcons or Regents...but the Bonaparte is leading at this writing. Is it October yet?<BR> <BR><BR> <BR>

jeanne

While I got your attention, I've one other question. I will be there from Oct 17 thru Nov 2 (leave on the 3rd)...16 nights. <BR><BR>I'm torn between two alternatives: One room entire time with day trips to Versailles, Giverny, etc.? OR slicing 2 nights out of the total and going to Provence, rent a car and tour small villages. <BR><BR>Any thoughts on this? Keep in mind...it's October.

don

I have stayed at Regent's Hotel and was very satisfied. If you like jogging, you are very very close to the Luxembourg Gardens, so it would be easy for you to go there every morning ( wish we all could!). I think it' shte closest of all the hotels you mention.

jeanne

The Regent's is the only hotel left to hear from. Once they reply, I'll make a decision.<BR><BR>Oh gosh, you won't believe it! I wrote back to Hotel Sainte Beuve telling them the rate (162 Euro) was too high. They've responded offering me a room for 110 Euro per night! They attribute it to the fact I'm staying 16 nights (makes sense). Sainte Beuve looks VERY nice. I can tell this is going to be a nail biter! Lesson learned...it never hurts to ask.

Sue

I find it interesting also that Ste Beuve has doubles for 122 as well as 162 listed regularly. See<BR><BR>http://digital.france.com/hotels/hoteldetailsallcomments.ihtml?hotelid=65<BR><BR>I also stayed at Le Clement near Odeon and Mabillon metro stops, which has doubles on the street for 113. I liked it quite a lot and it's not far from H. des Balcons. It's closer to Buci and a little farther from Luxembourg. I hesitated to mention it because you had made your choices and didn't want to throw anything else into the mix. See it here:<BR><BR>http://digital.france.com/hotels/hoteldetails.ihtml?HotelID=479<BR><BR>But so far, Bonaparte sounds like the best deal since it includes breakfast, which can run around 10 euro. My husband and I stopped in there once to get info, but for some reason never went there. It may have been too pricy at the time (our luxury level has gone up over the years).

jj

jeanne, we're staying at the Grand Hotel des Balcons on June 13 (after we arrive in Paris and on our way to the Loire Valley), and then again on June 24, right before we depart for home. We chose this hotel because of the recommendations on this forum. We e-mailed this hotel and several others who were frequently recommended here, and this was the only hotel who could accommodate our rather large party. <BR>Good luck deciding!

Dee

Jeanne,<BR><BR>I too am off on a solo trip to Paris (first timer) in July.<BR><BR>I was going to book the Hotel des Balcons, but was told to try to get a hotel with A/C. The Hotel Abbatial came highly recommended on this forum (in the 6e) and I booked a room there--splurged on a double room for myself for 123?/night.<BR><BR>http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll...=&itty=&from=f

Christina

I usually stay in the Montparnasse area and I would probably be very tempted by that good offer from Ste Beuve. My personal opinion (and I think a lot of these decisions depend on personal taste about things to do, etc) is that I would choose the St-Germain area over the 7th for what you want to do. I just don't find the 7th that exciting myself, and I think it will be more limiting at night (as you said, wanting to walk around, etc.) Also, if I had a choice, I would never ever book a single room (mostly never, but I might for one night) but definitely not for a 2-week stay! So, I'd rule those out. Singles are not just small, they are often terrible rooms in many ways, which is often what has bothered me most about them in the past (very noisy, usually, or I've been given rooms looking onto air shafts with kitchen smells, and almost always next to the elevator or noisy staircase or a restaurant or kitchen, they can be very dark or have no ventilation, also). That's just my opinion having had too many of them when I was poorer, I think hoteliers may discriminate against single women even more than single men, also, but that's just a suspicion based on restaurant experiences where I know they do. I'm on a trip now to Prague, Moravia and Krakow and 2 out of 3 hotels tried to give me the worst room in the hotel even though I had written explicitly that I did not care about price and did not want a noisy room or what is called a "single room." The first hotel I raised a stink because I'd booked months ahead and was staying about a week and paying a lot of money for this room because I'd liked the hotel on a prior visit--and lo and behold, I got a very nice available room down the hall instead of the smallest room next to both the elevator and the housecleaning room (which is often noisy). The second hotel I didn't do anything because it was just one night and wasn't worth the trouble.<BR><BR>This is just my rant, I know, because it's happened recently, but that clerk claimed I had booked a "single room" and that room was nice enough for me. Actually, I had never used that term in my inquiry, and specifically said I wanted a room like a prior one I'd had (which was twice as big and very quiet), so that desk clerk had discriminated against me because I was single even though I'd never even asked for a single room.

jeanne

Dee: Please, please, please let me know about your trip! Have a wonderful time and think of us back here typing our little fingers to the bone doing virtual travel!<BR><BR>Christina: Thanks for the advice. It leads to my next question.<BR><BR>I went ahead and booked Hotel Bonaparte and await their written confirmation. I booked the solid time: 17 Oct through 3 Nov. <BR><BR>Now, here's the question: Suppose I arrive and they try to give me the "broom closet" treatment. If complaints do not budge them, can I look for another place and (if I find one) only be charged for the night(s) I actually stayed? How many nights am I commited to once I arrive? <BR><BR>

Don

Jeanne, just got back from paris. Stayed at the Hotel Lennox Montparnasse. great location. 110 euros, no a.c. helpful english speaking staff.<BR>I went out on my own one night. Walked half of paris between 10:00 and 1:00a.m.<BR>Saw plenty of hotels. The Grand Holel des Balcons looked beautiful. Tried to get that first, but it was booked.<BR>Being a jogger, you will get the lay of the land quickly. No reason not to be out late at night. Safe city.

jeanne

Don: You said "Walked half of paris between 10:00 and 1:00a.m". That's when I SLEEP! I imagine I'll be putting 8 to 10 miles a day on my poor feet and they won't let me stay out past 10 o'clock. I'm up at the crack of dawn for exercise. I love that time of morning and would miss it if I were out late the night before. Thanks for the information, though.

Randy

Jeanne, sorry to add another one to your list, but I have stayed there twice and was quite pleased with the room, the price and the services.<BR><BR>H&ocirc;tel R&eacute;sidence Monge<BR>55, rue Monge<BR>70005 Paris<BR>T&eacute;l: 01 43 26 87 90<BR>Fax: 01 43 54 47 25<BR>Contact person is Julie<BR><BR>This hotel is in the 5th and not far from the Panth&eacute;on or Notre Dame. The hotel is air conditioned and clean. I have found that Julie was quite helpful when ever I had any questions. The price for a singel room with bath is about $70 and $6 for breakfast. The bed was a double, there was TV and a small refrigerator in the room. Next to two metros and the bus goes past the hotel. Lots of places to eat near by and a great mini-supermarket just down the street. You can see some pictures and a list of the services and rates at www.parishotels.com.<BR><BR>If you wish to stay there I would recommend you call the Hotel directly and talk to Julie. She can tell you if there are rooms available and then you can verify the reservation via fax. You will need a credit card to make the reservation.<BR><BR>I have stayed there in September and October and found it convenient to almost everything.<BR><BR>Hope I have been of some help.

jeanne

To Randy: Thank you for pointing out the Hotel Monge. I had not come across it in my cyber-travels and it looks exceptional. I've already booked at Hotel Bonaparte, but will bookmark Hotel Monge for future trips. Are there many cafes, shops in the neighborhood?

lze

Just returned from Paris two days ago. Wonderful visit and I found this forum most helpful. We stayed at the Hotel Champ de Mars and were very happy with it. We thought the owners were very helpful. They speak English and are kind. The room is small especially for two people. But you can pay $75 per night or you can pay $400 per night.......no decision there. We asked for a downstairs room. There are two of them and you can request them I am sure as we did. One has a double bed and the other two twins. Rooms # 2 and 4 I think. They are kind of in the back so you don't get the street noise or the lights from the outside. The bathroom was so small, my husband had to move out in order for me to get in the shower and then he could get back in and put on his contacts, or shave etc. It was kind of funny in a way. But if you are traveling alone, no problem. We ate there most mornings. Kind of boring after a while, no variety, same thing every day. No fruit which I was missing. Stopped at a local fruit stand and bought some to take to breakfast. We only ate there because it is cheap, convenient and there is no smoking. It was quiet. I don't know how many take advantage of it. I think perhaps some take the food to their rooms to eat. It is nice to go out for crepes or something else. No AC at that hotel. We slept with windows open. Not bad. The price is certainly right. Small cafes are great. Don't know much about the jogging etc. There are a lot of cobblestone streets and uneven pavement I know that. I am 58 and we did a LOT of walking. Took the metro also. It's the way to get around there. Just wonderful. Do be careful about pickpockets however. My hubby got relieved of 80 Euros on the metro. Could have always been worse. Don't know in Oct. how early it gets dark. But as we were there it stayed light until 10 PM. I thought it was wonderful. Lots of people still on the streets. I think the city never sleeps. Have a great time. Keep reading these posts. It will help you make your decision. E-mail me direct if you have any questions. I will do my best to answer.

topper

ttt

Lucy

Hi Jeanne, I can also add to the list off reccomendations for Grand Hotel des Balcons - I stayed there for 10 nights last October & had a very comfortable stay in a great, convenient & safe location. I booked a a 'single room' which was actually just a double at a slightly lower price given it was just for one adult. I think I specifically asked for as large a single room as was available. I think it cost around 495FF ( not sure what that is in euros) which was VERY reasonable. The hot breakfasts are also fantastic although thats an additional cost (59FF while I was there). I really enjoyed my stay there & was reluctant to leave.

jeanne

I must say the Balcons was a very close 2nd for me. They quoted me 90 Euro plus breakfast at 10 E. (vs. the Bonaparte at 104 Euro incl. tax & bkfst). They were virtually tied. <BR><BR>Then I saw an article in a magazine at the nail salon...Vogue, I think. It was about a chocolate shop on Rue Bonaparte and said it has undergone a true renaissance...Place Sainte-Sulpice area is supposedly really "hot". <BR><BR>Also, Hotel Bonaparte has no website, so I like the anticipation of what it's really like (it's reviewed favorably in Fodor's Rants and Raves). <BR><BR>Lastly, no matter where I stay I think I, too, will be most reluctant to leave Paris behind. Thanks for your input.