I guess I'm just extremely busy at work but I have not found an apartment or hotel for my family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids ages 12/12/13). We will be staying in Paris for 5 nights in August. This is our very first trip so I've been told it would be best to stay at any area under #10 (plus, we'll be on our way back to the States from a month in Egypt so we really won't have the energy). I've been looking for something for several weeks and here's what I'm running into:

1. Apartment doesn't rent out for 5 nights, need 7 night minimum.
2. EXPENSIVE HOTELS >$500+ for 2 rooms (that's if I'm lucky and find two that'll fit us).
3. EXPENSIVE APARTMENTS again, >$500 for 2 rooms of course they're much larger than the hotels but still more $$$ than we can afford.
4. I came very close to renting an apartment but then learned it had no airconditioning. Since we'll be there in August that's not something we want to risk!
5. Some apartments do not accept credit cards so we're nervous about sending a wire in the form of payment.

So, here I am still without a place to stay in Paris. Can someone just give me a really good recommendation that would fit our needs? Our needs:

1. In a kid friendly, safe neighborhood convenient to the major sites (and lovely bakeries/groceries) (we love walking, not so keen on using metro to go everywhere) preferably in a neighborhood under #10.
2. 2 rooms that cost >$300 a night.
3. Clean, don't care about lifts, airconditioned and the owner/agency takes credit cards.

Can anyone help?

I have used Travelocity and/or Expedia to scope out hotel rooms.

Why not send a wire? It is as safe as a CC.

I find your experience kind of surprising and I know Paris hotels pretty well. August is the lowest rate season there is, but on the other hand, the value of the USD right now stinks (assume that is why you are quoting dollars, I don't know as quotes should be in euro from Paris hotels), but it still shouldn't be that hard to find a double room for $250 whcih I guess is what you want. Although one you need is more a triple. Okay, 150 euro right now is close to $225, so that is a modest hotel, but I've easily found 3* hotels in Paris for that rate in August (just last year, in fact it was a triple even though I ddin't need the day bed).

Do you have your signs wrong and you actually want TWO hotel rooms for less than $300 total? Or do you just mean less than $300 for one room? Big difference.

clarify exactly what you want to spend and I can make some suggestions, I think I can find hotels around $250 in August with AC in good areas for a double. If you expect two rooms for that rate, that's another story.

Okay, one example of the place I mentioned with a triple where I stayed last summer -- it was the HOtel Raspail Montparnasse and right now I checked and they have deluxe triples in August for 185 euro and deluxe doubles for 165 euro. Great location, AC, nice hotel.
http://www.hotelraspailmontparnasse.com

that's just one, but I hope you don't expect all five of you to be in one room, you are going to have to split up (one adult with some kids) in a hotel, most likely. Or find hotels with communicating rooms (more likely with doubles), there are some.

oops sorry for the confusion. I meant I need both rooms to cost less than $300 TOTAL.

Have you tried Vacation in Paris? They have numerous two bedroom apartments within your price range.

http://www.vacationinparis.com/infop/two_br.htm

Most rent by the night with a 4 night minimum.

Ibis la Fayette

-http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0863-ibis-paris-gare-du-nord-la-fayette-10eme/index.shtml

is $125.00 per night, per room with AC. Each room sleeps 3, two on bottom and one on top bunk bed. It is in-suite.

Also, look for apt. here. I found some for 600Euro for the week. Might be worth it to eat a couple of days. Cut and paste the below address or search homelidays.co.uk

http://www.homelidays.co.uk/EN-Holid...NEEFIN=08/2011

are you sure that you can't get an apartment for less than 7 nights? some agencies will rent out for 3 nights plus, I think. in fact I just googled and found this 2 bedroomed apartment in the 10th, but near to Gare du nord so easy to get about via the RER/RAPT for just €120/night:

http://www.vrbo.com/312437#rates

they still have some availability for august. VRBO is an owner's listing agency so prices tend to be cheaper than with some others, where the agency takes a hefty cut.

good luck!

Hi Lay,

This has been suggested by someone else, who said it was a good business traveler's hotel. It is close to a metro stop, about 15 min from Notre Dame.

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/en....php?langue=en

Have you checke with Citadenes. They are apartment hotels with several locations in Paris.

I think you will find that few apartments have AC. And although many hotels have family rooms that is usually good for 4 people - not 5 adults.

I would start looking for budget hotels with AC and assume you will need 2 rooms - preferably connecting or on the same floor. I believe travelocity allows you to search by amenity - so I would start with a price and AC - and see what there is.

The Holiday Inn in Montparnasse has triples from 144€, doubles from 122€ -- it is still much less than $500 (340€)
http://parishotelparnasse.com/
Nice modern 3-star hotel, air-conditioned.

I'd recommend an apartment over a hotel for the family. Try OwnersDirect.com and Home Away Holiday Rentals. They both have Paris apartments. Most have previous guest comments so you can get an idea of how good the accommodation is. My experience is that they require a three day rental. As others have said, there is no problem with wiring cash for your deposit but you will pay a bank fee.

With the apartment, you'll have a kitchen. You'll be able to save a little on expenses by buying some staples such as cereal, milk, juice, fruit, coffee, etc. You'll have much more room in an apartment and I think you'd find it more comfortable and economical than a hotel stay.

There are apts that rent for that time period, but it is difficult to find one with AC at that rate, that's the problem. There aren't that many with AC to begin with. Citadines might be a good idea but I think they are much more expensive than this budget allows.

euro now 1.48 USD, so $300 is only 202 euro per night to house five people in AC accommodations. It's the fifth person that makes this difficult (and not a baby). I found a place that has quads for only about 200 euro in August, and AC and a great locatoin, in fact, I stayed there a year or two ago (Trianon Rive Gauche hotel in Latin Qtr). YOu can ge3t interconnecting rooms for 4 people for only 184 euro which is a bargin.

Maybe you should try to find an apt with AC, or check some of the cheaper chain hotels, they are more likely to have AC and some cheap August rates (like Ibis, check Accor website).