We have the opportunity to go to Paris over Memorial Day using free Holiday Inn points. Which HI would be "best" - least business-like, best location and most charming? We're considering Opera, Republique or St. Germaine. I'm leaning towards the Opera based on photos on their web site, but have seen many positive comments about Republique. Thank you!

We alsways stay at the Holiday Inn Tour Eiffel on the Boulevard de Grenelle. A wonderful small Europeon hotel situated between 2 Metro stops and some of the best restaurants (opinion) in Paris. The staff is warm and friendly.

I've heard a lot of good things about Republique, although I have never stayed there. Someone posted about it recently--it will probably turn up if you do a search.

I do like that neighborhood a lot.

Thanks for the comments. I did see many good comments on the Republique, so we decided to stay there. Also, for the same number of Holiday Inn Reward points, they offer a suite. I will check out the one by the Eiffel tower, however, for a possible future trip. Thanks for the comments. I'm excited about the trip!

I've stayed at both Republique and St Germain des Pres, and I would definitely recommend the St Germain property over Republique.

The physical facility at Republique is indeed extremely nice. It's an old hotel (the Hotel Modern, I think) that was completely rehabed around 1980. The problem is that Republique is not my first (or second or third or fourth) choice of areas to stay in Paris. It's not really a residential neighborhood, there isn't really interesting shopping compared to other parts of the city -- it's almost a transit point when you're going from one part of Paris to another.

The HI St Germain is not an attractive building at all: the lobby is drab and dark, the breakfast room is in the basement, and the hotel is generally without charm. (The exception is if you land a room on one of the top floors -- you can see the Eiffel Tower from some of them!) However, the St Germain is in a wonderful neighborhood -- it's quiet, but a 1-minute walk from the lively Rue de Rennes. You're just a few minutes walk from the best shopping and cafe-ing in the St Germain des Pres, the Montparnasse tower, and the Luxembourg Gardens. All in all, it's one of the better locations in Paris. And if you're paying for the room (rather than redeeming points), it's one of the best values in the city.

Although you have decided not to stay at the Holiday Inn Tour Eiffel this trip, send me your email address and I will send you a write up I did not too long ago on this hotel. Might come in handy in the future.

My address is [email protected]

Au revoir

Megdean,
We just stayed at the Republique so you probably read my review. While it may not be next to any of the tourist sights (that can be a plus) it is a very very easy Metro ride to any of them, plus you have access to 5 Metro lines at your doorstep. We've stayed in a number of hotels in different areas of Paris and this was by far the most enjoyable of any. No tiny basement (or windowless) breakfast room - it was a large dining room and the food selection was good during our visit. As for residential, people live all over the place in Paris, just take your eyes above street level and you will see apartments over every building. I'm sure a suite will be nice, we had an executive room and it was very nice. Do ask for a courtyard view tho. I am not sure how noisy the Plaza area would be but we never heard one single sound from anyplace in our room (and that includes plumbing noises from other rooms). Enjoy your stay!!

We went to Paris a couple of years ago and stayed in the St. Germain area (Hotel de Fleurie). As you stated, "rizzuto", we loved both the hotel and the area, but this time we decided to try something different. Lori, any good restaurant recommendations within walking distance of the Republique?

The Holiday Inn at the Opera location was written up badly on tripadvisor.com by one guest. I've read here that the property at Republique is really nice and of course the St. Germain location would be great but I guess the hotel itself isn't charming as noted here.
So out of the three the Republique location sounds best.

We enjoyed CHEZ JENNY, a Brasserie Alsacienne a block or so from Place de Republique. Cheery buxom waitresses provide fantastic service -- and tease you into eating every morsel in front of you. If you like oysters, crab, mussels, etc. split the towering cold seafood appetizer. There were more types of shellfish then I'd ever had in my life.