Hotels

Paris Guide©

Judy and Mel Croner

Hotels

We don't stay in hotels in Paris so are somewhat limited in our ability to recommend specific hotels. Hotels in Paris are very different from those in the US and from each other. Price, typically, is correlated to the size of the room, and to some extent, location. Hotels, even small hotels, located on the Left Bank, near the boulevard Saint Germain, are more expensive than almost any where else in Paris. You should consider carefully how much time you intend to spend in your hotel, and what level of service you want. If you plan to stay in Paris for 5-days or more, request a discount from the "rack" rate, especially during off-season.

One of our "local" favorites is the Hôtel Mercedes, 128, avenue de Wagram, 75017 Paris. Téléphone: 01.42.27.77.82 / Fax: 01.40.53.09.89 / email: hotelmercedes@yahoo.fr. The hotel was renovated in 2003. The twin-bedded rooms are quite large by Paris standards and are air conditioned. The location is convenient to the Métro stop Wagram, line No. 3, and a short walk to the Arch de Triomphe and the Champs d'Élysées. The buffet breakfast is sumptuous. Rates are in the range of 260 - 275 €. Tell them that you are a friend of ours.

To search for a hotel in Paris, try Welcome to Paris Online Hotel Reservation Service or France Online for information on specific hotels in Paris. Michelin has a very useful website provided by Michelin that includes the Michelin Guide© online. It has lots of recommendations for hotels and restaurants throughout Europe.

Be sure to mention whether you want a shower or a bath tub. (Rooms with showers usually are less expensive.) Today, only really cheap hotels lack baths in the room! Also, state your preference for single beds or a double bed. Most Paris hotels do not have king- or queen-size beds, except American chains. Generally, rooms with twin beds are larger. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a room on the inner courtyard or one on a higher floor.

If you are arriving before midday, ask if the hotel will guarantee your room for check-in before 2:00 PM (14h00), the usual check-in time.

If you are going to be in Paris in the late Spring, Summer, or early Autumn, think about a hotel with air conditioning. Even some small hotels have air conditioning. It is really difficult to sleep with an open window near a street unless you are a very sound sleeper.

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