Paris

Best and worst accommodations:

Worst: Hotel Prince
Why: Entire facility is dirty and in disrepair. "Management" is deliberately unhelpful and demanded that room key be left at desk each day. Meanwhile, the desk was frequently unstaffed allowing anyone to come in and pick up key unnoticed.

Sharon Wardrip in Indianapolis, IN USA 07/16/2008

Best: L'empereur hotel
Why: Pleasant informal central to left bank close to Rue Cler

Martin Jansen in Agoura Hills, Ca USA 07/13/2008

Best: Hotel Cluny
Why: This 2-star hotel is a no-frills hotel, but offers exactly what I need - a clean, cozy, safe place to stay that is well-kept and quiet in the evenings. The staff were fabulous and the location - key. Thank you for this recommendation, Rick. I would keep in your guidebook. Definitely will return here when I return to Paris.

Beverly Lui in Thousand Oaks, CA USA 07/11/2008

Best: did not use
Why: did not use live in paris

Worst: did not use
Why: did not use rented apt

Joanne in paris france, Paris 07/11/2008

Best: apartment-in-paris.com
Why: Good value. Lots of rules, but made up for it with space, washer/dryer, well supplied kitchen and nice neighborhood. Very helpful notebook in apartment with how to work everything, places to see and shop, etc.

Deborah Sabolich in OKC, OK USA 07/07/2008

Best: Hotel Champs de Mars
Why: great location! great price!

Kathy in Downingtown, PA USA 06/23/2008

Best: Hotel Jeanne d'Arc -- in the Marais
Why: We really felt like we were living in a neighborhood for eight days. The location is perfect. The rooms are larger than most European hotels. The people at the desk are friendly and helpful.

Tom & Kathy in Orange, CT USA 06/18/2008

Best: Hotel du Cadran
Why: Hotel Relais Bosquet was booked, so we went with a hotel that Rick faintly praised. He said it wasn't as good a value as other places in the Rue Cler. However, we loved it. For a mention of Rick Steves guidebook, they dropped the room rate from 210 euro to 185, and included breakfast (13 euro normally). Staff was fluent in English and very helpful. The rooms are newly remodeled and don't have "French charm" but are very modern with comfortable beds and good water pressure/temp in the shower. Oh, and working A/C!

Karen in San Diego, CA USA 06/09/2008

Best: n/a
Why: We were able to use frequent visit points at Marriott.

Jean Hoffmann in Pleasant Prairie, WI USA 06/05/2008

Best: None
Why: My mother and I travel together and as a general rule we don't follow guidebook recommendations - sorry! We did, however, stay at a great Left Bank hotel called the Hotel des Nations St. Germain at 54 r. Monge. The room was tiny but the location, staff and quality of the room were excellent!

Michelle Kelly in Ft. Collins, CO USA 06/03/2008

Best: Hotel de Turenne
Why: The price was VERY reasonable, and the front desk folks were friendly and helpful! The room was very small, but hey, it's Europe! It was clean and the location was perfect!

Nicki in Seattle, WA USA 05/23/2008

Best: Hotel Sevigne
Why: Sure they weren't overly friendly, but they weren't rude. Great location, you are only a block from the metro and walking distance to Notre Dame Cathdral.

Kate Buechler in Winnipeg, MB Canada 05/22/2008

Best: Hotel la Perle
Why: While it is a bit of a splurge, this hotel is a great value. The rooms are huge by Parisian standards and the staff is top notch. The hotel is located in the heart of the St. Germain Des-Pres area. As the Rue Cler area is getting ready for bed, this part of town is just starting to kick things into high gear. Lots of shopping, lots of restaurants, lots of movie theaters and several nearby Metro stations have made this my new home away from home.

Robert Schiffner in Moses Lake, WA USA 05/13/2008

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: Location, location, location!!!

Joyce Webb in Monument , CO USA 05/11/2008

Best: Hotel Bonaparte
Why: Nice room, very clean, helpful staff, decent breakfast each morning, and a very good value for the money. Great location - easy walking distance to most sights. Lots of restaurants and shops nearby. Would definitely stay there again.

Sue in Newport Beach, CA USA 04/26/2008

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: Clean and quiet hotel on a very quiet street, with a fabulous view of the twinkling Eiffel Tower right from our sixth floor room at night! Close to the Metro, Invalides, Rodin Museum, and delightful Rue Cler, where we enjoyed wonderful pastries each day! A healthy, but doable walk to the Notre Dame area, and not too far of a walk to the Eiffel Tower. Our teenage son enjoyed checking with friends on their computer each night, while we had tea or coffee in the lobby. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Sue Laabs in Northville, MI USA 04/13/2008

Worst: Grand Hotel Du Loiret
Why: I was extremely disappointed and upset with this hotel. The problems started off minor, and ended very nastily. When the two other people and I arrived and got to our room, the bathroom was very dirty and looked as though it had not been cleaned. There were 2 small towels and a hand towel provided, and when I went to the front desk to kindly ask for one extra towel, I was told "there were no more in the entire hotel". While climbing into bed that night, I found a sizable insect crawling in my sheets! The next morning, my friends and I had to wake up very early to run the Paris marathon. The walls between rooms were paper thin, and every time one of the doors in the hallway was opened it was so loud that I was positive it was ours being opened, so I would sit up suddenly as if it was ours, because it was that loud. Therefore we got terrible sleep before our big day. The next morning, we had seen breakfast advertised in the elevator without any prices, and so assumed it was included (as small breakfasts like the one pictured including croissants and cereal often are in many hotels). In the early morning we decided to drop in just to grab a bread roll each (we already had bananas we had bought, and didn't want to eat much before the race). When paying the bill the next morning and checking out, we saw that we had been charged 7 euros each for breakfast, which we essentially had not eaten. When I politely asked if we could eat breakfast that morning to serve as the one which we had not eaten the morning before, or be reimbursed for what we didn't eat, I was told that I was being "ridiculous" and "stupid". The man assumed that I didn't understand french, and under his breath was saying offensive things in french. The entire situation was very upsetting, and I would never stay there again! Please pull them from your book.

Meghan in Chicago, IL USA 04/08/2008

Best: none
Why: WE made a reservation prior to purchasing the book and we stayed in a hotel in Rue PAssy, very nice area, shopping, restaurants and only a few blocks from Eiffel Tower. Hotel Nicolo, GREAT Staff

Toni in Murrieta, CA USA 04/02/2008

Best: Hotel Grand Levesque
Why: Inexpensive, very friendly desk staff, fabulous location, cheesy ambiance with the Fromagerie right next door.

Howard Dellar in Aurora, On Canada 03/24/2008

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Grand Hotel Leveque was the only hotel we used in France, and it was exactly as described except for the WiFi. The staff was very helpful.

Teresa Reveley in London, UK 03/23/2008

Best:
Why:

Deana in Burlington, ON Canada 03/18/2008

Worst: Hotel Central
Why: This is single most foul place I have ever stayed. The steepness of the stairs prevents the owners from cleaning the rooms. So the carpets are filthy and smelly. There are shared toilets but the door on one closes right on the front of the toilet allowing only contortionists to use it. The matresses in our room had sprung springs so it felt like we were sleeping on spearheads. It was so foul that we preferred to sit in the airport overnight to catch a morning flight than to stay there our last night eventhough we had paid already. I don't know why they keep this hotel in their guidebook. I chose it because another budget website recommended it too, but when I emailed them our experience it was taken off that site. Please Rick, do the same.

Kerry in Hollywood, CA USA 03/14/2008

Best: Hotel du Champs de Mars
Why: Perfect location, close to everything. They are currently going through a renovation in the public areas. The rooms are small but charming. Great bathrooms, and you can borrow the lobby's laptop to check email in your room. Rue Clar is a great place to start and end the day. Be prepared to rediscover walking. So much to see and do that you'll decide to walk a lot along with taking the Metro. We went for a week in January 2008 and weather was low 50's/high 40's F. Being from New England, it felt like spring. No trees in bloom, but no crowds either. If it's your second time back, as it was for me, this is the way to go.

Cheryl Dowdell in Charlestown, RI USA 02/08/2008

Best: Hotel Beaugency
Why: I was pleasantly surprised with the Hotel Beaugency. I had gotten a very good rate including breakfast on the internet for a five night stay and was pleased to try this hotel right off the Rue Cler after having stayed at the Hotel Leveque twice and the Relais Bosquet once. My room was not ready when I arrived after noon but the front desk quickly found another room for me that was clean and ready to go. My room was clean and a decent size with a nice, big, deep bathtub that was wonderful after long days of sightseeing. Each room has a different type of safe so you must consult with the front desk about how to enable the safe. My room was cleaned quickly and early each day so even if I ran back to the hotel to drop off packages mid-day, it was ready. My only complaint about the hotel was the coffee served with the breakfast buffet. The buffet itself was quite fine but the coffee...not so much. I love good strong French coffee but this coffee was put in a self serve pumper pot much like you would see at a Courtyard/Hampton in the US. Fine for our type of coffee but the French type did not hold up well at all. However, that is a very minor complaint for an overall wonderful stay at the Hotel Beaugency!

Heather in Pittsburgh, PA USA 01/29/2008

Best: Hotel Plat D'Etain (near Republique)
Why: We paid only 299 euros for four nights (JAN). They had a baby bed waiting for us in the room when we arrived. They had a room for us to store the baby stroller. The staff was very helpful. We were a 1.5 minute walk from the Stroudsburg St. Denis metro stop. We were five minutes from two grocery stores, dozens of cafes, and two McDonalds. All of the rooms were smoking rooms and the interior wasn't the Ritz, but we didn't come to Paris to relax in a hotel.

John, Yvonne, and Kaytlin Galle-Bishop in Naples, Italy 01/24/2008

Best: Castex
Why: We stayed at the Castex. Very clean and comfortable. The rooms were very small as noted in your book but more than satisfactory. The include breakfast was great by European standards. Great location.

Dan J Newbold in Kelowna B..C. , Canada 01/02/2008

Best: Relais Bosquet
Why: Extremely cordial service; very attentive in advance of our stay; made several restaurant reservations for us (and recommended La Litote, our favorite); rooms are very clean and quiet; breakfast is excellent; location is great (near Ecole-Militaire metro station). We will stay here on our next visit.

Carole Loftin in Atlanta, GA USA 12/27/2007

Best: Hotel Grand Leveque
Why: Fantastic location, helpful and friendly staff, comfortable rooms (but the walls are very thin...). It isn't the Ritz, but isn't Motel 6 either. Great value all around and rue Cler is a great way to get a good dose of Parisian living. Would definately stay here again.

Brett in Fresno, CA USA 12/21/2007

Best: Grand Hotel Levesque, Rue Clair, Paris
Why: location and the hotel staff were excellent. Walking to the Eiffel Tower within 10 minutes and over the Seine to Champs Elysee - what an experience. Take Rick's advice and go to Paris

Maureen Barber in Vancouver, BC Canada 12/10/2007

Best: We arranged our own accomodations,and would highly recommend the Hotel Saint-Louis.
Why: The Saint-Louis is wonderfully located on the Ile St. Louis. It is very central to Notre Dame, the Louve, RER and Metro stops, etc. Plus it is a completely French Hotel, with a friendly and helpful staff. We would recommend that you explore more accomodations in the middle and more exoensive range.

Bernadette Dunn in Madison, CT USA 12/05/2007

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: Enjoyable stay, clean & tasteful room, free Wi-fi enjoyed breakfast by little garden courtyard. Metro was down, but we were still able to walk to Eiffel Tower, Rue Cler area, and the Louvre.

Caryle McCaffrey in McHenry, IL USA 11/29/2007

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: We were so close to everything. We walked to the Eiffel Tower. The Metro was around the corner, & last but not least, we were in the middle of the Rue Cler market. The hotel staff were so friendly & willingly helped us to give us the Metro stops & changes we needed to do. We even took the Eurostar to London & made it to the Gard du Nord with 3 Metro changes. We took the metro & train to Versailles like the locals & saved lots of money & still saw everything the big tours saw.

Patricia Proctor in Mount Vernon, Wa USA 11/12/2007

Best: Hotel de la Bourdonnais
Why: Clena, spacious rooms, very friendly staff, great location. Highly recommend this hotel.

Jill Blanchard Canada 11/08/2007

Best: Paris Home 2000 (studio apartment)
Why: After our disappointing experience with Hotel Eber Mars in 2006, (see review below if its still there), my wife and I decided to rent an apartment for this year’s stay in Paris (our favorite European destination). ‘Paris Home 2000’, was one of two listings in the 2007 Rick Steve’s Paris guide book as an alternative to staying in a hotel, so we went ahead and booked a studio apartment for two weeks in October. We have just returned from our Paris vacation and are happy to report that we really enjoyed apartment life in Paris, immensely.

Upon arrival, owner Slim met us at the entrance of the apartment building on 9 rue Amelie, which is located in the rue Cler neighborhood of the 7th Arrondissement. Slim took us through the building’s code activated security door and up to our second floor studio. What a wonderful relief to find the studio to be spotlessly clean and just as advertised on Slim’s web site. I won’t go into all of the amenities, but we especially enjoyed having a fully equipped kitchen, refrigerator, washer/dryer, free unlimited phone use (both local and international), and free high speed wireless internet connection. Slim was always just a phone call or email away if we had any questions regarding anything at all.

On the morning of our last day, Slim arranged for a taxi to take us to the airport at 7:30 am. It was a large, luxurious, privately owned taxi with a roomy leather interior and a super sound system which played relaxing music all the way to the airport. We were charged the approximate going rate of 46 Euros for the ride.

If you are staying in Paris for a week or more and want to try apartment life instead of a hotel, my wife and I can highly recommend Paris Home 2000. The rate for two people is 500 Euros per week; a bargain in our opinion and less per night than many of the hotels Rick recommends in the same neighborhood.

Thank you Rick and thank you Slim!

Worst: N/A
Why: N/A

Lopaka in Honolulu, HI USA 11/02/2007

Worst: Hotel la Cheval Rouge, Versailles
Why: This hotel is adorable and we were delighted by the location, the exterior and the common areas. We expect only the basics from a "two stars", and the room was big, clean and had a nice closet and bath. Problems - we arrived late, around 9 pm, with a picnic dinner, and although there is a restaurant attached, we could not get a corkscrew or utensils at this hour. The front desk closed at 10 pm, had we stopped for dinner instead, we would have been locked out. No blow dryer in the room, which has become standard for a **. This was more B and B than hotel in reality. No blow dryer and nobody at the desk after 10 pm are limitations that should be noted.

Chris and Mary Ray in Cincinnati, OH USA 10/15/2007

Worst: Hotel Notre Dame, Rue de Malte
Why: In the Paris guide it said this hotel guranteed prices and was a fair value. I tried repeatedly to book a room with no reponse to my e-mails. As I was meeting friends there, I had to have a room. I finally went to an independent site and booked a room at €20 more. When I got there, the room was extremely shabby and dirty. The reading light didn't work, the phone didn't work, and the desk collapsed when leaned upon and was propped up daily by the maid just to collapse again. We were there for six nights and yet were "awarded" just two bars of mini soap - we had to asked for more - and two plastic cups which desintegrated from use. The bathroom doors were saloon style swinging doors made out of thin plywood guranteeing absolutely no privacy. I think this hotel doesn't warrant your recommendation. We live in Europe and use RS guides for most countries, this was our first real let down. And in the words of fellow travelers - we like to "Stick With Rick"!

[Editor's Note: You'll be glad to know this hotel as been deleted from our 2008 Paris guidebook.]

Heidi in Antwerp, Belgium 10/15/2007

Best: Hotel A La Villa Des Artistes (Best Western)
Why: (Not in your recommendations) This was a nice, clean hotel, with a good size room and lovely modern bathroom with lots of hot water and huge tubs and lovely big windows. The staff was most accomodating, very friendly and all spoke English. The breakfast which was included in the price was sumptious, with lots of hot coffee, croissants and many different tasty items served fresh each morning. It was in a lovely neighborhood right off the Rue de Montparnesse, and very quiet though near a busy street. I wouild highly recommend it to anyone looking to stay in a lovely Paris neighborhood. It was also close to bus stops, the metro and near the Luxembourg Gardens (6th arrondissement)

Vicki Probst in Pinellas Park, FL USA 10/14/2007

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: Been staying here for over 10 years. Great staff, mod cons, comfort, location, charm, breakfast included as a R.S. reader.

Worst: Hotel La Perle
Why: Booked for a change of neighborhood and expected similar to Hotel Relais Bosquet in the same price range. Never again. Very poor value for money. Room on the shabby side with cheap motel quality furniture.

Renee USA 10/03/2007

Best: Hotel de la Tulipe
Why: We stayed seven nights at the Hotel de la Tulipe on Rue Malar. Everyone on the staff was helpful and friendly; the room was small but exceptionally clean; it is right around the corner from the #69 bus stop on Rue Ste.Dominique. Since the hotel is small (21 rooms), everyone receives personalized service. For example, Bernard, the owner, helped us with our luggage when we arrived and when we departed in the very dependable Yellow Van, which he had recommended. We would return (if only it were possible!) tomorrow!

Joanne Cabrera in San Antonio, TX USA 09/30/2007

Best: Hotel La Roseraie, Chenonceau
Why: Sophie and Laurent were great. The evening meal is the dining room was such a treat- they even made me a special vegetarian dinner. The hotel itself is so charming - loved the pool and the fact that its walking distance to the chateau.

Sita Ananth in Napa, CA USA 09/19/2007

Best: We stayed at the Hotel du Champ de Mars
Why: Last time we stayed at the Rue Cler (on your recommendation) we used the Grand Hotel Leveque, which was mostly recommendable for its location. We couldn't get into the Champ de Mars that time, but this time we had a lovely room overlooking the street and enjoyed the sounds of the cafe on the corner drifting up to us.

Nancy Kline in Mission Viejo, CA USA 09/18/2007

Best: Hotel Le Tourville
Why: Staff is friendly and very accomodating. We had the double room with private terrace and it was absolutely wonderful. Hotel is close to Eiffel Tower, cafes and shoppes.

Diane Mullins in Kerrville, TX USA 09/11/2007

Best: Hotel La Perle
Why: We stayed four nights in July at Hotel La Perle in Rue des Canettes in the St. Germain de Pres area, near St. Sulpice Church(7th district). We highly recommend both the hotel and the neigbourhood. The hotel is immaculate and the rooms are spacious by European standards; the bathroom was roomy and well-appointed, and our room looked down into a pleasant courtyard. The neighbourhood is terrific, lively at night and full of wonderful restaurants and bars. We wandered around each evening within the two blocks surrounding our hotel, and chose a different restaurant, and we were never disappointed. It's a short walk to the Luxembourg Gardens in one direction and Boulevard St. Germain in another. Reading the Grafitti Wall, I'm surprised to see that almost all the comments refer to hotels in the Rue Cler area: I really recommend the historic Left Bank area around St. Germain de Pres.

Vivian in Vancouver, BC Canada 08/31/2007

Worst: Hotel Jehan de Beauce, Chartres, France
Why: They stole our luggage from our room when we questioned a ten euro a night increase in the fee for our double room. Only the lengthy and heated intervention of the manager of the local tourist information bureau got our bags back to us, after a few tense hours. We were yelled at by both the manager and his wife. They also refused to answer the phone when contact was trying to be made from the Tourist Office and from the hotel room. When they finally did answer, they hung up on us after yelling at us some more! They claimed the reservation form made through the Tourist Office was not a "real" reservation, so they could change the amount due. Wholly unsatisfactory, and quite frightening, too!

Christine in McEwan, ON Canada 08/29/2007

Best: Le Sevigne
Why: Recently remodeled so very clean and well-maintained. Thoughtfully decorated. Got the bigger double bed and so worth it after the Cherry Court Hotel in London. Fabulous location-we love the Marais for its fun, but not rowdy, nightlife.

Worst: Beaugeancy Hotel
Why: Hotel was overpriced for what it actually offered.

Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/25/2007

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Perhaps in part because I had stayed at hostels through my travels in Ireland and Northern Ireland, this hotel was like paradise. It's odd that this message board has both very negative and very positive reviews of this hotel. My room was a single. It was clean and quiet (away from the street) and the location, as others have mentioned, was perfect. True, the breakfast isn't worth the cost (Rick says this too), but for a mere mention of the Rick Steves' guidebook, I had one free breakfast. I will recommend this hotel to my friends.

Paul Takemura in Monterey Park, CA USA 08/08/2007

Best: Valadon Hotel
Why: recently renovated, bright and airy. Hoteliers Victor and Marie Orsenne were delightful and so helpful. Great breakfast also. Just around the corner from Rue Cler.

Worst: Hotel Leveque
Why: We stayed in two hotels this trip to Paris. The Leveque has become seedy and deteriorated. Our triple room was not clean, and the staff not helpful. We skipped onsite breakfast, clearly not worth the cost, and enjoyed our favorite Rue Cler bakery. The noise on Rue Cler at night has increased such that it is no longer "charming." The crepe maker now serves a pre-fab concoction taken from a stack and adds per order. The Leveque is not inexpensive it is cheap. The Royal Phare around the corner is a much better value if one is looking for proximityto Rue Cler. Hopefully Rick's staff will delete Leveque from future recommendations.

M, Kohl in Castro Valley, Ca USA 08/07/2007

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: This hotel was very convenient in the Rue Cler neighborhood. We had a large room with a view of the Eiffel Tower, which was awesome at night when it sparkled. It was right around the corner from the Metro stop so we could get around Paris easily. The staff were very nice, the room was clean and comfortable and they had free internet access in the lobby. We will definitely stay there again.

Devin Alexander in Olympia, WA USA 08/06/2007

Best: Champ de Mars
Why: Location, location, location! Also small, cozy and comfy. Great restaurants and stree atmosphere so close by.

Liz Tanner in Provo, UT USA 07/30/2007

Best: Hotel de la Republique
Why: Very clean! The guidebook describes it correctly! However, since we booked through their website, we got a reduced rate for our double-bed room, 68 euros, and therefore they would only give my wife and me one free breakfast every day with the guidebook, not two! A minor disappointment. Also, we couldn't get the toll-free number on our "carte a code" to work with the in-room hotel phone. We used the regular access number. So we found we had 10.5 euros in phone charges at checkout. But that notwithstanding, we would recommend this hotel.

Jack Klecka in Highland Park, IL USA 07/25/2007

Worst: Hotel Muguet
Why: If this had been our first time in Paris, we would likely never want to return. The beautifully decorated hotel had by far the coldest, most unpleasant and at times outright confrontaional staff of any hotel we've ever stayed in during five recent trips to Europe. We're gentle, seasoned travelers who are fond and respectful of French ways. These hotel people and the atmosphere they create were double-secret-nasty. RS is exceptionally good with words and his descriptions are almost always spot on, but to call this place "delightful" really misses the mark. Sorry.

Bill Gordon in Miami, FL USA 07/12/2007

Best: Hotel de 7eme Art
Why: Funky, accommodating and easy access to Bus #69. As well as Metro. Marais Neighborhood

WILLIAM WOODBURN in Estes Park, Co USA 07/07/2007

Best: n/a
Why: My daughter and I stayed at the Hotel Littre, on Rue Littre, near the Montparnasse rail station. It was terrific, but probably too expensive to be recommended in your book. The neighborhood is very lively, with loads of restaurants, cafes, and movie theaters.

Carol Arscott in Sarasota, FL USA 07/06/2007

Best: Regent's Hotel/Not in your book
Why: Very good location, 6th arrondissement, near Luxembourg Gardens..Inexpensive, we paid 125 euros for a quad per nt. The staff were VERY helpful & extremely friendly.

Barbara Pearce in Freeport, NY USA 06/25/2007

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Location and price are the two greatest attributes of this hotel. As far as the actual accommodations, there is nothing to complain about, but because we had stayed in much more cushy hotels for the other two weeks of our vacation, this one was a bit of a shock. The room was "bump into each other" small and the air conditioner didn't keep the room cool enough. We would, however, recommend this to someone who is using this room to only change clothes and sleep. The area is perfect for the tourist who wants to live among the locals, have nearby restaurants, and walk to the nearby sights.

Martine Kasch in Huntington Beach, CA USA 06/22/2007

Best: Hotel De Nevers, 53 Rue de Malter
Why: This is an enormous bargain on a quiet side street off the Place Republique. It's a budget hotel, no question; we had a triple for E72/night and walked up to the 6th floor because the tiny elevator only goes to the 5th. But we had a spacious room with a toilet (in one room) and a shower (in another). Ours was the room you see on their website but the photo doesn't show the large table and small second bed under the window.

Singles and doubles are cheaper; some are toilet on the floor. The bargain prices reflect that.

The owners and staff are welcoming and helpful. Our daughter loved the cats. The rooms and hallways are walk-barefoot clean.

Breakfast is E5 - we initally ate in a nearby cafe but found the quantity and quality of coffee and breads to be worth it.

Researching before reserving, I found widely varying opinions about this hotel from online comments. Frankly, I think some American travelers are unprepared for what a budget hotel in Paris can be - tiny elevator, dark and steep stairs, etc. But can you imagine what you would get for under $90/night in New York, Washington or Los Angeles? Sirens and street fights if you're lucky.

This is a clean, safe, friendly - if small - place in PARIS!

The other comment I have is that this is one of many similar small hotels in its price range - each with tradeoffs for location, room size and whether or not the toilet is in the room. I was happy with De Nevers because of their welcome to my family. But if you want the next step up in accoutrements, plan to start at double the price and go up from there.

Doug M in Portland, OR USA 06/10/2007

Best: Castex Hotel
Why: Clean, comfortable and helpful staff. Located in the Marais area, it is two blocks from the Metro, it is surrounded by wonderful restaurants, shops and Paris sights. Bring your Rick Steves guidebook and get free breakfast. It was the only place in Paris that I got an American size cup of coffee. I would definitely stay there again.

Terri Kane in High Point, NC USA 05/20/2007

Best: I stayed at a non-recommended hotel, in the Rue Cler area.
Why: Package I found was reasonably priced; the area was perfect. Lots of ammenities and late night crowds ar cafes.

Mary Zikos in Princeton, NJ USA 05/17/2007

Best: Hotel Jeanne D'Arc
Why: It still has the French "character" that is rapidly being renovated right out of many of the budget hotels in Paris (Castex, Leveque). It was very comfortable for me (single female), I enjoyed the typically French breakfast (6 Eu) and the elevator. Everybody working there was pleasant and helpful. The location in the Marais is very handy to the Metro, Jewish neighborhood, Shoah Museum, the Seine, etc.

Worst: Hotel Leveque
Why: I've been staying at the Leveque every time I've been in Paris for the past six years. I like the neighborhood, rates, and friendliness of the hotel personnel. Big ground floor renovations are going on and there was much dust and mess while I was there in early April. I'm afraid the place will lose a lot of its character and just look more slick.

Swan in Napa, CA USA 05/13/2007

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: Personel, cleanliness, location and certainly the free breakfast when we mentioned your book was a great saving. The staff was invaluable in assisting us with taxi's, reservations and any tours we wanted to take.

Stephen and Dorothy King in Palm Harbor, FL USA 05/11/2007

Best: castex hotel was great
Why: i know that i am using the word great alot but after reading so many bad things about the rooms;ours was on the street and we could see paris life all night but yet still sleep great. of course the wine helped alot

Jerry DeWitt in franklin, tn USA 05/09/2007

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: Staff were friendly and helpful. The accessible room on the first level was comfortable and quiet. The Rick Steve's reader breakfast included fresh fruit and was a great start to the day. The Hotel Relais Bosquet is within a few steps of traveler services and conveniences all tucked into a pleasant and comfortable neighborhood.

Walt Enquist in Mount Vernon, WA USA 05/04/2007

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: Quiet location, excellent room, excellent breakfast.

Worst: Hotel de la Empereur
Why: The room is quite small and noisy because of the traffic. The breakfast is so-so. If you are on a budget, it is OK. But the difference between it and Hotel Muguet is night and day. Although I am calling it the worst, it is actually acceptable.

We needed to extend our stay in Paris one night and Hotel Muguet already had our room booked the extra night. Hotel de la Empereur was a half block away and had a vacancy.

Ken in Citrus Heights, CA USA 04/29/2007

Worst: Hotel du Champs de Mars
Why: Perhaps if I had the opportunity to stay there, I would feel differently about this hotel. I had made reservations more than a month in advance but the room was given away to someone else who "had made a mistake in their booking" according to the owners. No matter how charming it is, reliability matters when you're thousands of miles away from home.

Amy CA USA 04/24/2007

Worst: Hotel d'Nevers
Why: We reserved a room with a shower and toilet. When we arrived, we were informed that our reserved room was not available as the 'person in the room would not leave' and that we would have to take the room with no shower - toilet only. Our room had a toilet for urinating only - for other toilet 'requirements' we'd have to use the TINY toilet just off the stairs. Our room had a beautiful view of the elevator shaft - very dissapointing and very stuffy! There was no air circulation. The second night, we were told that our room with a shower was now available - we moved to the new room to discover that we had now lost the toilet! Shower and sink only and still only a view of the elevator shaft. Hotel staff were very nice but the room itself was very dissapointing. The Hotel next door offered considerably more for the same price - we checked it out and will be staying there next time.

Luke Dalla Bona in Sault Ste. Marie, ON Canada 04/22/2007

Best: Hotel des Grandes Ecoles
Why: An unbelievably calm, quiet, and beautiful oasis in the middle of the bustling Latin Quarter. We slept in complete peace and ate breakfast outside in the garden, where the only sound was that of schoolchildren singing with piano accompaniment during a music class one block over. Heaven!

Katherine Gordon in Palo Alto, CA USA 04/12/2007

Best: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: Mr. Eber and his staff worked hard to help us Paris newbies get oriented and enjoy our stay. Besides, they are funny! His website: http://www.hotelebermars.com/ is a great resource. As with real estate, location is everything, and this hotel is ideally located. Our rooms were adequately comfortable, but small. Would definately stay there again.

Worst: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: A little maintenance would be nice. Bathroom door knob came off. Sink stopper stuck down. Bathroom shelf comming off the wall. But remember, if you're spending more than 8 hours in your room, you're wasting time.

Gregg Maxwell in Grapevine, TX USA 03/22/2007

Best: Hotel Republique
Why: Friendly staff, reasonable price, central location, small but clean room, not too noisy as it is about 1/2 block away from the Place de la Republique.

ashik in Seattle, WA USA 03/21/2007

Best:
Why: We stayed at Hotel Grand Leveque. It has a great location and eventhough the rooms were somewhat rundown I would say is a very good value.

Kirk in Chicago, IL USA 03/15/2007

Best: Hotel 7th Arts
Why: Its cheesy 50s Hollywood nostalgic theme aside, this place was great. My wife and I relocated here after a few sweltering nights at another hotel without air-conditioning in July of 2006. We opted for the small double and were quite comfortable. The staff couldn’t have been nicer. They kept our extra bag while we visited Mont. St. Michelle and Normandy and had it in our room when we returned. There is also a pay washer and dryer in the basement. Additionally, the metro stop is not more than a three minute walk. Not luxurious, but clean with fantastic service, a great location in the heart of the Marais, and air conditioning. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a budget minded hotel in Paris.

Edwin KY USA 03/13/2007

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Location, Location, Location! This was our 10 stay at the Leveque. I hate to see Rue Cler becoming so Americanized. :(

Robert in Winston Salem, NC USA 03/07/2007

Best: Hotel de la tulippe
Why: The staff was so friendly and helpful with anything we needed. The service was just wonderful! The neighborhood we were in was indeed friendly as well. The accomodations were small, but I've come to accept that when traveling in Europe and we didn't spend much time in our rooms anyway!

Marcie in Louisville, KY USA 02/19/2007

Best: Best Western Le Nouvel Orleans, 14th arrondissement, south of Jardin de Luxumbourg
Why: Cost us less than a hotel room in San Francisco (where we had thought of going), was clean, quite and the staff was wonderful. Easy to find and the metro stop was directly across the street.

Here is a link to reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d229581-Reviews-Best_Western_Le_Nouvel_Orleans-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Steve Marsh in Plano, TX USA 02/18/2007

Best: Port Royal Hotel
Why: great prices for a classy place

Ellen Bothwell in Melun, France 01/13/2007

Best: Chartres, France
Why: Chartres, France - December 2006. The Hotel Chatelet is a wonderful place. Nice “privilege” rooms, nice breakfast. The desk staff even chilled our bottle of champagne and served nuts and chips for our enjoyment by the great fireplace in the Lobby. Had a nice dinner at Le Bistrot de la Cathedral. The tour/lecture of the Cathedral by Malcolm Miller is not to be missed. It is an excellent history lesson, presented in a very charming way.

Almont Pierce in McLean, VA USA 01/13/2007

Best: Hotel Port Royal
Why: Hotel Port Royal was clean, quiet, and cheap (78.5 per day) Very close to the Gobelins metro stop and about one block from the Rue Mouffetard, which I loved. I loved the feel of the neighborhood.

Wendy Jones in Bellingham, WA USA 01/08/2007

Best: Hotel LeVeque
Why: Staff was charming. Rooms were clean and reasonable priced. Our room faced the charming Rue Cler and noise was never a problem. We hope to stay here again and again.

Debbie M in Plano, TX USA 01/06/2007

Worst: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Although the hotel has installed flat screen tv's and safes in each room, the staff has become less than friendly, and the cleaniness of the rooms has deteriorated significantly since my stay there in September 2005. There are rather large dust bunnies under the beds, radiators and other pieces of furniture. There is a significant growth of mould in the shower stalls and bathroom floor tiles. I was in two different rooms over the New Year's holiday and both rooms were not very clean at all. Also, although I was given clean towels every day, my sheets were never changed in the 7 nights I stayed there. The charm of the Monet inspired coloured walls in the hotel has been painted over with cream coloured paint and it seems the staff have let Rick's accolades go to their heads.

JC in Edmonton, AB Canada 01/05/2007

Best: Hotel De La Tulipe
Why: The room was spacious with a very nice bath. They upgraded some of the appliances (small flat screen tv and new minibar) one day while we were out. My only compaint is that it was a bit dark in the room. It was closer to Rue Cler and the Eiffel Tower than I was expecting.

Matt in Encinitas, CA USA 01/01/2007

Best: Hotel Londres Eiffel
Why: The staff was friendly and very helpful. I loved the free wi-fi access for your laptop. The location is great, a side street near the Eiffel Tower with plenty of metro stops nearby.

Jica in Elk Grove, CA USA 12/29/2006

Best: Castex Hotel
Why: Location is great. Rooms are nice. Staff are very friendly and helpful especially Veronique.

Pete Teoh in Huntersville, NC USA 12/21/2006

Best: We really enjoyed the Hotel Muguet in the 8a area
Why: Non smoking,quiet street near Rue Cler neighborhood;easily accessible to wherever you want to go. We were surprised to have a big room.It could accomdate 3 people. It was a lovely place.

Barb Rose in Canton, Mi USA 11/30/2006

Best: Hotel Republique
Why: Free breakfast with Rick's book! Thanks so much Rick!! But do expect TINY room, although clean and bright, & we did ask for a 5th floor room with a little balcony per Rick's suggestion. But if you are over 250 lbs, don't step out. or don't stay here at all, cause you won't fit into their elevator, which is size of a coffin, only the coffin will actually give you more room to breathe. Nor will you fit into the shower, which measures 24" x 28". Their king size bed is our double-bed standard. But it's cheap, 71 euro for a double room, with free breakfast, that's how we can splurge on our fancy dinners. Convenient & safe location, although some homeless people always linger around.

Janet in Greenwich, CT USA 11/29/2006

Best: Hotel Grand Leveque
Why: Fantastic accommodations for the price. Great location on Rue Cler, friendly hotel staff, and a great breakfast to start the day.

Jason in San Francisco, CA USA 11/23/2006

Best: Hotel du Pantheon
Why: Beautiful, clean and breakfast GREAT. Quiet location facing the Pantheon. Check it out!

SPR USA 11/14/2006

Best: Hotel Prince
Why: It was in a perfect location for bus or metro and Eiffel Tower. BUT the room we had was not clean. Everything needed to be washed. The sheets were fine but the curtins and mold in the very tiny bath ( had to sit sideways on the toilet to close the door) made it hard to enjoy. room 303

Susan Richardson USA 11/14/2006

Worst: Hotel Leveque
Why: It was clean and so on. But the staff was less than helpful, the elevator was "coffin sized" and the 5th floor shower was smaller than that. The guidebook would put down other establishments for this kind of structeral inadequecies, but why do they neglect to describe this hotel this way? Also the continental breakfast is definitely not worth it, but there are several nearby alternatives.

KEVIN P GIBLIN in EDMONDS, WA USA 11/13/2006

Best: Holiday Inn worked great.
Why: Worked great withn tehn subway so close - I got a lot of places fast and cheap. I found the staff helpful and everyone seems to be very tourist oriented.

Franklin S Westbrook in Lebanon , TN USA 11/05/2006

Best: Hotel Bonaparte
Why: This hotel is a two star and properly so. Our first room on the sixth floor was horrid. Slanted ceilings in room and bath. Tub elevated on a platform so you could not get in or out without fear of falling and lighting abysmal. Were moved to room seven on the second floor with a balcony. Much nicer. Best part of hotel is locale. Between St. Sulpice and St. Germain it is perfect for cafes, restaurants, shopping, walking to all sights and metro stations. Truly an excellent locale and if you are like us and only use the hotel for rest and cleanup and are out of the room most of the time an excellent choice. Do not agree to go to the sixth floor and staff was very helpful and friendly and ALL of their dining suggestions were excellent.

Mike Schoenfeld in Gold River, Ca USA 10/29/2006

Best: Hotel de la Tulipe
Why: Our room just off the garden had walls of stone and colorful bedding. The garden was lovely and cheerful with its yellow, stucco walls. The only downside was the staff, who were not very cheerful and only somewhat helpful. They really didn't seem to be very motivated about assisting their guests with questions, e.g. what was going on during Nuit Blanc.

Lois West in Lynn, MA USA 10/25/2006

Worst: Hotel Daval
Why: It's not the worst place I have ever stayed. The room was fine, but it is across the street from a very busy bar area. There was a lot of noise every night on the streets until 4:00 a.m. from the revelers and motorbikes.

JRH in Austin, TX USA 10/20/2006

Best: Hotel L'Esperance - Paris
Why: This was our second stay here. This place wins because it's neat, clean, quiet and reasonably priced (for Paris!). The rooms are good size (for Paris!) and the bathrooms are well appointed. It's also close to the metro and local markets.

Gerry Schmitz in Milwaukee, wi USA 10/19/2006

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: Loved this place. We were on the sixth floor with a great view of the Dome. As you know the elevator only goes to the 5th floor but we liked the view and didn't mind the 1 floor climb. Not only did we love the charm and the quiet street but it was so convenient to the Rue Cler and its great restaurants, the metro, and several museums.

John E Stransky in Longmont, CO USA 10/17/2006

Best: Hotel Champ du Mar
Why: After having stayed here, we can definitely understand why folks list it as their best AND worst accomodation. The location near Rue Cler was fabulous -- a wonderful area to explore and eat and very easy walking to many wonderful sites. The owners were kind and always helpful with questions when they weren't busy checking folks in and out. The double room, however, was extremely small -- even by European standards. Be sure to pack light and be careful walking around the room. It's a tight fit.

Karen and Hal Phillips in Edgewood, WA USA 10/15/2006

Best: Hotel La Musardiere
Why: The rooms were great. The food at the hotel for both lunch and dinner were wonderful.

Lorie Coon in Redwood City, Ca USA 10/13/2006

Best: We stayed at the Tulip Inn Orange La Fayette
Why: A Small Hotel on the Rue de Trevise but very nice accomodations, we had a corner room,great view of a typical Paris street, ironed linen sheets, nice bathroom, great maid service, bunches of fluffy towels, great breakfast ( though it cost 12 Euros)we chose this one am. You are seated with others at the same table which was fun but if your hungry it's a great European breakfast...The hotel has a very courteous, helpful day manager who speaks excellent english. We would go out walking in the evening around our hotel area and it was a lot of fun, trying to talk French and had no bad vibes.

Cindy Hause in Waverly, OH USA 10/10/2006

Best: Eber-Mars Hotel
Why: This was the only hotel we stayed at in Paris. We loved the location (Metro only steps away, supermarkets, and in a cute/safe neihborhood). It was on a busy street (which you had stated in your book), but the rooms were nice and the service very friendly.

Melissa Bromby in Newburyport, MA USA 10/09/2006

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Great location, friendly staff and clean rooms. This place is as perfect as Rick says.

Jeanne Galliher in Baltimore, Oh USA 10/08/2006

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: Tremendous all round, including the price! A two-star hotel with A/C! We had a wonderful room on the 5th floor, featuring a balcony & unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower. Close to Rue Cler, Les Invalides, Musee Rodin & numerous amenities (ATMs, a Supermarket, a Tabac, a Nicolas (liquor store) outlet, bus & taxi stands & a Metro station.

Brian Lee in London, On Canada 10/01/2006

Best: Hotel de la Tulipe
Why: This is the second time we've stayed here. Would not think of staying anywhere else. It's clean, bright, unique, and very friendly. If you like things that are old Paris and enjoy the charming things that the city offers, you will love this place.

Furnacefighter in West Chester, PA USA 09/28/2006

Worst: Hotel de l'Alma
Why: Don't stay here, and, Rick, please remove this from your books. This is a one star hotel, with a three star price.

The first thing I was greeted with on arriving in our room was a stained futon and a very hot and stuffy room. The first thing we noticed about this particular room is that the toilet didn’t flush properly. Then, there was the towel rack that was barely hanging on the wall by two loose screws stuck in two broken tiles. The toilet and bath were both light blue, from circa 1985. There was also a loose tile in the bathroom wall. We requested another room and after being told twice, that there were no other rooms and we had the best room in the hotel (yes, one of the windows had a partial view of the Eiffel Tower), we were given a room on the first floor right next to the elevator. This room appeared to be cleaner and better so we switched. Then I tried to wash my hands in the bathroom sink only to find the cold water would not work. Again I returned to the front desk and the receptionist came back to the room, and showed my how to work the sink. You just had to push hard and turn the handle to get the water to come on. It took him three tries to get the water to turn off. The he gave me look of satisfaction and returned to his desk. Obviously it worked well and I just didn’t know how to use it. The hot water handle being the only one that worked properly turned out okay that morning when the hotel ran out of hot water. I was able use the hot water handle to get cold water to brush my teeth. My wife took a luke warm shower, I washed my hair in the sink with the cold water. There were more loose tiles in this bathroom but everything was slightly cleaner. The phone didn’t work either. It was a rotary phone though and I’m sure it predates my birth (1980). We didn’t get Rick Steve’s better nightly rate either, but instead they offered us two free breakfasts since they wouldn’t adjust the rate. After reading other comment on this site, I am glad we didn’t eat there. This hotel in not worth the 90 Euro reduced price either. The rooms are not “cheery” as Rick describes. They are terribly out of date, and cheap. The doors are paper thin and the walls peeling. I could go on about this hotel but I hope this should be enough to convince anyone not to stay here.

Pete B. in Superior, CO USA 09/26/2006

Best: Not In Your Book - Le Fleuret near Amboise, FR
Why: We got this from Frommers and is a fantastic hotel, which exudes the personality of the family running it. The restaurant is terrific, the service personalized, and the rooms lovely. It is located in farmland close to the major chateux. The hotel feels like home away from home, and we recommend it highly. Please consider adding it to your book.

William E. Endelman in Seattle, WA USA 09/21/2006

Best: Hotel Relais-Bosquet
Why: Excellent location, roomy and comfortable beds, delicious hotel breakfast included with mention of Rick Steves '06 book. The staff were wonderful - always helpful and polite, willing to listen to us speak French imperfectly, and extremely quick to fix the few problems we encountered. I will definitely go back to this hotel, and recommend it highly!

Laura Wendt in Madison, WI USA 09/16/2006

Best: Hotel du Champs de Mars
Why: The location and price cannot be beat.Rooms are small. Francois, one of the owners was very standoffish and not helpful. His wife, Stephanie when not on the phone, was nicer. Night desk people also feigned ignorance in recommendations and help. Upon persistence, they reluctantly would give info. Breakfast is delicious-fresh squeezed orange juice, 1 croissant per person, baguette, yogurt and plenty of fresh coffee. We stayed there for 1 week and towards the end of our stay, our rooms were not being cleaned as well as in the beginning. Several homeless and drunk men were evident on the Rue Cler. We did not find the selection of affordable French eateries that we had hoped for in this immediate area.

B. B. in Boonton, NJ USA 09/07/2006

Best: Hotel Londres Eiffel
Why: It was a nice hotel, the room was good size for European and it was very clean. They do not want you to bring in food which was an inconvience, and the front desk help was not as helpful as we had hoped.

m hatch in speer, il USA 09/05/2006

Worst: Hotel Prince
Why: We echo its many positives -- clean, convenient, complimentary breakfast, great value, and friendly staff (Neda,especially) -- but only during the week. The weekend night clerk, who would not give us his name, was surly, unhelpful and a little creepy. He made us feel uneasy, and put a blemish on an otherwise lovely stay. That was in April 2006. We would only go back if we knew he no longer worked there.

Paula in Cambridge, MA USA 08/20/2006

Best: Splendid Hotel
Why: The staff are friendly, helpful and accommodating. They speak English and are accepting of tourists trying to speak French. We loved it and would stay there again. It's clean, and in a great location.

Susan Healy-Mills in Barrington, RI USA 08/20/2006

Worst: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: Oh my gosh! Our double room was miniscule (the kids' triple was larger and had a huge bathroom), the bed had to be pushed up against the wall, my partner could not stand at the sink and close the bathroom door - I guess that's why they call it a water "closet", and the itsy bitsy water closet with the toilet (one WC had the shower - I kept bumping the shower door with my knee and I weigh 98 pounds - and sink, the other has the toilet) has a window in the door - so much for privacy. Our room faced a wall. Stuffy, unclean and moldy. No AC and NO circulation. The night clerk was snippy when we came it at midnight (would you expect your guests in up-all-night-Paris to come in any earlier?) and lord help us when we came it at 2:00am (and the Champs Elysees was still rockin' that night before Bastille Day). The location, two blocks from Rue Cler and a walk from the Tour, was terrific, though. Still, I would recommend you find another hotel in the general location.

Marsha Hudson in Seattle, WA USA 08/04/2006

Best: Residence Versailles
Why: Located in the Beynac area. Difficult to find. Excellent accomodations and the best breakfast we had. The owners were very friendly. They even did our laundry (cost 10euros).

Bob in san mateo, ca USA 07/31/2006

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: So appreciated the air conditioning this summer! It was wonderful coming back for a rest after the HOT days of touring. Lovely, clean, nicely decorated and laid out rooms. Loved the quiet location, so close to Rue Cler and metro stops, but nice to return to this haven. The lobby isn't air conditioned,and doesn't lend to mingling and visiting.

Andrea in San Diego, CA USA 07/27/2006

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: This was our second time staying at this establishment. We have always found it extremely well kept, quiet, with friendly staff and a great location near Rue Cler. Our room this time had a view of the Eiffel Tower which was an added bonus with wonderful daytime and sparkling night time views of the tower. The only negative - breakfast was pricy, so we chose to eat at various establishments near Rue Cler.

T. Koons in Forest, VA USA 07/22/2006

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: The staff was great, very helpful when we had lost luggage. The rooms were small but very clean with all the required amenities. But the best thing about this hotel was the location. We were a 10 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower where we could go at night and sit out in the park with all the Parisians. Or we could sit on the street at a sidewalk cafe in the morning and watch the parents walk the kids to school or in the evening watch the locals buying their bread, cheese, etc at the local shops. Wonderful area!!

Kristi Davis in Carmel, IN USA 07/15/2006

Worst: Hotel du Champ de Mars
Why: While the room itself was perfectly fine, the individual working (the only individual working the desk during out stay) would not help us with any recommendatiions for dinner, or anything else in the neighborhood, for that matter. When I asked him if there was coffee in the morning (after looking and not being able to find it) he shrugged and said "no". It is a shame because the hotel is in a great location and could be charming, but unless you need absolutley nothing from the hotel staff, I would not recommend it.

ILkie in Chicago, USA 07/02/2006

Best: Grand Hotel Lefeveque
Why: The Rue Cler location was OUTSTANDING. The staff was friendly, the air conditioning was cold. The rooms were clean and comfortable. We enjoyed walking by all of the fruit stands, meet shops, cheese stores, etc. every morning. It was hard to believe that we were in the center of an incredibly busy metropolis. It felt like a small town. Be Careful, though. Rue Cler is NOT a pedestrian street only. Traffic is limited, but it does go down the street

David Patlovany in Houston, Te USA 07/02/2006

Best: Hotel de la Bourdonnais
Why: Comfortable quarters. We had a front room with small terrace, 6th floor, and viewed the Eiffel tower each evening aglow. Pretty neat. One night we left the double french doors open and enjoyed the late evening ambience. Price was fine for the Rue Cler area, which is a little classy area. And we got the 10% discount as said in your Paris 2006 book without question. Hey, it saved us over $200.00 dollars. Walking the area, Eiffel tower, Metro just around the corner. It worked for us. Met some nice people while we were there. At la Terrasso side walk cafe(I think thats how it's spelled)also just out the door, left & left again straight ahead was one of our hang-outs coming and going places. Service was great and fun friendly. Unfortunately we had a couple of "ugly americans" staying at the hotel. Avoid them at all cost. The French will treat you in accordance to how you relate to them. A dozen or two french words goes a long way, we know from experience. Would I do it again here? A flat out yes!

Burke & Bev Campbell in St Louis, MO USA 06/23/2006

Best: Hotel le Tourville
Why: Location of the hotel is fantastic, a few steps from the Metro stop and a convenient taxi stand. The Rue Cler is less than 5 minutes away on foot as well, as is the Champ du Mars park adjacent to the Eiffel Tour. The hotel is very well run, and is extremely clean and comfortable. We had a room facing the street, but the windows were well insulated and there was no traffic noise at all. Front desk staff were very friendly and helpful, especially the ladies who work in the morning and mid day. The deluxe double rooms were quite large, especially for Paris.

Brad Schaaf in Alpharetta, GA USA 06/14/2006

Best: Hotel Leveque
Why: Rue Cler neighborhood. I love waking up to the market out my door.

Deneen Clarke in Minneapolis, MN USA 06/12/2006

Best: Hotel Cecil in the 14th
Why: I can't say enough positive things about this place. www.hotelcecil.net This should be on Rick's recommended list!

Amy Roust in Paris, France 06/08/2006

Worst: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: The owner couldn't seem to remember that we were staying there ( since it was for only one night? ) But he seemed perfectly willing to panter to another group who where completely unprepared to do anything without directions and "someone to lead them by the hand". So, if you are staying for 5 days and look like you have money you will be treated well. Otherwise, look out. Rooms are larger than others in the area but fixtures were damaged and the elevator would not stop at the 5th floor!

Robert Durvin in Clearwater, FL USA 06/04/2006

Best: Hotel de la Bretonnerie
Why: Beautiful botique hotel. Very pleasant staff. Rooms covered in fabric - just charming. Breakfast was nice, and a reasonable deal at 9.50 Euro. Junior suite worked for our family of 5 (7 and 5yo on twin beds in one room, 2yo in a tiny baby cot in a second room).

Pat in In transit back to US, TX USA 06/04/2006

Worst: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: The owner is rude and thuggish. We were shown 3 different rooms which were all equally dirty, dilapidated and full of mold. There was a heatwave happening at the time (this was early July 2005) and very little help by way of the staff in terms of supplying fans (god forbid A/C be installed...). When we decided not to stay in falsely advertised hovel, the owner yelled and bellowed and bullied. He called me a stupid woman who would now be charged for 2 nights stay. Let's just say that this stupid woman has a temper which befits that of a New Yorker in her second trimester and, needless to say, we were not charged and he was rendered speechless.

jbf in New York, NY USA 05/30/2006

Best: Hotel le Tourville
Why: Although the rooms could be bigger, most of the staff at the desk speak english and are quite helpful.

Jay Meisner in Riverdale, NY USA 05/26/2006

Worst: Hotel de la Bourdonnais
Why: Hard to sleep. While there is no night life on the street, the cars, buses, and motorcycles are noisy all night long. Unfortunately, I had to open the windows at night since AC was not permitted to be turned on before May 15. Sadly, every day, the super-efficient maid closed windows while I was out enjoying the city. Upon my return each evening the room was hot and stuffy. Otherwise, a good hotel.

John Vosburgh in Tempe, AZ USA 05/17/2006

Best: Grand Balcons
Why: have stayed here many times, not recently because I tend to stay in Apts great buffet breakfast and wonderful location singles are quite spacious although the doubles are a bit small

Susanne in San Francisco, Ca USA 05/11/2006

Best: We rented an apartment.
Why: We had more space to ourselves, a kitchen and were able to eat breakfast from fresh food purchased on Rue Cler

Sara in Redwood Falls, MN USA 05/09/2006

Best: Intercontinental of Paris
Why: Friendly and warm.

Dulce Matamoros in Miami Lakes, Fl USA 05/03/2006

Best: Hotel des Chevaliers, Marais district
Why: Good location in Marais district, near lots of restaurants, shopping, and a small 24hr grocery. Freindly staff (although we speak basic French, so not sure about English-only speakers), clean rooms, etc - but the 12Euro breakfast is pretty basic, considering all the nice cafe's and bakeries in the area. A short walk to the Seine, metro stop, etc. Take Rick's advise and ask for a room towards the back if noise bothers you; we were up front with a nice window, but earplugs at night were essential.

Dave in Cleveland, OH USA 05/02/2006

Best: Hotel Splendid
Why: Returned from Paris a few weeks ago after staying a week at The Hotel Splendid (on avenue de Tourville). I had the suite on the top floor (#607)@195 Euros/nite. The terrace doors framed the Eiffel Tower and it was a breathtaking sight at night to watch the Eiffel Tower twinkling like the 4th of July as I laid in bed. The Metro (Ecole Militaire) and Rue Cler were across the street. Very convenient. The staff was wonderful and all spoke English beautifully. They were incredibly patient in allowing me to practice my (limited) French.I did not feel the room was too small and the bathroom was clean and "American". I did peek at one of the regular rooms and that did appear to be much smaller than my suite. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone planning a visit. I cannot imagine having a better view anywhere in Paris! Thanks Rick for mentioning this one in your book because it's not on any hotel websites that I used and I never would have known about it!

Mellisa Rink in Albuquerque, NM USA 05/01/2006

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: We stayed in two different hotels on this trip, and while this was not the more elegant of the two, the location could not have been more perfect, and the staff was friendly and helpful. When we return, we will definitely stay here.

Worst: Hotel Muguet
Why: I would stay here again if the Leveque was full, but it was a little bit of a walk from the Rue Cler, and also the staff were very formal and not very helpful. We didn't get the same sense of welcome here as at the Leveque. The room was also smaller. However, it was sparkling clean.

Liz Goldberg in Hyattsville, MD USA 04/27/2006

Best: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: My wife and I just returned from a three week stay in Paris at the Hotel Eber Mars. Mr. Eber and his staff are extremly helpful in providing tourist information to their patrons and will even do Internet research for you with print-outs regarding subjects they do not know about or are uncertain of. If you need entertainment reservations, dinner reservations, museum hours, a taxi, etc., just ask at the desk for 24/7 friendly help.

Breakfast at the Eber Mars is included in the room rate if you are a Rick Steves' book holder. It's not bad for the price. The Continental breakfast includes coffee or tea or coco, orange juice, yogurt, 1/4 baguette, 1 crescent, butter and preserves. Breakfast is served in a narrow room just opposite the smartly decorated Art Deco reception area, sometimes by Mr. Eber himself. By the way, Mr. Eber really looks like Antonio Banderas.

Our street facing room, (#52), had a small balcony from which we could view about the top two thirds of the Eiffel Tower. The room measured about 14ft x12ft with a bathroom built into one corner which took up about a 4ft x 5ft area of the floor space. We were comfortable with the space we had walking around the double bed. The room also contained a small table and two chairs with an adequate closet next to the bathroom. Larger rooms are available at the rear of the hotel facing the "court yard", (really just an air shaft).

The location of the Hotel Eber Mars is excellent with a 5 minute walk to the Metro. There are shops of every description in the area and it is only a ten minute walk to the extremely popular Rue Cler. Bank machines are right next to the Metro entrance and three laundromats are within 10 minutes or less.

Worst: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: We were not happy with our first room assignment which was configured oddly (very long and narrow, #62) and was starkly drab and depressing. An improvement, our second room had a floor to ceiling tiled bathroom which was floor to ceiling moldy. After a shower, the moldy smell was oppressive. Our room furnishings were old, beaten-up and rickety. Since we were staying for three weeks, I made some improvements myself by buying materials from a hardware store and department store. There was no shower curtain, rod or rings, so I purchased the necessary parts and installed one myself. I also installed a suction cup soap dish in the shower stall because there was none and the stall was so narrow it was difficult to bend over to pick up the soap or shampoo from the floor. I replaced the pins in the closet shelving which had collapsed the first time we put something on the shelf.

The carpet was filthy. My wife bought new slippers for the trip and after two days, the white soles were literally black. We both left our slippers behind.

Anyone still considering staying at the Eber Mars should be aware of Mr. Eber's strictly enforced prohibition against bringing food or alcoholic beverages into your room. I'm a photographer and I like to download and edit my daily images at night while sipping a glass of wine. This was not to be. Mr. Eber said many hotels in the Rue Cler area were instituting the same prohibitions. I checked the Hotel Leveque one day when we were having lunch next door. They have the same rules. You might want to check with the hotel you are considering before you book, if like me, you enjoy having a bite of cheese or some other snack before bed. I believe Rick should list the Hotels which have such rules. We knew nothing of this prohibition before we booked and the Eber Mars web site does not mention it.

My wife and I visit Paris every one or two years, and I believe next time we will rent a studio.

Lopaka in Honolulu, HI USA 04/26/2006

Best: Hotel Leveque
Why: Perfect location, friendly staff.

Don S in Franklin, Mi USA 04/26/2006

Best: Hotel Prince
Why: Clean, friendly, helpful. Shuttle pickup at the hotel to Charles DeGaulle was 34 Euro for two.

Dale Dunford in Kent, WA USA 04/21/2006

Best: Stayed with a local
Why: We lived the authentic Parisian Life.

Worst: Stayed with a local
Why: We lived the authentic Parisian Life. (A little small for me.)

Patty Hendrickson in Portland, OR USA 04/13/2006

Best: Hotel Splendid in Paris
Why: The hotel is 'V' shaped with the point of the 'V' facing the Eiffel Tower. Those are the suites mentioned in the book. However, many of the other rooms have balconies that allow fantastic views of the tower. The rooms are tiny, but clean and the service was terrific. We will go there again.

John Allen in raleigh, NC USA 04/09/2006

Best: Hotel la Motte Picquet
Why: The hotel is at a convenient location close to everything (Metro stop, restaurants, supermache, pharmacie, pattiserie, post office). Rooms are small but nice and clean and staff are helpful and speak english. They also have computer in the lobby for internet access.

Elizabeth in San Francisco, CA USA 04/05/2006

Best: Hotel Londres Eiffel
Why: My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful stay here in March for our 10 year anniversary. Stayed in room 64 with a view of the Eiffel Tower for 120 euros a night. Rooms with no view and more street noise are budget priced at only 95 euros. Staff is very helpful, included breakfast is good and free internet access is a plus. Location is 5 minutes from tower. Cafe Constant next door works great for lunch or dinner if you need something quick, close and inexpensive.

J.D. D'Amico in Orlando, FL USA 03/28/2006

Best: Hotel des Grandes Ecole
Why: We loved the central location of this hotel. It was just a short walk to Ile de la Cite, Panetheon, Luxembourg Gardens, and lots more. Our room was good size, by European standards, and very clean. We had a full tub and shower in the bathroom. We were on the top level, with windows that opened onto the courtyard. The only drawback was no television, which would have been nice to keep up with news. We also couldn't use the courtyard much because the weather was too cold. But for anyone who is easily disturbed by city noise, this is a great choice. The exterior street is relatively quiet at night, and once inside the courtyard, you don't hear a thing. We stayed from March 18-25, 2006 and paid 120 Euros/night.

Beth in Canton, MI USA 03/27/2006

Best: Hotel Royal Phare, Paris
Why: Friendly staff, nice accomodations, good price, and a PERFECT location! It was literally just steps outside the Ecole Militarie Metro stop. SO nice to see when we'd come back tired. It's also an easy walk to Eiffel Tower views.

Allen in Indianapolis, IN USA 03/27/2006

Best: Hotel Jeanne d'Arc
Why: We spent a March week at this hotel and were delighted. Its location is fantastic -- in the heart of the Marais and just a 5-10 minute walk from Ile St. Louis and Notre Dame. The room was tiny but quite clean and the young staff was absolutely superb. I couldn't ask them a question they couldn't answer and when my French failed me they switched to English easily. On our last morning the desk clerk ran out in the rain to get us a "good" taxi to take us to the airport. We will definitely stay here again.

Claire Loader in Henderson, Nv USA 03/24/2006

Best: Hotel du Champ de Mars.
Why: The best location. A few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. A very classy, upscale neighborhood. We felt very safe walking at night. Always people out walking their children, dogs. Dogs are everywhere and welcomed into cafes, grocery stores, the metro, buses. The hotel owner, the man, is not overly friendly. However, my husband decided he was going to make him engage in conversation with us. He was ok, just standoffish. The plugs at the hotel do not always work as they should. If you must have a curling iron, etc., you are taking a chance on them working. The price for the hotel and the neighborhood can't be beat though. The rooms are very small, but all you do is sleep there.

Lisa Roccaforte in Groves, Te USA 03/21/2006

Best: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: Good rates, nice clean rooms, Henry- the weekend desk clerk- was outstanding. Shower water pressure and temperature were very good.

Worst: Hotel Eber Mars
Why: Had 2 rooms- one was great, one was a closet. Had to make sure breakfast was included free, per Rick's book. They finally acquiesced, but tried at first not to offer it free. They served a very petite, but tasty breakfast(coffee or hot chocolate, juice, croissant,jam- one serving each.) Use your key to close your door or you might get scolded when you pull it shut- we did. Owner does not smile, but is otherwise okay.

Ken Cardona in Santa Clara, CA USA 03/14/2006

Best: Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: Clean, basic, and inexpensive. Although our bathroom was "knees-on-wall" narrow. Staff was extremely helpful and spoke perfect english. Rue Cler is nice & quiet at night. If you'd like to enjoy the nightlife, the metro is 2-3min walk(line #8). Overall, a wonderful time in Paris and my wife and I are already planning our next trip back! Bon Jour!

Eric in APO, AE USA 03/10/2006

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: We stayed in the apartment. It was roomy, clean, and well-provisioned. We were pleased to find the kitchen well-stocked with tea, coffee, condiments and cooking supplies. The hotel is within an easy walk of the Eiffel Tower and public transportation.

Marilyn Kuray in North Potomac, MD United States 03/06/2006

Worst: hotel du bresil,paris
Why: I am surprised you mentioned this hotel in your Paris book-shocked, actually. I stayed 2 nites there in June last year and it was a nightmare. First of all, I arrived back in the states with scabies and I am sure it was from that hotel. My room was small and filthy. The night before I checked out, I went down to straighten out my bill and was told by the person at the desk that my credit card was no good. Imagine being a single woman in Paris and being told that. I used another card-still no good. I called the card companies-thesy said my cards were good. The deskperson made me go get cash-again a single woman having to go out at night for cash!! I went and found a bank machine, came back with cash and was told he had no change. Well, by this time, I was very distraught and feeling scared. I started to cry and so he gave me change from his own pocket. He was very rude to me. I could not sleep that night as the rooms do not have deadbolts and the entrance to the hotel is left open all night and I was already traumatized by the front desk person. He also refused to call me a taxi for the next morning to go to Gare du Lyon. When I returned to Paris a bout a week later, I called the day manager to complain about the service and told him I was going to go onto the internet back in the States and describe my experience and he said I had better be careful as they had my credit card number and it could be put into the wrong hands. Wow, what a terrible and frightening experience. Fortunately, for the rest of my stay I was at the Hotel Muguet in the Rue Cler area and what a difference. I felt like I could finally relax and enjoy Paris and the hotel was lovely, felt safe and was clean and now that is where I will always stay. Thank goodness I started to have a better experience after that whole ordeal. I was still crying on the train to Italy after that night in the Hotel du Bresil and was told by a nice man on the train that sometimes you will get a bad egg like that and to try and not let if bother me too much. When single and travelling alone in Europe, safety is paramount and the Hotel du Bresil badly failed me.

Anna Kerr in Honolulu, HI USA 03/02/2006

Worst: Hotel Champs du Mars
Why: Despite reserving with a credit card over three months ahead of time our 5 day reservation was claimed to be lost by the hotel - they only had a room for three nights and they initially stated we would just have to change rooms but actually we had to spend half a day changing hotels half way through our stay, we did not find the staff all that sympathetic or helpful despite the fact that this was their mistake and we did have the written reservation confirmation with us - I would definitely suggest reconfirming reservations before arriving and would not describe the staff as "helpful" as you do in the book

Tara Baetz in Kingston, ON Canada 02/23/2006

Best: Hotel Relais Bosquet
Why: We would stay there again in a heartbeat! Helpful staff who made our reservations for dinner each evening. The bed was very comfortable, roomy room & bathroom, very quiet. Close to the lovely and incomparable Rue Cler. A 1 minute walk to the boulangerie, cheese shop, cafe,etc.

West & Carrie Jacocks in Sumter, SC USA 02/21/2006

Best: Champ du Mars Hotel
Why: My room was lovely and comfortable and the location could not be beat!

susan in San Francisco, Ca USA 02/07/2006

Best: www.logis.com
Why: Rented a furnished apt at Luxemboug Garden RER stop two minutes away. The landlady was so caring and the apartment was excellent. Our porch, on the 6th floor, gave us a view of the Eiffel Tower one way and the Pantheon the opposite directions. My husband & I (aged 77&79) had our 22yr old (French major) granddaughter with us.Your maps, descriptions and area tips were invaluable. You made the trip a trip of a lifetime. We were able to walk to so many sights and neighborhoods you had suggested. We would take the train to Sacre-Coeur & Eiffel Tower and walk back enjoying all you had listed. Sunday morning we enjoyed the organ concert at St.Sulpice. Each evening we studied your book as we planned the next day. We can not thank you enough!!!

Roz Soltau in Ponpano Beach, Fl USA 01/19/2006

Worst: Hotel St. Louis Marais
Why: My parents stayed there while visitng me (I live across the street). The hotel staff waited until my parents left the room for the day, and then moved them to a wretched little room without notifying them, or letting my parents know that all their belongings were going to be tossed into another room. The hotel staff (who was the regular desk clerk) refused to even apologize. he just claimed that it happened before his shift, when in fact he was the one who had packed up all my parents belongings and moved them. I see I'm not the only one on this forum who has had trouble at this hotel, so I would steer clear!

Suzy Deffeyes in Paris, France 01/18/2006

Best: The Grand Hotel Leveque
Why: In Paris we stayed at The Grand Hotel Leveque which I first read about in Rick's book. I cannot say enough about how much I loved this place (ten minute walk from the Eiffel Tower) on a beautiful cobblestone street with open markets and cafes lining it, the location itself was simply amazing. Very, very clean, staff really helpful. If you are staying there and want it nice and quiet in the morning choose the rooms away from the street it is on, Rue Cler, or you will be able to clearly hear the merchants (particulary the fish market people) setting up their fares quite early in the morning. Also watch the floor in the bathroom as when wet it is very slippery. I honestly believe the street this hotel is located on simply enhanced our first stay in Paris. Marco, the crepe maker across the way at the Greek resturant made me feel so welcome the very first night of our stay that I went back every night of our stay for my final evening moments in Paris.

I will never stay at another hotel should I visit Paris again. I loved it's location and shops and it really contributed greatly in making my stay in Paris amazing.

Karen Nichols in Mission Viejo, CA USA 01/10/2006

Best: Hotel Londres Eiffel
Why: We stayed 11 nights at this lovely hotel over Xmas and New Year's. Absolutely helpful staff that went over and above what I usually expect from hotel personnel. The two ladies who worked the breakfast room every morning were funny, cheerful and a joy to see every day. Our room was always cleaned, towels were changed daily and there was always lots of hot water. I always felt safe in the hotel. We had a room facing the street but it was so quiet because the hotel is just off the main road. The room had heavy drapes that blocked off light at night. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay and would stay here agin.

Minnie in Huachuca City, AZ USA 01/09/2006

Best: Hotel Muguet
Why: Clean, clean, clean. very friendly and helpful staff at all hours. Breakfast was wonderful! One could help themselves to fruit, cereal, yogurt, eggs, ham, madelaines, juice, tea and coffee. Mixture of European travellers and Americans.

Pat Fostvedt-Oxendale in Ida Grove, IA USA 01/02/2006