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1. MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PARIS AND REGION HOTELS.

The hotel categories are the same all over France, and are expressed by stars. Stars are attributed to the hotels by the State-run French Board of Tourism, in function of objective criteria (minimal size and equipment of rooms..). Let's just say that :

1 star hotels (*) are modest, with small rooms( minimal size for single rooms : 7m², for double rooms 8m²). They usually have shared toilet and shower facilities and sometimes be prepared to take the stairs up to that sixth floor room - as they have no elevator ! Expect to pay up to FF350 for a standard double room in Paris, and up to FF 250 in other French regions. These lower budget places are often family-owned, and as a result have familiar and friendly atmosphere.

2 star hotels (**) offer a good level of basic comfort and service, with standard amenities such as private W.C, shower, telephone, television, etc.. in each individual room. Minimal size of rooms : singles : 8 m², doubles : 9m². Be prepared to pay up to FF600 for a standard double room in Paris, and FF400 in French provinces. The two star hotel is ideal for those weekend breaks or short stays where you want all the basic creature comforts, but you don't want to pay over the odds for them. Strangely enough ** hotels in French regions tend to be more carefully kept than in Paris.

3 star hotels (***) offer a high level of comfort, and tend to pay more attention to service and individual assistance. Minimal sizes : single rooms :9m² , double rooms : 10m². With its increased luxury and customer care, the three star is the perfect choice for those envisaging a prolonged stay or looking to spend a vacation in a hotel in France. In *** hotels, a standard double room is worth FF750 in Paris, and FF600 in regional areas.

4 star hotels (****) are the real top of the French hotels. With lavish entrance halls and porters to assist you, these establishments cut absolutely no corners in offering you a truly exceptional stay. For this category, there is no limit to the size of rooms :they all are spacious ! A double room in such hotels ranges from FF1,200 to FF3,000.

Note that all the French receptionists speak at least English.

Nevertheless, the following features generally distinguish region hotels from Paris hotels.

* room size : rooms tend to be larger in the French region hotels than in Paris
* rates : in French regions, they are 20% to 40% cheaper than in Paris, except for **** hotels.
* parks, gardens, courtyards : exceptional in Paris, but usual outside.
* swimming-pools : countryside hotels frequently boast swimming pools.
* restaurant, half-board : most of region hotels have a restaurant, or at least work in partnership with a nearby restaurant, and half-board is usual (but never compulsory). This does not exist in Paris.
* parkings : usual outside Paris, exceptional inside Paris.

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2. COMFORT AND EQUIPMENT.

Comfort in French hotels has constantly improved over the past 20 years. Bad surprises are very rare : no more seedy or filthy places !!
Nevertheless, we know that you feel concerned with this topic : so, please report to the previous chapter (1), and you will know what you can expect to find in hotels, according to their categories.
AIR CONDITIONING Air conditioning is rather new in French hotels. Still, it has become a standard in all **** hotels, and is frequent in *** establishments. On the contrary, ** and * hotels do not enjoy it at all.
Note that given the climate, air conditioning can only be of some use in the continental eastern part of the country (incuding Paris and Provence) from the end of June to the beginning of September.
SMOKING/NON-SMOKING... in France, we are not used to making a difference between both : consequently, hotels provide generally "smoking" rooms.
This is not that problematic, given that any room boasts at least one fully-opening window, even in Paris.

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3. LAST MINUTE RESERVATIONS.

Last minute reservations are made 10 days (or less) prior the arrival date.

Try to avoid them : the later the reservation, the lower the hotel availabilities ! Still, here is a list of hotels which usually have more availability than others :

* category:
Hotel Delhy's

** category:
Hotel des Canettes
Hotel Colbert, in Sceaux
Hotel Cujas Pantheon
Hotel Vendome St Germain
Hotel Manet
Hotel de Maubeuge
Hotel Tour Eiffel

*** category:
Hotel Edouard VI
Hotel Elysa Luxembourg
Grand Hotel Français
Hotel des Nations
Hotel de Neuville
Hotel du Senat
Hotel Bastille Speria
Hotel Winston

****category:
Villa Beaumarchais
Villa Opera Drouot
Villa Alessandra
Hotel Richepanse Opera

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4. AVAILABILITY DURING PEAK PERIODS.

A. For Paris.

We also check availability after you have posted your reservation. Meanwhile, we encourage you to reserve in the hotels listed below if you want to maximize your chances of getting a room.

September:

Hotel Delhy's*
Hotel de la Tour Eiffel**
Hotel des canettes**
Hotel Anima***
Hotel Winston
Hotel Colbert**
Hotel de Saint Germain**
Hotel Fred'Hotel**
Hotel Grand Hotel Francais***
Hotel La Residence Montparnasse***
Hotel Little**

October:

Hotel Delhy's*
Hotel de la Tour Eiffel**
Hotel des canettes**
Hotel Anima***
Hotel Winston
Hotel Colbert**
Hotel de Saint Germain**
Hotel Fred'Hotel**
Hotel Grand Hotel Francais***
Hotel La Residence Montparnasse***
Hotel Little**

New Year Eve's:

Hotel Delhy's*
Hotel de la Tour Eiffel**
Hotel des canettes**
Hotel Anima***
Hotel Winston
Hotel Colbert**
Hotel Fred'Hotel**
Hotel Grand Hotel Francais***
Hotel La Residence Montparnasse***
Hotel Little**

Be careful!! If you want to stay in Paris in September, November, Marsh, April, May or June, do book your room 2 months ahead.

B. Regions

It proves difficult to make last minute reservation in Provence, Brittany and Normandy during July and August : plan about 2 months ahead, and 3 months ahead regarding the French Riviera.
May is generally a hard month for staying in the Loire Valley.
Eventually, keep in mind that we remain at your disposal to help you.
For instance, if you come during a peak period, ask us to find a room for you.
Just e-mail us and let us know what are your budget, arrival and departure dates, type of room required and number of people to accommodate.
We will answer you within 36 hours.

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5. A USEFUL FOREWORD ON PARIS HOTELS.

Paris Hotels are uncountable, but tourists and businessmen are quick to fully book them. Did you know that Paris was the world leader in terms exhibitions and meetings ?
Consequently, chosing one only hotel might quickly result in disappointments.
Here is what you should do :
Surf on the web site, and select 6 hotels. Note them down, and classify them, making your favourite rank first. Enter this classification in the appropriate field of the reservation form.
We will check the hotel availability, hotel by hotel, starting from your first choice. If the hotel ranking 1st is not available, we will then chek availability for the hotel ranking 2nd, and so on, till we find the needed room.
If ever none of your selected hotels were available, then we would make you an alternative proposal, taking your needs into major account.

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6. CHOOSE A PARIS HOTEL ACCORDING TO YOUR PROFILE.

Remember that Paris, unlike Madrid, London or Berlin is a small city, with an exceptionally well developped transportation network : no matter where you stay, cathedral Notre Dame (the very heart of Paris) is always less than 20 minutes by bus or metro.
So, do not ONLY base your choice on the area where such hotel is located.
Objectively, your needs mainly depend on your profile, for the globe trotters do not have much to do with businessmen, nor with families...
For each category of people, we provide a list of suitable hotels.

- Your are a businessman
- You are participating at a congress
- You are a couple of tourists
- You are a family enjoying a touristic stay
- You are young
- You, Senior people

- You are a businessman
you will favor comfort and easy transportation. So we suggest you to stay at :

** Category:
Hotel de l'Ecole Centrale
**+ Category:
Hotel Colbert, in Sceaux
*** Category:
Hotel Edouard VI
Hotel Arc deTriomphe Etoile
Hotel Astrid
Hotel de Neuville
Grand Hotel Français
Hotel Le Champlain
Hotel Duquesne Eiffel
**** Category:
Hotel Elysee Star
Hotel Richepanse Opera
Hotel Edouard VII

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- You are participating at a congress
here are the hotels located less than 20 minutes from the main exhibition halls :

From ParisExpo, Porte de Versailles
** Category:
Hotel des Canettes
Hotel Cujas Pantheon
Hotel Lecourbe
Hotel Manet
Hotel Modern
Hotel Moulin Vert
Hotel de la Tour Eiffel
*** Category
Hotel de l'Academie
Hotel Arley Tour Eiffel
Hotel Belloy St Germain
Hotel Clos de Medicis
Hotel de la Bourdonnais
Hotel Duquesne Eiffel
Hotel Edouard VI
Hotel Elysa Luxembourg
Hotel Millesime
Hotel Raspail Montparnasse
Hotel Residence Montparnasse
Hotel du Senat

From Villepinte/ le Bourget exhibitions park:
** Category:
Hotel Cujas pantheon
Hotel de Maubeuge
Hotel Royal Magenta
*** Category:
Hotel Belloy St Germain
Hotel Claude Bernard
Hotel Elysa Luxembourg
Hotel Notre Dame Sorbonne
Hotel Le Notre Dame

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- You are a couple of tourists
your main concern is the location and charm of the hotel. Consider going to :

* Category:
Hotel Delhy's
** Category:
Hotel Cujas Pantheon
Hotel Canettes
Hotel Ecole Centrale
*** Category:
Hotel Notre Dame Sorbonne
Hotel le Notre Dame
Hotel Britannique
Hotel du Senat
Hotel Elysa Luxembourg
Hotel Le Clos de Medicis
Grand Hotel Français
Hotel Duquesne Eiffel
Hotel Raspail Montparnasse
**** Category:
Terrass Hotel
Hotel les Jardins du Trocadero
Hotel la Villa Beaumarchais
Hotel la Villa Opera Drouot

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- You are a family enjoying a touristic stay :
Parents do not want to sleep too far from their children. A large room for all would do. So you are interessed in room capacity and...rates. Focus on :

* Catégory :
Hotel Delhy's
** Category:
Hotel Ecole Centrale
Hotel Canettes
Hotel Fred'Hotel
Hotel Riviera
Hotel Royal Magenta
*** Category :
Hotel Arley Tour Eiffel
Hotel La Bourdonnais
Hotel des Nations
Hotel St Paul le Marais
Hotel Winston
**** Category:
Hotel Richepanse Opera
Hotel Edouard VII

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- You are young
We know you ! Due to the restricted, you are looking for the best deals. For you, money rhymes with entertainment rather than with accommodation. The following places are dedicated to you :

* Category:
Delhy's hotel
** Category:
Fred Hotel
Hotel Sevigne
Hotel Riviera
Hotel de la Tour Eiffel
*** Category:
Grand Hotel Français

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- You, Senior people !!
You really want to enjoy your stay, and refuse to do without what you like. You demand comfort, glamorous places, panoramic views...
Your desires will be fulfilled at :

**** Category:
Terrass Hotel
Hotel Edouard VII
Hotel Richepanse Opera
Hotel Villa Opera Drouot
Hotel Villa Beaumarchais
*** Category:
Hotel Duquesne Eiffel
Hotel Arc de Triomphe Etoile
Hotel Astrid
Hotel Clos de Medicis
Hotel Britannique
Hotel Louvre Marsollier Opera
Hotel Raspail Montparnasse
Hotel Notre Dame
Hotel Notre Dame Sorbonne
Hotel St Paul le Marais
** Category:
Hotel Ecole Centrale

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7. PARIS HOTEL SELECTION BY NEIGHBORHOODS.

Paris can be viewed a succession of villages.

To make your hotel search easier, we have split Paris into 6 main areas, each bearing the name of a famous person who had to do with the place. For each area, we provide a list of 3 hotels belonging to different categories. You will also find the reasons why we have selected them.

Anyway, remember that Paris is a rather small city, with an unparalleled transportation network. Wherever you stay, Notre Dame Cathedral (the very heart of Paris) is never more than 20 minutes by bus or metro...

QUARTIER LATIN : E. HEMINGWAY.

Hotel Delhy's* : A good * hotel, cheap and perfectly clean, with a really privileged location.
Hotel Cujas Pantheon **: It opened recently. We like it because it is both pretty and affordable.
Hotel Edouard VI *** : We appreciate such a quiet place in such a tumultuous neighborhood.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE-CHAMPS ELYSEES : NAPOLEON 1st

Hotel Riviera ** : Simplicity is always charming, all the more so as Riviera is located in an business neighborhood.
Hotel Arc de Triomphe Etoile *** : We appreciate the perfect keeping of this classical and "bourgeois" hotel. In addition, its location is much quieter than its competitors'.
Hotel Elysee Star **** : Here luxury rhymes with harmony, fireplace and silence. You will be carefully attended to.

MONTMARTRE : TOULOUSE LAUTREC

Hotel Montmartre Lamarck ** : Ah ! The so charming, so invitating, so Parisian Place Emile Goudeau, where stands Hotel Montmartre !!! A Paris day-dream.
Hotel Winston *** : A warm welcoming tradition, spacious rooms and good rates : such are the assets of the well-located Winston.
Hotel Terrass **** : justifiably famous, it is the very only **** hotel in Montmartre. An exceptional location, with an unforgettable view over Paris from the terrace restaurant, on the hotel roof!!

TOUR EIFFEL : THE IRON LADY

Hotel Tour Eiffel ** : clean, familiar, plain and cheap : a really good deal !!

Hotel Arley Tour Eiffel *** : the many types of room make it possible to accommodate up to 5 people in the same suite. You will enjoy the picturesque views of the Eiffel Tower.
Hotel Duquesne Eiffel *** : The young and dynamic management really endeavours to take all the clients' needs into account. Parisian views are to be found here, over the Military school and the Eiffel Tower.

OPERA-LOUVRE : OSCAR WILDE

Hotel Louvre Marsollier Opera *** : we have selected this well-conceived hotel for its thorough keeping, the professionalism and perfect politness of the staff, its beauty and real comfort.
Hotel Richepanse Opera **** : A family-like **** hotel with friendly prices !! One can spends hours enjoying the harmony of the place. We definitely like it !
Hotel Edouard VII **** : A glamorous hotel that works smoothly, after the good old palace tradition. Many rooms boast pleasant views over the XIXth century Palais Garnier (Paris main Opera theatre).

BASTILLE : JIM MORRISSON

Hotel Sevigne ** : Pretty and cheap, located at the border of the old Marais area.
Grand Hotel Français *** : It has the lowest *** hotels rates in town, and perfect services. From here, you can reach any place of the Capital in a row.
Hotel Villa Beaumarchais **** : We love its silence, comfort, as well as its restaurant. This brand new palace is located in a XVIIIth century buiding, just behind Place des Vosges. Gorgeous !!

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8. ORIGINAL SERVICES IN PARIS.

We all have passions, demands and whims. Some of them can easily be satisfied in certain Paris hotels. So, do you want :
- A water bed ? Go to Hotel Arley Tour Eiffel***
- A fire place ? We suggest Terrass Hotel****, hotel Elysee Star****.
- A beauty parlour ? You will find one at hotel St Paul le Marais ***.
- A view over
° Cathedral Notre Dame ?
Hotel Notre Dame Sorbonne***, Hotel Notre Dame***, Hotel La Tour Notre Dame***
° The Eiffel Tower ?
Hotel Arley Tour Eiffel***, Hotel Duquesne Eiffel***, Hotel Raspail Montparnasse***.
° The Opera - Palais Garnier ?
Edouard VII****
° The Arch of Triumph ?
Hotel Richepanse Opera ****
° The Madeleine Church ?
Hotel Richepanse Opera ****
- A piano bar ?
- A good restaurant within the hotel ?
Hotel Edouard VII****, hotel la Villa Beaumarchais****
- A sauna ?
Hotel La Bourdonnais***, hotel la Villa Beaumarchais****

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9. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE....

We hope we have answered your main questions. Have we failed ? Do you need further information ? Do not hesitate to e-mail Jules at the following address :

[email protected]

Jules will answer you quickly, and personally. Now, do you need to contact us urgently, and speak to us ? Just phone us, from 9pm to 7am (Paris time), at the following number : (33) 1.45.27.21.21

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