Theresa

My husband and I are going to Paris in April. Someone recommended the following hotels: Pantheon, Libertel Touraine Opera, and Richmond. I want to know more about these hotels but am having a hard time finding specific information on the internet and in a Fodor's book I purchased. I'd like to know about cleanliness, bathrooms - are there showers, atmosphere, location as far as tourist sites, cost, food,and any other interesting information. Also, I'm interested in finding out about other three star hotels in Paris. Thank you.

JOAN DOYLE

Dear Theresa: Two of the hotels on your list are listed in the Guide Michelin--the Pantheon and the Libertel (de Moulin seems to be its full name). Both are listed as "two-castle" hotels. I don't know if this translates to "three-star"--the Guide says this means "de bon confort"--OK but not fancy. The Libertel has 50 rooms, a lift, TV in each room, and no restaurant. The Pantheon has 34 rooms, a lift, TV in each room, and also no restaurant. It's in the Latin Quarter (LOTS of good restaurants nearby); the Libertel is in the 9th arrondissement--which is close to lots of shopping but which is busier. I'd choose the Latin Quarter myself. Anything listed in the Guide Michelin SHOULD be clean and safe. I suppose there are always exceptions but short of seeing it for myself I'd trust Michelin. Incident- ally, Michelin publishes separately the hotel and restaurant section of their Guide. You should be able to get it at any good bookstore and I think you'd find it handy. Bon voyage! Joan

Jody

The places you mention are "budget" accomodations and, as such, you can expect "budget" ammenities. If your preferences exceed those expectations, you must continue shopping. On the one hand, whoever recommended these establishments shoud be able to provide you with "specific information". On the other, any "veteran" of European travel would advise you: If it's not listed in ANY of the tour guides, there's a good reason. Highly recommend you check out "Cheap Sleeps in Paris" - a new edition is due out very soon. A better title would be "Excellent Value for the Dollar".

dan

Highly recommend you check out www.paris.org lots of hotel info in this website, like one other person said "if you can't find any info, there is probably a good reason why."

Christina

I believe there has been some misleading info
here. First, the hotels you've mentioned are not
"budget" hotels, in fact, the Libertel Touraine is one
of their more expensive properties, I think. (JDoyle's
info is, unfortunately, incorrect as the Touraine is not
the Libertel Moulin, they are two different hotels
--there are about 18 Libertel hotels in Paris).
The Pantheon is also not a "budget" hotel -- it's in
the more expensive range for a 3-star.)
There are many French hotel WEB sites, which you
can find with a search engine, but info on them is ltd.
Guidebooks are better. I suspect you haven't looked in very
many guidebooks or you would have found info about
these hotels--I know I've seen the Pantheon mentioned
with good ratings in several books. Personally, I'd
choose the Pantheon for location, but the other two
are very central; I just don't like the Opera area as
much for staying (too commercial and busy).
For more complete info on rates, etc., FAX the hotel
and ask. You can get all phone and FAX numbers,
addresses, etc. on all Paris hotels from this site:
www.paris.org/Hotels
Here are some other general French hotel sites, plus the
Richmond's site:

www.richmond-hotel.com (Richmond Hotel)
www.hotelweb.fr
www.hotels.fr (this site includes prices)
www.123france.com
www.paris-travel.com (this one also has prices and has
indiv info on the Libertel Tourain)
www.paris-promotion.fr (has prices)
www.karenbrown.com/franceinns/hotellist.com
www.webcom.com/wta/hotel (this site includes prices
and has some good discounts, but has a limited list)

Finally, I think you can assume a 3-star hotel will
be clean; I've never stayed in one that wasn't (nor
a 2-star for that matter), at least in France.