ILE-DE-FRANCE

Visited in 1994, 1995 and 1996 -- and since then we have been referring others and always receiving rave reviews back.

It is a charming small hotel in the fashionable Marais District of Paris just a few steps off the rue to Rivoli. Only a few blocks ffrom the Hotel de Ville Metro stop, this hotel has a great location.

Insdie, the rooms are very tastily decorated with wood-beamed ceiling. You will feel like you are really staying in Paris. Staff very friendly and except for night staff (at least when we there there) most staff speak some english. The rooms are small, so don't come with luggage for an around the world trip! They can store luggage that can't fit in the room in the areas on the lower floor.

There are great restaurants along the street in this trendy Paris area. The rooms are air-conditioned so if you have a from room you can shut the windows.

We are victims of the Caron's success. For past number of years we have been unable to get into this hotel. I guess telling everyone about it was not such a hot idea!

It was back in 1997 when we could not get into the Beaumarchais that we first stayed at the Hotel de la Bretonnerie. We have been back to this hotelmany times.

It is just a block away from the Beaumarchais and in a district of Paris that we enjoy. We found the rooms to be larger than the Beaumarchais.

This hotel fits our requirement that when we leave, wel feel like we really stayed in Paris. Ah the Paris experience!

Ask for one of the rooms of character if one is available as opposed to the Standard Room. They are nicely decorated and have more character with wood beamed ceilings. Room 20, the second image on the left, is a great corner room.

Now rue Ste Croix de la Bretonnerie at night is an active little street. The rooms have double-glazed windows so when the windows of shut you will hear nothing. But if you are the kind of person that needs your windows open, ask for a room that does not face the street. There are people walking and talking on the street till the wee hours of the morning.

Go early or be prepared to wait in a long line. But when you get in you will be eating in a very popular Marais-district restaurant that servers good food and at good price.

The place is a hive of activity. When we first heard about the restaurant we were told to go early. Glad we did.

Try not to accept one of the tables in the small room of the basement. You will miss the the buzz of the place.

Avoid the house wine. I have found it is better to buy wine from their menu rather than take their vin-du-maison.

Se are not talking high cuisine here, but good bistro food and a lively restaurant where you can enjoy the sprit of Paris and not we worried about having to take out a mortage to pay for it!

A popular restaurant that has received good reviews. One year when were were staying up in the 7th ème we saw this restaurant and after a couple of pass-by's decided that one night we would return for dinner. We were pleased that we did.

It always seems filled with people, the prices were reasonable and it was good bistro food.

It is not far from the La Tour Maubourg Metro Stop.