Hotel des Grandes Ecoles vs Hotel College de France

I have only stayed at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. It’s not my favorite, or my preferred location (a bit out of the way for me) and is over-priced imo, but it is very quiet and clean. Can’t comment on beds, I’ve been there recently but haven’t slept there in a long time.

You might get more responses if you move this thread from Reviews section to the France section.

"Does one place have anything over the other to recommend it?"
If you mean Hotel du College de France, I think it is in a more central location than the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles and is a significantly nicer hotel in terms of room finishes. It has a more modern finishes but I am not a fan of old wallpaper and that abounds at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. I don't think you are going to get a restful night sleep in either hotel with the windows open, but the odds may be slightly better at Hotel des Grandes Ecoles because of its courtyard between you and the street even though that street is relatively busy. I agree with Susan that you may get more responses in the general France forum.

I am not familiar with the other Hotel but have stayed at the Hotel du College de France several times and plan to return. The location is great. The rooms we have stayed in were not large but fine enough by far for two, comfortable and clean with modern granite/glass bathrooms. Breakfast was additional, but we could order coffee only, which was our objective. What the College du France does have is an excellent and exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Noise was never an issue, and I’m very sensitive to that. Granted we don’t generally sleep with open windows, but am pretty sure during a couple of warm nights most recently we did. They also have a small elevator. A very nice place with nice people, transportation and dining options abound within a ten minute walk. And it’s near the Cluny! . Safe travels.

At one time we really liked Hotel Grand Ecoles. The rooms overlooking the garden were quiet and comfortable and the building had an elevator. It is not possible to ask for a room preference. The last stay a few years ago we asked for a quiet garden room and that request was ignored. We were put in the building with no elevator on the third floor( spiral stair case) in a room priced as a triple (just two of us). Our room overlooked the trash cans and the noisy street. The decor in that room made the toile papered rooms look dreamy.

Sorry to hear about Atlanta Susan's bad experience with the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. I've never heard such before, but maybe there's been a change. We had a very good stay there years ago and its reputation still seems to be high. Our room was on an upper floor in the elevator building, overlooking the garden. We didn't keep windows open but it was certainly quiet enough for us, well back from a not-too-busy street. I don't know the Hotel College de France, but I agree with SF Susan that its location seems a little more convenient to Metro and more sights, closer to the river. It's on a corner of two not-so-busy-looking streets but maybe not as quiet, or you could try for a high floor.

I doubt if you'd go wrong with either one, You could base your choice on price, or on how responsive the hotel is to any special advance request like a high floor or quiet room or elevator. And I'd also suggest you post your question in the "France" forum but actually you're doing pretty well here in "Reviews"!

I am leaving next week with my daughter to visit Paris and am planning to stay at Hoel des Grandes Ecoles, which was highly recommended to me. I'm getting a little nervous here - anyone out there been to stay recently with some positive things to say??!! Thanks, Teri : Z

If you get a room in the building overlooking the garden you will be pleased--garden is pretty with seating, tables, etc. The part of the hotel adjacent but not connected to reception building is three stories without elevator and rooms are charmless with zero view of anything but street and trash bins. The spiral staircase up three flights was not knee friendly.

Thanks Susan! I'll hope for the garden view!!!

I’m afraid garden, and garden view, is a bit of a stretch... it’s a courtyard with a lot of overgrown (when I was there a year ago) plants and some trees. Still better than the garbage area though... : )