Hotel Du Champ De Mars in Paris

They may be closed for a winter vacation.

We've stayed many times and really enjoyed it but it really is necessary to make reservations at least more than 6 months in advance. In the past I've phoned first, asked for the rooms/days we needed then faxed my cc, date of expiration and code. No problems.
This year, I phoned for May reservations, M. Gourdal said to contact them in November, which I did. He said to send a fax, I did. They never emailed me that the reservations were confirmed--although that's usual that they don't! So, I phoned again. This time Mme Gourdal said I needed to email the request, then a return confirmation would be emailed to me at which time I should send a fax with cc info. I never received an email confirmation so decided to go with Lévêque. We have to do a bit of hopping around from backside rooms to streetside but at least we have something. I do wish they had a calendar of availabilities like Lévêque does but I guess that's the charm of the place!

I sent an email to them this past week and have not had a reply as of yet. Glad that I made a reservation at the Leveque for early May myself.

If Hotel Du Champ De Mars "charm" lies in poor communications and questionable reservation practices I would be glad to stay elsewhere. There are many hotels around the rue Cler area, and perhaps this hotel has too many "willing" customers.

I stayed just around the corner in the Royal Phare in June and loved it. They even replied to my emails, too!

I never heard from them either when I tried to book for last fall. I think they don't bother to reply if they don't have rooms available. Someone who actually stays there & has a chance to talk to them should ask about this. It'd be interesting to know if this is their practice so one doesn't bother trying to contact them over & over. Also, they may be interested to learn how it affects our perception of them (or maybe not).

We stayed there last summer and it was fine - until departure time. The lady at the desk ran my credit card and "it wouldn't go through, it had been denied" she said. I asked her to do it a couple of more times - both unsucessfully, she said. Had to make a quick dash to a cash machine so we could check out. When I got back home, I called MasterCard and asked them what the problem was and they said it had never been run through and that it would not have been denied. I think the French lady was giving me the run-around and just wanted cash!

Charlie - The Hotel Londres Eiffel is also in the area - stayed there last year - very nice. Here's the website: http://www.paris-hotel-londres-eiffel.com/eng/index.html.

My response is really a reaction to Elodie's experience. The same has happened to us many times in Italian hotels and restaurants, and at least once in France. It's about evading taxes. I don't mind if a small business states up front that they don't accept credit cards. I believe it's their government's business to figure out how to regulate cash-only enterprises. However, I also think it's abusive to have a cc logo in the window; and then make up a lame story about the machine not working. Hotels and many restaurants survive on the tourist trade, so they ought to treat us with a modicum of of straightforwardness. I've often wondered what would happen if we just said sorry no cash; but Elodie has the answer. They make you go get some! I would advise everyone to avoid places about which you hear such stories.

Charlie... We have stayed at the Champ du Mars hotel over 10 times ..we actually love it and as odd as it may seem we love the Gourdals, also. . Often we even have trouble emailing them. I do know they are redoing their website now and may be having some trouble. I also know that they are not full for May.We usually email them andt then send a fax with credit card info and ask for a confirmation. The hotel is very reasonable and I think more French than the Levecque.

Called Hotel Du Champ De Mars this AM (Friday 12/19) and talked to a woman who spoke very acceptable english (I don't speak French) and she asked about # in party, dates, etc. and after answering her questions, she told me to send her an e-mail with all of the same answers in it along with a CC #. When I asked if she could take the CC # over the phone, she replied that they do not do business over the phone. I sent her an e-mail with the requested information with a footnote about speaking to her earlier in the day. I will wait a few days to see if she replies and if she does not, I will call her again. i reminded her in the e-mail that her place had been highly recommended by Rick Steves and that we were coming to Paris to take one of his tours. I certainly appreciate all the suggestions from everyone and have compiled a list of alternative hotels. Thanks again. charlie

Considering how many hotels there are in Paris, and many of them close to the adored, revered and holy Hotel Champs de Mars, why does anyone put up with the treatment received at the hands of their staff? My own desire to stay there would have quickly cooled after just a couple of days of non-communication. Such behaviour is not at all charming and NOT typically Parisian.

I agree with Norma.

We've stayed at Hotel Relais Bosquet up the street and it's been very nice with a very friendly staff who speak good English and don't seem to mind our bad French.

We stayed across the street at the Hotel du Cadron and it was very nice. It could be an option for you if you need to find another place. I booked it through Expedia and got a very good price. The people at the front desk speak very good English.

Due to the management, I have left this place. I really like it but I the male half of that team is in the WRONG job! LOL! I think the only person they are nice to is Rick!

I also agree with Norma. I have always heard from hotels in a few days and if not I go elsewhere.

I received an e-mail confirmation from the Hotel Du Champ De Mars the morning after calling them direct and sending them another e-mail as requested. Thanks again everyone. I will post an evaluation when I return in early June 2009.

Charlie: So exactly how many phone calls, emails, and faxes did it take to get a response from this hotel?

We have stayed at this hotel several times and I agree with Carol's comments. The room rate is great but we now stay in an apartment if we have the chance to stay in Paris for a week. Our favorite area is St Germaine but it seems to be more expensive for hotels & apts. We also really like Hotel des Grandes Ecoles( in Latin Qtr) and that is a great area for walking to Notre Dame and lots of sites and restaurants. We love the Marais too and will happily stay there again.

I've stayed here. My email was answered, I sent my cc number, the room was booked, no issue. I imagine people would stay here even with poor booking service because it is very inexpensive, yet very clean, comfortable, quiet and well located.

In general, though, if you don't get a response from a European hotel, they are booked. In many trips to numerous countries, I can't remember ever getting a "sorry we're full" email from a European hotel. I simply don't get a response.

While I don't know about this hotel specifically, I stayed right around the corner at the Hotel Valadon this year and ADORED it. It's a tad pricier (though breakfast is included), but it's a wonderful place to stay. I communicated with the owners via email several times before booking, & they were great at answering questions.

The Valadon is literally right around the corner, so it might be something else to look in to :) Good luck!

Christy, I've received 3 "sorry we're full" emails concerning our upcoming trip.

It took me 2-3 emails of reservation request to get a response. I did it in May for a December stay. Maybe your emails get placed in their spam/bulk email, as it does happen to me (damn you, Yahoo!). They were quite pleasant to deal with, very informative, and our room was quite nice with street view. I would stay there again.
KC

I'll post a report when I return in early June.

I have sent two emails and tried 1 phone call to be told only by email.So one more try. I have booked all across Italy and never not been answered not sure what the promblem is. Any ideas. Sounds like the perfect hotel.