On our tours to Paris, we stay in the St. Germain area, in buildings well over 100 years old.  On our tours to Florence, Italy, we stay steps from the Duomo, in a building the famous composer, Rossini, slept in.   Our hotel for our Venice tours is equally as old.

Part of the charm in staying in these hotels are that they are old and centrally located spots.  On The Traveling Professor's tours we rarely stay in new hotels because they are located far outside the city.

Here is what you can expect in European hotels:

Size:  I used to say that European hotels are much smaller than American hotels.   And they are, compared to modern American hotels, especially those located in newer or suburban areas.   But in comparing European hotels to those I have stayed in New York City for instance, the size is comparable.   I need to emphasize in Europe that the star rating of a hotel has nothing to do with the size of the rooms.  For instance, I have stayed in the (now) 600 euro per-night Westin hotel in Paris and the room is smaller than the 2-star Hotel Chopin.

Wi-Fi:  All European hotels I stay in have wi-fi access.

TV:  They all have TV too. But only a few English stations.

Bathrooms:   Just about every 2-star or better European hotel has private bath and shower.   Showers can be tiny, though.

Breakfast:  Most European hotels offer free breakfast, although it is getting less common in Paris hotels.

When I pick a hotel on a tour to Paris or Italy, I always look for location first, comfort and cleanliness next, and then value.

For more information on my tours to Paris, see www.travelingprofessor.com