Our family is taking a vacation to Eurpoe in late-July to early-August. We will be spending 3 days in Paris, with our 3 teen-aged children (16, 14, 11). Since it is the kids' first time in Eurpoe (sadly, I know), we will be spending most of the time out and about. I would like for the kids to experience Paris, but also experience luxury. Money is not much of a factor due to the short time period. I've done much internet and book-based research, and have found extremely conflicting results. There are a couple of primary needs we're looking for in a room...

-Modernized: recent restoration and up-to-date facilities is a plus.
-Not Overtly American: luxury is important, but we don't want to stay in something like a Marriot.
-Larger Rooms: because our family has 5 people, 4-person suites aren't an option. We usually book 2 seperate rooms and divide the kids, with one on a roll-away bed. Since we're not spending too much time in the rooms, they don't have to be gargantuan. Just nice.
-Connecting Rooms: although not an absolute must, a huge plus.
-Location, location, location: Preferably in the 8th off the Champ-Eleysse, but by the Gardens or similar nice location is fine.
-Friendly staf: the personel must be kind, or helpful at the least. Places with a large amount of "French Snoot" aren't suitable for our kids. Must be willing to readily speak English... I know that these places are high-class and therefore are obviously going to be snobbish, but the staff needs to at least be courteous.
-General Luxury: money isn't really an option here. See-and-be-seen is great (the kids will like it), but so is a smaller hide-a-way.

Most importantly, please keep in mind that we don't want to stay in a royal suite. Two regular rooms (or possibly slighltly upgraded versions) are best, so obviously if you stayed in a Presedential Suite at the Ritz and loved it, our experience in a Superiour Room might be very different. Money isn't too much of an option but we don't want to blow $2000/night on a room

That's all I can think of at the moment. After much researching, it seems that the top choices and their problems are:

-The Ritz: Said to have slightly pretentious staff, small rooms, and poor beds/furnishings.
-Hotel De Crillion: Frommer's `96 says it is the address, but I've heard in vague strokes that it is going downhill. Can someone elaborate?
-Hotel Le Bristol: Don't really know much about this one, it seems to be much less reputable?
-Plaza Athenee: Very conflicting reports, from awesome to paper-thin walls and bad rooms and service.
-George V FS: Seems to be the best right now, but some say that it is too-American and that the staff isn't always great.
-Prince De Galles and Royal Monceau: Don't know much about these two.


If you've stayed in any number of these places, a comparison would be wonderful. Any other suggestions on where to stay? Any other problems you've experienced/heard about with these? And your top pick, if you were going to Paris with our requirements, would be what?

Thanks, and if you can point out any additional resources, I would greatly appreciate it.