She works hard for the money

I don't think nearly enough credit is given to travel agents.

Now, with all the access people have to practically everything, everyone is DIYing their vacations. Which is, of course, what we're doing. When you're trying to plan a week-and-a-half long vacation to Europe for less than $3K, you can't afford to splurge 5% on having someone make the arrangements for you.

But with all the resources of the world right here, at my fingertips, comes a conundrum: the paradox of choice.

Thousands of hotels. Hundreds of city blocks. Hotels that, within a single price range, vary widely from no-frills but clean to unlivable.

Yes, the Metro connects all areas of the city, so even the far out locations are quick - but really, after entire days of drinking, who wants to worry about catching the rail, or if the service slows at night?

What trumps? Location? price? Or rating? Or amenities?

Tens - soon to be hundreds - of hours of research has gone into this trip, and I feel I've hardly scratched the surface.

On the plus side, reading all the foreign street names on the map has me very slowly becoming more comfortable/acquainted with the area.

très bien!