ciaodeb

Hi- Bonjour

I am traveling with my daughter before meeting my husband and son in Italy. We will be in Paris Aug. 2 and depart on morning of Aug. 5 We are looking for a good value hotel as dollar is so poor against your Euro in area good for a 15 year old.

My friend, John, has been to Paris many times, he recommended the arrondissements of 1, 2 or 8 saying it won't close up at night with many cafes and interesting areas. He said, In particular,just north of Louvre, near Church of Madeleine, (not far from St. Honore area) and east to Pont Neuf area, but not further east of where there are more government buildings and quiet at night. Re: Latin Quarter he said that you can walk for a while before hitting a cafe and thought north of Seine would be nicer area in general.

My daughter is artistic, enjoys culture and wants an, "alive" area with stores to shop. She is very excited about going to Paris!

I have stayed in St. Germain 6th (enjoyed) and Bastille 4th (more residential) but now do not know where it is best for my daughter.

We are also looking for a place UNDER E. 100 per night with bath facilities in room ans A/C! I know it is a tough time to travel- August and many smaller hotels are closed for this vacation month.

I have read Fodor posts and have e-mailed many of their suggestions which are all over Paris.

Please advise areas you would think a 15 year old might enjoy and any hotel suggestions.

Thank you VERY much.

StCirq

I disagree with John, though really any arrondissement would be fine. It's Paris. There are cafés. Everywhere. There is culture. Everywhere. In the Latin Quarter you can hardly walk a few yards without tripping over a café.

I would suggest you focus on the 4th, 5th, 6th, and maybe 1st if it's culture and stores and an "alive" area you're seeking.

RoadCrazy

I don't know about the 1st. I stayed between the Louvre and Place des Victoires, right around the corner from the Palais Royale, and it was incredibly dead at night - so deserted it was kind of creepy walking alone in the dark. Not a restaurant to be seen anywhere close by. Maybe other parts of the 1st are better, but I wouldn't stay there again.

janisj

I personally think St Cirq's suggestions are MUCH better than your friend John's.

Especially not the 8th. Not my fave area - and definitely not w/ a 15 yo.

My recommendations would be for the 5th w/ the 4th and 6th in a close second place, and the 1st just a bit back from them.

The 5th, eastern bits of the 6th, or southern part of the 4th would be perfect IMO.

StCirq

I forgot to say yes, especially not the 8th. Lovely area if you're into wealthy residential Parisian stuff. NOT for a 15-year-old.

klondike

I agreee with others on the 5th or 6th arrondissement in Paris. Our favorite street to stay on is the little Rue St. André des Arts just off of Place St. Michel and the Buci Market.

We really like the Hotel St. André des Arts-which falls in your price range, breakfast included, BUT does not have air conditioning. Were I to go in August, I would stay at www.eugenie-paris-hotel.com, I think. Ideal location with airconditioning would be worth the exra 15 euros to me. Safe, happening neighborhood with tons of shops and eateries.

bozama

Well you say your friend John has been to Paris many times, but frankly I find that almost impossible to believe as what he recommends is so completely false. He is correct in one thing, it is nicest ( to me anyways) to stay nearer the river then not) The area around the Madeline is dead at night . The area around the Louvre is dead at night except for a strip of souvenir shops along Rue Du Rivoli.
Stay in the 5th ( Latin Quarter) or 6th ( ST Germain) ,, and do NOT take any more advice off this man.
I have been to Paris quite a few times, I have also taken my 14 yr old to Paris, plus soon I will be taking my 12 yr old. We would not stay in the first( and I have before)

Please get a guide book or two and do some research on your own. It will help alot.

PS did your friend also tell you the hotels closed in August?? Where does he make this up?? I find most hotels have good rates in August, check out ( now as rates just go higher) Hotel Des Grand Hommes, google for their website, I am paying 110 a night with breakie for late july.

ciaodeb

Thank you everyone above!

My friend, John, has not been in Paris in 10 years and he stated that right off the top of our chat; I just forgot to mention it! That is why I sought more up to date travelers and you guys did it!!!

I feel 4th, 5th and 6th are where we should be for what we are looking for and closer to Seine than not, as you said.

Klondike-- I am leaning towards the St. Andre des Arts but another thread I just read said, someone stated it being worn around the edges. Today I got confirmation that they DO have A/C in rooms and front desk. Waiting on St. Eugenie and Hotel du Commerce, also in 6th.

In the 4th, also thinking about Hotel Sovigne', Hotel Jeanne D'Arc and Hotel de la Herse d'or.

Bonzama-- A couple of Paris hotels said they were closed for August but I found many more closed in Italy. Enjoy your July trip.

If anyone else has other hotel suggestions in 4th, 5th or 6th areas, I'll take them! Looking under E. 100 and preferably E.70-90 range.

Travelnut

Many of the hotels you have mentioned do not have a/c, if that is important (for many people, August is hot and muggy).

Hotel Sevigne in the 4th does. Hotel Saint Pierre in the 6th (5th?) does. Hotel Louvre Forum in the 1st does.

Michael

Michelin is generally reliable. Go to the viaMichelin web site, choose tourism, choose hotel, choose the country and for the postal code type in 75005 and it should bring you to this listing: http://tinyurl.com/2hgbfq for 5th <i>arrondissement</i>. For hotels in the sixth, type the postal code 75006. You can have the hotels listed by price.

BTW, things have not changed that much in the last 10 years, or even 40 years, in terms of lively neighborhoods. I would take your friend's advice with a grain of salt.

klondike

Yes, the St. Andre des Arts is an older hotel, but we have always found it clean, centrally located, friendly front desk and the right price. We call it funky historic (How many hotels do you know that serve breakfast out of church pews with tv trays set up in front of them?)

Four different family members have stayed here-3 couples in 45-60 yrs old age bracket and my son who was 21. Everyone has been satisfied...but we are not jet set people. My sister, who is probably the most &quot;demanding&quot; stayed a couple of nights at Hotel Bonaparte (of Ira fame) before joining us upon our arrival and actually preferred St. Andre des Arts and would stay there again. I found that kind of interesting. We just like the je ne sais quoi of the place.

It is pretty basic, so if you are looking for anything upscale I'd consider other options.

bardo1

ciaodeb,

I think St. Andre des Arts is a lovely choice. Especially at your budget. Furthermore the tripadvisor reviews are overwhelmingly very good. I would discount the the opiion of a lone dissenter.

ciaodeb

OHH, AIR CONDITINING is VERY IMP. for me in August! Have new e-mail into Hotel St. Andre to CONFIRM what they said- air in rooms and front desk. Now need to find out about eating area.

Klondike, eating on church pews sounds awesome, very different indeed. That's the room I need to find out about a/c. Do you recall no a/c when there? Perhaps it was not during the summer? I appreciate your Hotel St. Andre family comments and bardo1's too.

Let me ask one last thing-- we are leaning toward St. Andre des Arts but have good prices from below too.

H&ocirc;tel S&eacute;vign&eacute; - 4th eme
Hotel de la Herse d'or -4th, close to Bastille
H&ocirc;tel Saint-Pierre -6th

I do not recall the 4th eme as I recently stayed in 6th. I am pretty sure it will be St. Andre but just want to be 100%!

Michael, thank you for your Michelin web site. I am at the point of making a decision. If above listed hotels do not work out, I will look further. At this point I have looked far into this, maybe too far! Just want my daughter to have a good first Paris trip!

ciaodeb

TRAVELNUT-- YOU ARE RIGHT! Lots of hotels DO NOT have air conditioning. We elimined St. Andre des Arts. I mixed up e-mail addess with another with similar who has air conditioning. When I realized I had to eliminate and tell you here! It's onto others, including Hotel Sevigne. Thanks!!!

bozama

It will be difficult to find a central hotel that is under 100 euros and HAS a/c.. difficult , but not impossible.
If the price is very good( under 90 euros) then really double check hotel has a/c or is in good location.

Just a note, last August I stayed 9 days in Paris,, and it was COLD and rainy most of them, never put a/c on once!!! I was choked too since like most people I have always experienced such hot summers in Paris, so I paid &quot; extra&quot; to stay in a hotel with a/c!!!

PS Did you check the Eugenie website, I know they have a/c and You may be able to get a deal for august and they are on rue Saint Andres Des Arts, excellant location.
Good luck.

bozama

Just check with HOtel Eugenie their three night special is 110 euros per night for a double or 115 for a twin,, a tad over your budget request.. but perhaps you could swing it.. it is hard with the euro so strong and our dollars so weak though I know.

ciaodeb

Hi bozama, thank you for suggestion. I did check out Hotel Eugenie and they want E. 120, gave me a discount from E. 150 but it is still high. This is for 2-7 August, maybe rate you quoted was of different time? It is too bad as I longed to stay on rue St. Andre des Arts. I had to give up H. St. Andre des Arts as it has no A/C and it is a 15 c. building and looked awesome on internet site! Now I am looking into H. St. Andre Rivoli and H. Sevigne, each in E. 88 incl. breakfast and both right bank, close to Seine within a few blocks. Both have A/C! I'll consider these but may post again asking what other hotels are on rue Andre des Arts as my feeling is to stay there!

This trip is extra, in addition to our 2 weeks in Italy with family, as I spoke about in my first opening paragraph. So I really want to keep it under 90 euros as we are spending more in Italy accommodations.

janisj

I know you are set on the a/c - and that is an important consideration. However - don't expect powerful, cold, forced air like you are used to at home. Especially in a budget hotel. You might luck out and get &quot;real&quot; air conditioning. But it is also pretty likely you will find the a/c to be awfully wimpy.

A good fan and windows that open are often just as effective

WillTravel

Mercure Monty Opera sometimes has rates of less than 100 Euros per night, and it has air conditioning.
Check to see what it has for your dates.

However, since we stayed there in February 2007, I can't comment on its effectiveness. My daughter, age 15 at the time, enjoyed the area, and it's quite convenient. We're staying in the same area again next week.

The hotel we are staying in next week, Hotel Marciano, also has air conditioning. We got a good rate of 80 Euros per night including breakfast through www.hrs.de .

Some Ibis hotels have cheap rates, particularly if booked well ahead, and also have air conditioning. But you have to check each individual hotel to see what it has.

If you bid for a 4* hotel on Priceline, you are extremely likely to get a hotel with air conditioning, but you can't pick the location. You can read other threads about Priceline here.

ciaodeb

Hi janisj- You are right about A/C but when it is forceful, I loathe it!! Gently is fine for me! Thank you.

Hi WillTravel-- Thanks for your comments too. The Mercure and Marciano look nice but I am looking for areas in St. Germain, Latin Quarter or same location on other side of Seine. I will check site out you gave and thank you for it. Enjoy your trip next week!