Arrondissement for 1st Paris visit

Hi U,

Sept is usually a good time of year.

Bring a brolly.

The 4th - 7th are fine for first timers.

We always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 131E dbl w/bkfst. It is just around the corner from Place St. Sulpice, near 3 metro stops and 4 bus routes. Has AC and an elevator.

The staff speaks English well, and is very helpful.

Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
reservation@hotelbonaparte.fr
www.hotelbonaparte.fr

For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search this forum" box.

Enjoy your visit.

I've been staying in the 6th since the early 80s and personally prefer that area. Why not just rent an apartment for the week? Last March, I had vacationinparis.com Apt#122 which is a great location, in the 6th. We have an apartment thread and two hotel threads in this forum. Just scroll either the first 50 threads or go on to the next 50 threads. I'll try to top them for you. Sometimes they top and sometimes they don't. Happy Travels!

We just returned from Paris on Sunday. My personal preference is in the late May or early June timeframe but September should be ok. Paris is a city to explore on foot and with the metro which is very convenient. This trip we stayed in the 8th arrondissement at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe. It was absolutely fabulous. The concierge was very helpful and even hooked us up with passes to jump to the front of the 2 hour line at the Louvre. The location was perfect with a 5 minute walk to the metro or about 10 minutes to the Arc. On New Years eve we ended up having to walk from the Eiffel tower which took about 2 hours mainly due to so many people. In my opinion the best are the 1st or the 8th. There is a small but very convenient hotel in the first called the Tonic Louvre. We stayed there twice and the location could not be beat but it is a small hotel with character but certainly not a Hilton or Ritz.

Enjoy your planning,
pompa

OK. I've topped the three threads for you so that you can get some ideas. Happy Travels!

I've been to Paris 10+ times. One of my favorite places to stay is Hotel de l'Abbaye Saint Germaine at 10 rue Cassette | 06 Arr., Paris 75006, France. I usually don't stay there any more because it is pricier than what I normally spend, but it is in your price range. It is a lovely, small, intimate hotel and the staff there are wonderful.

Have a wonderful time - I hope that you love Paris and that your dream of a wonderful trip comes true.

My wife and I had two weeks in Paris in September in 2008 and the weather was fabulous. Not a drop of rain did we see. We rented an apartment in the 6th arr, and paid €100 a night.It was fabulous. I cannot see the point of paying between $300 and $500 for a place to sleep. If you do all that you want to do, you will hardly be in your hotel. Save your money and rent an apartment.

Thanks, everyone for your quick replies and suggestions. Will definitely check into the hotels mentioned, and also into renting an apartment. True that the less money we spend on a hotel or apartment, the more we'll have for food, shopping and adventures.

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue researching.

Your budget will fit a high-end *** hotel; I would suggest a hotel on the #1 line in the first eme, preferably near a metro station. There are hundreds of hotels available in central Paris; so pick your location first; I would look for hotels near the Concorde and Tuileries metro stations. Our preference, and that of our friends, is the 7th, but then we know the city well and are more into the food scene these days.

I agree. Why spend so much on a hotel room that you won't even spend that much time in? Plus, hotel rooms, in Paris are claustrophobically small. So, go for an apartment and get double the space. Then you can spend the saved money on food and shopping...Paris is handbag heaven! Smiles.

As I stated above, I used vacationinparis.com as many have used on this forum. They're super easy to deal with. You can just pay them with a personal check as they're located in New Jersey. Plus, they mail out the apartment keys about 2 weeks before you leave home. So, no need to have someone meet you at the apartment to let you in. You can get there when you get there which is good especially if your plane is delayed for a long period of time. They also don't require huge security deposits. I only had to pay a deposit of $300. for my week rental.

Another company, that I hear that's great, is parisperfect.com. Several, on this forum, have used them and I've heard that they are easy to deal with. They're above my everyday price range, but would be great for a special occasion. Take a look at their apartments. Most of their apartments are located in the 7th. If you're going to get an apartment, then you need to jump on it. I booked my apartment around 9-10 months in advance, I think it was, as it's a very popular rental. Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!

I have to second guemai's suggestion of an apt. We both stayed in the same one Vacation in Paris #122. We have been vacationing in Paris yearly for the past 20 or more years. If You decide on a hotel , look into those on rue Jacob. For the last 8 years we;ve booked the du Danube , room 6. It;s large and the staff is wonderful. It is convenient . For just a few days I'll continue with a hotel but for a week or more it's an apt for me. the 5th or 6th are my favorites for transportation options. I always find the 7th a bit hard to find routes without a lot of walking.

Apartment - yes, good idea. Unless you need to be pampered, it's a much more "rewarding" experience to live in a Parisian neighborhood in your "own" place. With that budget, you could rent a lovely Paris Perfect place (and get the 20% discount I believe they are still offering to Fodorites).

Avalon...Are you Avalon as in Catalina... on the island off of L.A.? Just curious. Happy Travels!

I have been to Paris more time then I can count and I am sure you can get into a big debate over what arrondissement to stay in. I have always found the 4th in the Marais to be a great old Parisian experience. It is also very convenient to walk almost everywhere.

For apartment rentals I have stayed in 2 places, One was at the St Paul metro station on rue Rivoli and the other was on rue Rambuteau. I loved both apartments but the rue Rivoli place is a bit nicer but a studio. Both areas have great character. Her are the links, both www.parisbestlodge.com and www.rentparis.com are both very easy to deal with and honest. Check out their other apartments!

http://www.rentparis.com/appart-en-8.html (rent paris)

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/rivoli.html (paris best lodge)

Here are my thoughts on both of them -

rue Rivoli - Nice location and easy to walk around the Marais and Hotel de Ville area. I found this location to be good but slightly off center. The neighborhood is great and offers everything you may need, wine shops, cheese, supermarkets, bakery, etc.. This apt is slightly nicer then the one on Rambuteau. It has French doors, a view of the top part of St Paul Church and is very quiet. This is a studio.

rue Rambuteau - excellent location. It is on a very lively street with great shops and services. I think it is slightly better then the rue Rivoli neighborhood. The place seems small but has tons of windows on every side. Lots of sun! The one bedroom is small but a plus! This place is very quiet and has intersting views over the rooftops. The furnishings are sort of Ikea-ish. I thought it was fine but its not like a fancy hotel.

Just a note, it may be warm in september, you may want a place with air conditioning. Check out Paris Best Lodge, he has a few with A/C...

Also.... if you rent....

-Look for a place with a washer/dryer, it really comes in handy.

-In many places if you take the internet option, you also get free calls to the USA.

-Watch out for what floor it is on and if there is an elevator. Do you really want to climb 5 flights of stairs after a long day sightseeing? Remember the ground floor in Paris is floor "0", so if it says you are on the second floor, thats an American 3rd.

-Beware location, I am sure anyone here can help you. I would want to be in the most central area.

I hop that helps!

Oh and P.S.

I alway make sure you see the bathroom in pictures. Curiously, many French bathrooms don't have American style showers, just a tub and a hose or shower without a curtain.

I've stayed a few places; probably the "best" for first-timers was:

http://www.guestapartment.com/

The Gardenia apartment.

But I think with advice from your fellow Fodor's posters, you can't really go wrong. Enjoy Paris!

Hi,

There are so many hotel and so many apartments. Much is just your personal preference. Some don't have strong feelings about their lodging and others do. It is to each his own! The same for arrondissements.

I have been going to Paris for many, many years. I have stayed in many hotels, many apartments and in many arrondissements.

I now go for trips of one month and I stay in apartments for that period of time. I also prefer the 7th..in the St. Dominique/Bourdonnais part of the 7th, preferably. I also stay in the www.parisperfect.com apartments. They just have everything that you could possibly want and/or need. Many have views of the Eiffel Tower..easy to get used to!

The area has wonderful bus and metro connections to every place..and the ET, Rodin Invalides and d'Orsay are all right there.

More high end and bibb gourmand restaurants than 4th, 5th, and 6th combined. Restauants for every budget.

I will be heading back to Paris mid April for a month stay..in a Paris Perfect!

I will get back to you about the current offers that might be available for Fodor's...I am sure it can be 10%..

Enjoy your search...

Joan

I was able to get the information for the www.parisperfect.com discounts for Fodor's!

It is 15%!! That is very helpful....

Enjoy......

Joan

After many trips to Paris and sampling several hotels in various arrondissements, my favorite and "permanent" Paris hotel is the Hotel Latour-Maubourg in the 7e. The location can't be beat -- some rooms have a view of the Invalides. Beautiful rooms and a very pleasant and helpful staff. There's a metro stop right across the street (and a charming small park) and the Invalides major station is a short walk away - as is the Seine. Many bars for a cheap breakfast or cafe au lait and many very good and reasonably priced restaurants all around the hotel. The Eiffel Tower is an easy walk. Bon voyage!

Rottman,

I also hear good things about the Muguet.

Chez les Anges, Pasco, La Cuisine, Cafe MAx, Florimond are just a few dining places in the area.

I sort of prefer the St. Dominique/Bourdonnais area, but all of the 7th is great.

Just finished my dining list for my month beginning mid April....the planning is half the fun!

Enjoy.....

Joan

The Latin Quarter lies in the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris. I've been to all of them, but it's by far my favorite -- more typical Paris. For convenience and simply just a good, quiet, clean place to stay without all the bells and whistles, I like the Three-star Hotel Abbatial on Saint Germain. The city bus stop out front.

http://www.hotelabbatialsaintgermain.com/index.html

I enjoy the 8-minute walk to the Luxembourg Gardens for a good morning walk or jog before a daylong stroll by the shops and restaurants on boulevard Saint Germain. The nearby Metro, RER, and train stations will get you to anywhere you want to go in Paris or to bordering countries. For example, take the Blue Metro from St. Michel to Gare du Nord, where you can take a train to London for a day trip.

http://www.paris.org/Metro/gifs/metro.pdf

September is also my favorite time of the year to visit Paris.

Enjoy.

We stay at a different Arrondissement each time we visit Paris. Last year we had family members with us who never visited the beautiful city. We stayed in the 7th Arr. at the Hotel le Tourville. Ideally located for access to Parc du Champs de Mars and the Tour Eiffel, Les Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb and military museum) and Rue Cler, a shopping street - all in leisurely walking distance. The location has busy streets and cafes to enjoy people watching, a favorite pastime while sipping on your glass of wine and dish of escargots. Metro nearby.

Le Tourville is a pleasant hotel, nicely appointed, friendly staff and typically small rooms. Great restaurants in the vicinity too.

Don't drive in the city. Parking is in short supply and temperament as well.

I like the 6th. Esp. for a first visit. You can walk to just about everywhere on your list and in the evening really see the cafe culture in your little neighborhood.

gruezi

I'd second the idea of the 5/th or 6th for a first time visit. Note that since the Metro/bus/RER system is so vast, you are never really far from public transit, so staying at a place further out is not going to hugely inconvenience you. In the 1/5/6/4th, you will be walking distance to some of the major sites, as well as being in areas wioth lost of restaurants. The 5th and 6th are nice for access to the Seine, which is one 'site' I tend to want to see every day.

With that budget, conside staying on Ile St Louis. It is in the 4th. Very easy walking distance to Notre Daem, Left/Right bank, RER to airport, metro. It has a nice 'villagey' feel to it...one main street with cheese shop, chocolate shop, wine shop,Berthillon ice cream, several good restos..and is a bit quieter at night. Three good hotels are Lutece, Deux Iles, and St Louis en Ile.

Wow! Thanks, everyone, for all the great information. I'll be busy researching your suggestions!