Pat_in_Mich

We will be going to Paris for the first time in May. I have booked:

Hotel La Bourdonnais
111 avenue de la Bourdonnais 7th Arr

I am second guessing myself because I keep reading that the 7th is quiet and residential and that is not really our style. Although we're not looking for nightlife, we do like a place that is lively and busy. Also we prefer more casual, inexpensive meals and I'm wondering if these might be harder to find in the 7th.

Other hotels I'm considereding:

Hotel Michelet Odeon
6 place de l'Odeon 6th Arr.

Familia Hotel
11 rue des Ecoles 5th Arr.

Hotel Jeanne D'Arc
3 Rue de Jarente 4th Arr.

We need a quad and our budget is around 200 Euro. We have given a lot of thought to apartments and decided that's really not what we want.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Christina

It's hard to say, I think you will probably enjoy any of those locations, actually. The 7th is pretty quiet, I guess, although there are certainly places to eat, but major intersections around metro stops are usually fairly busy most of the time -- well, not in some more residential areas I've stayed that are farther out than that, actually, but the Ecole Militaire metro stop has enough things right around it that are open, a few cafes, etc. Actually, one thing I don't like about the 7th is that a lot of it isn't residential or business, it is institutional, which is quieter (or deader, depending on your view) than either of those.

It depends what meals you are wanting, I suspect dinner, as I imagine you will be gone during the day, won't you? I might get tired of eating at the few cafes or cheap food places right around Ecole Militaire metro stop, but others probably wouldn't and would find it just great, and it does depend how long you will be there. It really depends what you mean by inexpensive, also, there are restaurants around there that a lot of people rave about on here, but I'll admit they didn't thrill me (menus or choices, not so much the cooking), such as Le Florimond. I wouldn't call them cheap nor casual, but midlevel. But you might call them cheap.

Maybe if you were mroe specific as to what inexpensive means, and how casual. Florimond, for example, isn't casual like a cheap cafe or tabac, but most restaurants around there (maybe all) are not formal in any way that I know. Problem is they are popular and small, so you may need reservations, so that's not so casual in one sense.

I'd say Michelet Odeon and Jeanne d'Arc in your list would perhaps most fulfill the idea of being smack dab in the middle of more activity and plenty of eating choices.

ira

Hi P,

>we do like a place that is lively and busy. Also we prefer more casual, inexpensive meals <

I suggest the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, in that order.

All of you hotel choices seem reasonable to me.

oakglen

Stick with your reservation; we tend to stay at the Walt, about a block from your choice. The location is superb; bus, metro and taxi stand are just a few steps away. www.lesrestos.com lists six pages of restaurants near the Ecole Militaire metro station. Bourdonnais is a busy street; you may want to ask for an inside room. The other hotels are in more touristy spots and are generally favored by first timers. Rue Jarente would be the quietest street of those you have cited.

Travelnut

re: Hotel de la Bourdonnais, read the Tripadvisor comments to see if anyone had issues with the location, nearby dining, etc.

Another option would be Hotel Delambre, near Montparnasse Tower. It is slightly less 'central' but near many transportation options and there are a lot of dining choices in the area. I've seen it recommended a few times here for the 'quad' room (2 rooms w/ 1 double bed and 2 twins); the rate runs around 160-190€
http://www.delambre-paris-hotel.com/pages/rooms_3.html

Pat_in_Mich

Thanks for your responses.

In regards to the meals, yes I am talking about dinner and I'm looking for something no more than $20 - $25 per person. By casual I mean that I don't want to need reservations because we don't like to be locked into eating at specific times. We're more go with the flow types when it comes to meals.

Guenmai

I just remembered that a friend of mine stays at the Jeanne D'Arc regularly and likes it a lot. If you wnat more livliness than the 7th, then stay in either the 6th or the 5th. Happy Travels!

RobertaL

I recently returned from Paris and loved staying in the 7th (Hotel Duquesne). It wasn't quiet at all during the day and the location can't be beat (walking distance to the Eiffel Tower, Rue Cler & more). Although it may quiet down at night, the cafes & restaurants surrounding the area weren't empty. You have alot of options in the 7th.

nancy1652

I've stayed at Familia and Jeanne D'Arc and prefer Jeanne D'Arc...the rooms at Familia are really, really small. Jeanne D'Arc is a bit more comfortable and the Marais is a very interesting area.

Leely2

I like a lively neighborhood too and given your stated requirements and preferences, I'd go with the Hotel Jeanne D'Arc first, Michelet Odeon second.

Have a great trip.

HereInFranklin

Six of us stayed at Familia in June and while the single we had was tiny,the doubles were fine. A plus is that there are small fridges in the room and breakfast is included in the price.
www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com

StCirq

I've been staying in the 7th at the Hotel Duquesne and the Hotel de la France for more than 20 years. I love the 7th. It's not all quiet and residential at all. There are loads and loads of cafes and restaurants and shops in the parts of it where the hotels are. It is pretty quiet at night, and I like that. Nothing like a good sleep when you're traveling.

crckwc1

We've stayed at the Familia twice and enjoyed the location -- quiet to sleep at night but walking distance to everything in the 5th and 6th where there is plenty of activity. Our two different rooms were adequate in space and we liked having the minibar, a/c in summer, and breakfast included in the rate.

For reasonable restaurants, we like Chez Clement -- www.chezclement.com for locations and menus.

newmanparker

Have you looked at the St. Vincent or Lumen?

hpeabody

bookmarking

RobertaL

Go away Newman Parker. Do you think you can wedge your way into another thread? You're such a moron.

I agree with StCirq. I loved the Hotel Duquesne and while the 7th was a bit more quiet at night, it was very safe walking home from other destinations. After our exhausting days of sightseeing, eating & drinking wine, it was very nice returning to the lovely, tranquil setting of the 7th!

zeppole

Not to make your life more difficult, but I really disliked staying in the 7th the one time I did it because I needed to be there the institutions of government. Not only is there very little there to interest me artistically and historically, I thought it was a desert when it came to enjoyable restaurants. I also found that true the few times I found myself in the 7th as a tourist. I marched around endlessly looking for the kind of restaurants I like, only to find them booked.

I'm sure people who go there constantly know their fab faves, and perhaps better research would have spared me, but I'd rather stay in one of the lower numbered arrondisements.

Travelnut

Just a small response to that - finding restaurants all 'booked' could be resolved by booking one or two for yourself (unless your schedule prohibited it)...

plafield

We stayed 10 nights at Hotel Jeanne d'Arc and we loved it. The hotel was nothing fancy but clean and comfortable and FANTASTIC location for an incredibly reasonable price. 2 minute walk to the 1 line metro that goes across Paris, easy short walk to Notre Dame and the left bank, very interesting lively area with tons of little cafes serving inexpensive meals and great boulangeries for breakfast pastries and take away picnic lunches.

zeppole

Travelnut,

Like the OP, I don't like to be locked into dinner reservations.