KittyKautz

Hi there! I am traveling to Paris solo in April and having trouble deciding which area would be more fun to pick a hotel in as far as night life - I am a "young" middle aged female (if you know what I mean!). I like casual cafes, restaurants and like to stroll around at night, maybe some low key shopping, a drink here or there...

Would like to stay as close to home as possible - so I would pick a hotel based on what area would better suit my party atmosphere...

Thanks for any input!!

Michel_Paris

Both the 5th and 6th would offer what you want. Easy access to Seine, lots fo people out and about, good restos, some sights to see, market, museums, jazz clubs, cafes, easy access to airport..either is OK.

Budget permitting, could also stay on Ile St Louis, which is Marais district. Bit quieter.

Michel_Paris

Hotel thread

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm

Could also consider an appartment.

Michel_Paris

Correction...(posted Right Bank thread)

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=35162713

kerouac

I would stay in neither area if I did not already live in Paris. However, the totally fake fantasy Paris will be completely available to you if you stay in one of those areas. Who cares if you pay 50% for the experience?

Nikki

I have traveled alone to Paris several times and I would be happy in either Saint Germain or the Latin Quarter for the activities you mention. On the other hand, I would be happy in just about any neighborhood I have seen.

I do not find the neighborhoods you have picked out "fake", although it might be true that they are more expensive than more outlying neighborhoods.

KittyKautz

Thank you all so much, that thread especially will be helpful! Even the confirmation on the fantasy Paris, it is fantasy I am looking for right now...lol

denisea

I love the 6th near the Odeon metro stop ( I know, kerouac, I know). If it is what you enjoy, go for it. I understand totally.

There are lots of cute shops close by and cafes we enjoy. Gerard Mulot is right there with wonderful pain au chocolat. My new love is Un Dimanche a Paris....beautiful and my favorite macarons!

The Odeon stop is co convenient; many bus lines serve the area, as well. I find the area to be convenient for many of the favorite attractions (Notre Dame, St Sulpice, Musee D'Orsay, Ste Chapelle/Conciergerie; Luxembourg Gardens)

There are a number of small hotels in the area:

Hotel Louis II; www.hotel-louis2.com/
Hotel Odeon; www.odeon-paris-hotel.com/
Relais St Germain; www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com/
Hotel Odeon St Germain http://www.hotelparisodeonsaintgermain.com/
Espirit-St Germain; www.hotel-esprit-saint-germain.com/

Enjoy your trip. My T/R from Christmas 2010 last has links to many photos to show the area and info on the restaurants we like there. Click on my user name to find it if you are interested.

StuDudley

We've visited Paris perhaps 25 times in the last 35 years of traveling in Europe. We were there about 5 weeks ago for 11 nights. Often, we end a long vacation in France (4-5 weeks) with a one-nighter in Paris before the flight home. This past July we did that and stayed in the Latin Quarter on R. de la Harpe. IMO, this was the most "disgusting" area we have ever encountered in Paris. Lots of fast food places, tourist restaurants (dining at 4:30), trinket shops, discount stores, huge crowds of perhaps "not so savvy" tourists, etc. Just what we don't want to experience in Paris.

We have stayed many times close to the Latin Quarter in various locations in the St Germain des Pres area (R Jacob, Odeon, St Sulpice) and enjoyed these regions a lot more.

We've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 36 years, and this certain area in the Latin Quarter reminded me of Fisherman's Wharf - someplace locals here stay way from. However, if you have ever visited San Francisco and enjoyed Fisherman's Wharf, you might like the Latin Quarter.

Stu Dudley

Christina

I don't know about strolling around at night, I don't really do that, but if you stay in St Germain or the Marais, you could do that, I guess. I think they will probably suit you and while they are more expensive, a lot of people like that and don't choose a hotel just for the cost of the hotel (as the cheapest will not be in areas you want to be).

I agree with rue de la Harpe and that general part of the Latin Qtr (between the Seine and rue des Ecoles, mainly the few blocks running east of bd St Michel. It's a fairly small area that is like that, luckily, But if you had been to Paris so many times before, Stu, why did you stay there? YOu must have known what it was like. It is impossible that you've been there 25 times and never saw that area.

Lexma90

We really like staying in the St. Germain area, rue Jacob, and have done so a number of times. I would call myself a "young" middle-aged female, and like the cafes in that area at all hours; great to sit and people-watch. I find the Latin Quarter a little too lively.

I don't live in Paris, and if I did, I probably wouldn't live in St. Germain either. Places that I would call fake are Disneyland and Disneyworld, which provide a fake view of whatever scenario they're providing, or places like places like Navy Pier, in Chicago. But as far as I can tell, the people in St. Germain at the grocery store or at the outdoor are mostly people who live in the area, and are doing their regular shopping. And we're always amazed, as we sit at a cafe in the area drinking wine and people-watching, that none of the people within our earshot are Americans or even English-speaking. So it feels pretty real-life to me. Well, to qualify more, as real-life as any area of any city that's the location where people might go to drink and possibly eat in the evening. To compare it to places in cities where I've lived, as fake or as real as Lincoln Park, in Chicago; Lo-Do, in Denver; or Back Bay, in Boston.

Hotels we like: Hotel le Regent, Hotel le Millesime

Nikki

The Latin Quarter is much larger than the very touristy area described by Stu, and there are neighborhoods that I like very much. I would say the area he describes is about four blocks, and that is easy to avoid. The areas around the Pantheon, the Sorbonne, Place Monge, and the rue Mouffetard are all in the Latin Quarter and have much to recommend them.

klondiketoo

I would agree with all that has been said above, with the exception of the Place Monge area AT NIGHT. I have been "pestered" by groups of men in that area even during the day as a solo female. If I had my husband with me, I would consider the monge area. The Maubert Mutualité metro stop area seemed alright at night.

If you are already considering the 6th, take a look at Hotel Clément. As a woman alone, it has the Marché St. Germain just opposite it where there are lots of restaurants, cafés and night life at your doorstep. The upper street-side rooms have a view of St. Sulpice. Just around the corner in different directions are Blvd. St. Germain, Rue de Seine, rue Guisard and rue Princesse...all teeming with shops and eateries. Probably as safe (if, as Kerouac points out, a bit plastic) as any area I know in Paris.

qwovadis

www.hotel-collegedefrance.com
cute cheap historic nice vibe
close to Sorbonne my fav
at a good price point.

Happy Hunting!

qwovadis

hotelscombined.com
booking.com
many St Germain area hotels honest reviews
more expensive and snootier stiffer vibe for me
But fine if that is your cup of tea.
Aparments make little sense for a single usually.

mamcalice

We prefer the St. Germaine area to all areas of Paris and always stay there. Lively but not disturbingly so, lots of restaurants, cafes and a good place to stroll at night if that is what you like to do. It is also more centrally located for sightseeing.

We enjoy walking around the Latin Quarter during the day but, as you may know, it is full of students and they can be a bit noisy at night. If you decide to stay there, get recommendations from this board on hotels that are well located and that Fodorites have enjoyed.

StuDudley

>>Stu, why did you stay there? YOu must have known what it was like. It is impossible that you've been there 25 times and never saw that area.<<

In '77 we wandered around the "hectic" part of the Latin Quarter & we didn't like it at all - so we really never returned, except to visit the regions that Niki described.
This year in late July, after 5 1/2 weeks in France & Belgium, we were returning to Paris from Lille on the TGV for our flight home early the next morning. We were only staying for 1 night. This was Sunday night when many restaurants are closed. I had three requirements.

1. The hotel had to be on the RER line from Gare du Nord. The St Michel station fit that requireement.

2. There had to be a Michelin 1 star restaurant close by that was open on Sunday. Fogon (Spanish) fit that requirement.

3. The "region" had to be a "new" one for us to stay in. Montparnasse fit the other two requirements, but we stayed there in a hotel 3 years ago - and enjoyed it.

To be honest - I was excited about spending an afternoon in the Latin Quarter - especially on a Sunday when other areas can be somewhat dead.

Not only did I not like the R de la Harpe area, I didn't like Fogon restaurant. Instead, we spent most of the afternoon in the regions Niki mentioned and also took a walk along the Seine down to the Orsay.

We were in Paris 5 weeks ago & spent 11 nights in the 7th on the corner of ave de la Bourdonnais and r St Dominique.

Live and learn.

Stu Dudley

KittyKautz

denisea---!!! pain au chocolat!!! I forgot about that, thanks for the tip.

TPAYT

denisea----I made a note of this hotel that you mentioned for further use, it is in such a good location and I like the looks of it.
http://www.hotelparisodeonsaintgermain.com/

Sometimes if we are only there for 2-3 nights we need a hotel instead of Apt.

Another one we checked out in Sept. for future use is
http://www.paris-hotel-parcsaintseverin.com/en/

As to the poster's question, the Parc St. Severin is in an excellent location. Right outside the door are pedestrian streets with many cafes, shops, bars, etc.

We like the idea of so many places to choose from for drinks & dinner, but are not into the party scene so someone else will have to fill in the blanks on that side. With all of the activity in walking distance of this hotel, there must be some good places.

Good Luck!

avalon

Either would suit me just fine, though there are parts of the5th LQ I don't like. Rue de Harpe and Ptomaine alley. We have stayed in all the hotels on rue Jacob,d'Angleterre, du Danube,Millesime, deux Continents, des Marroniers and would recommend any of them.Lots of cafes and bistro nearby and a the transport is good.