Recommendations for a cool Paris lodging for a broken-hearted

I don't think I'll be the only person to suggest that a trip to Paris when you are broken-hearted might be a bad idea. It's a city of non-stop romance, with couples publicly kissing everywhere.

I would try Belgium or Switzerland, or Berlin or Athens (especially the last two for some perspective on being broken-hearted).

Another vote against Paris (MY favorite city)for this particular trip. While he isn't necessarily looking to party, I found this older but still useful thread for some other ideas. Party towns usually include plenty of hostels with people from around the world.

http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=27122

Barcelona? London? I wouldn't think Paris would be the cure...

I went to Paris alone when I was broken hearted in 2004 and had a blast. I walked everywhere by myself and didn't see people kissing everywhere. You've been watching too many movies.

Anyone out there want to answer my question?? He is excited to go to Paris.

Sounds like Paris would be great!

I have never stayed at one, but the Mama Shelter properties seem to be very cool and well priced-

http://www.mamashelter.com/sleep

I'm sure I'm not the only person who sees a lot of real live couples kissing in public in Paris. And I mean a lot. It's right there. It doesn't come from watching movies.

There are travel websites for backpackers and hostels.

Yeah, and he can rub her nose in it just a little-"I'm off to Paris WITHOUT you!". I know, I know, that was snarky.

I can't help with hostels but we stayed in Montparnasse area (Hotel Ferrandi) and were very near Blvd. Montparnasse with many places students ate.

Busses and metro are easy and convenient. What age group is he in and what are some interests?

I stayed at St. Christopher's in the 19th eme and had a great time. I thought this was the better of the Paris hostels I researched. Plus, they don't kick you out in the morning as some of the others do. It's a really cool place. Your friend will definitely meet a lot of people there.

http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/paris-hostels

I have to say I haven't noticed an abundance of kissing couples either. I suppose they may be rather less common in non-touristy areas, although I typically visit both touristy and non-touristy areas.

I've seen a hostel on Rue Mouffatard. This is a great area in my opinion. There is also a Comfort Inn there.

The couples kissing thing is something I've mostly seen in the public parks and they seemed to be doing a little more than kissing.

My non Paris vote had nothing to do with kissing but rather the fact that you were looking for hostels and meeting other travelers who stay in hostels. I thought there would be a higher percentage of those in places like Prague or Amsterdam than in Paris. As Paris was your suggestion I didn't know your friend had already bought into the idea of Paris.

I have stayed in the Mouffetard area near Place de la Contrescarpe where I think the above mentioned hostel is located. Fun touristy area in the Latin Quarter that is busy day and night. I don't know about cool, more kind of low brow international crowd and average restaurants. Great crepe walk up windows.

I think Paris is way too romantic for someone who's just had his heart broken. Depending on his frame of mine I would go for either a more party type place (Prague? Barcelona?) of somewhere that would totally involve his mind in other types of things (London, Rome, Berlin- based on his interests and language skills). And if you think he likely to become a hermit there - make sure it's someplace he can communicate easily with everyone. If he has no French I would definitely not reco Paris.

I once advised the same thing to my brother when his fiancee left him - but I went with him - so he wouldn't be lonely and miserable there - but would have someone to help keep his spirits up and make sure he didn't become a hermit. We did a driving trip which forced him to be an active participant and seemed to help get his mind off her.

Thanks for the recommendations - very helpful!

My opinion: no place is inherently more romantic than any other place. It all depends on your circumstances. If you are broken hearted, you may as well be in a wonderful, interesting place. If I am ever broken hearted, please send me to Paris.

Nikki: my thoughts exactly! Paris can you make you fall in love with life again. That's why I suggested he go.

I suppose it's nice when people manage to find a way to go back to believing what they've always believed to start out with -- and I sincerely hope puttakka is making the right call in urging a broken-hearted friend to go to Paris -- but when I read assertions that "no place is inherently more romantic than any other place" I have to wonder: Where have they been?

and what's their idea of romance?

This is likely the place on Rue Mouffetard: http://www.youngandhappy.fr. My best friend and I stayed here in 2005, and it's fine, but nothing special. I wouldn't say we met a ton of backpackers here like we did in other places like Amsterdam, Rome or Berlin. And at the time, it was the kind where you had to leave the hostel for the better part of the day so they could clean it. It wasn't very convenient, and I wouldn't stay there again.

I now rent a studio in Paris, and despite it being more expensive than a hostel, I think it's worth it because I can cook and help offset some of the cost that way. Depending on how long he's there, that might be an avenue worth pursuing as well.

Sure you can have a great time anywhere, but I'd also suggest if meeting people staying in a hostel was the goal, cities like Amsterdam, Prague, or Berlin might be more the ticket.

I also disagree. I found some places to be more "inherently romantic" than others. Paris and Venice are good examples.

To each is own. Paris is beautiful and inspiring but I didn't find it anymore romantic than NYC, Rome, Barcelona, Sydney, or even Tokyo. I don't find the energy of a big city romantic at all (I will say that I do find Stockholm and Venice very romantic though).

When I suggested Paris, I was thinking more about art, architecture, history. culture, food, and wine rather than sucking face in front of some tourist trap.

I am in Paris at least 3 months every year if you combine the time of my various trips. It is perfect for a broken heart. You cannot be sad there, it has distractions galore, it is easy to meet others and easy to be alone. The only three hostels worth considering are, in order:
The MIJE absolute top choice for clean, safe, well located one block from the Ile St. Louis and the 1 Line. Next St. Christophers, very happening and pretty right on the canal but not a great location at all. Oops, located on the border of the 5th and 13th gets mixed reviews but no bad ones. The other Paris hostels are awful.

I think Barcelona is a better bet. Younger, less pretentious and less expensive. But still all the diversions that make traveling solo enjoyable and fulfilling.
Why a hostel? Stay in an apartment and have space and comfort. A little self-pampering is in order! Pick the location based on your interests (and proximity to the Metro, which is less convenient than in Paris) an you're on your way. I recommend the El Born area.

I disagree with the recommendation to stay in Montparnesse. I was in Paris in May and stayed in that area and hated it. I could not wait to get on the metro and go anywhere else.

I was in a similar situation when I went by myself. It can be a hard city. In all my travels I have never stumbled into proposals that way I did in Paris. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun. My only recommendation would be to tell your friend to not let being there by themselves stop them from doing anything that they want to do. One of my best memories is sipping champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower at night and than sitting in the Trocadero, eating dinner while watching the lights twinkle. Typically romantic moments but I really didn't mind being there by myself because the moments were just so special. And that is what counts.

We go to Paris every six months and it's perfect for anyone. We enjoy staying in the Latin Quarter, we love Rue Mouffatard. Paris is a great place for anyone, I haven't noticed kissing everywhere. Comfort Hotel Mouffatard is a really nice place to stay.

Any vacation, any where is good for the heart. By the time we finish hashing this out, he'll have moved on and had 3 kids. Hope he makes it to Paris anyway.

Sorry, can't help you with a hostel.

Puttakka,

I love that you recommended Paris to him. I have been to Paris before... and am currently thinking of going again. Solo. I find it to be one of the most enchanting places in the world, lovely and inspiring if you go with your loved one(s), and just as lovely and inspiring if you go with your own self. I could say I'm in the same boat as him, at a pretty down time in my life, and the only place I see myself wandering around alone without feeling miserable is Paris. ( London may qualify for me as well). The city, the art, the architecture, the pulse - all are wonderful experiences to have on one's own, in my opinion. In fact, a solo trip to a city like Paris might be exactly what he needs to do some soul searching. And that image of Paris - couples making out etc... - is one that comes from movies and romance novels. I didn't see it there any more than I do in any other cosmopolitan city. Good luck to your friend.

When you have a broken heart, every place your beloved isn't, is awful. Paris is worse, not because it's particularly more romantic, in reality. It's just the IDEA of Paris that's so romantic. That's the Paris brand, for goodness sakes. Let's face it, when you're madly in love, Podunk is heaven. When you have a broken heart, the universe is hell. Nevertheless, Paris is as good a place as any to be miserable. The upside: someone new might come along.