ParisAmie

On your repeat trips to Paris, do you stay in same arrondisement, even same hotel/apartment? Or do you try something new?

We are returning - again - to Paris and usually stay in the 6th and love the "hustle and bustle" there. But, I have found a couple of delightful apartments in the 7th - of course, not far from La Tour Eiffel - so we are thinking of experiencing a new area.

Any thoughts on "moving" to a new neighborhood and how do you like staying in the 7th?

Thanks everyone?

RobynFrance

We stay in the 7th all the time and like it very much. Quieter for sure than the 6th and not quite the restaurant choice, but easy walking distance to so many things, and such a beautiful quartier.

Robyn France

Keren

I move around each time because I like being in different neighbourhoods and trying out new bakeries each time.
Im my first 2 visits I stayed in the 9th - around rue Lafayette and the 12th - Nation, and liked them both. Many years later, in 2003, I stayed in the 11th, near République and didn't care for it much. Then I stayed in Gobelins in the 13th and enjoyed it a lot. A few weeks ago I was going to stay in the 17th, around Avenue des Ternes, but left the hotel in the middle of the first night because of street noise and ended up in the 11th again, near rue Oberkampf. I liked the hotel & neighbourhood so much that I'm thinking about staying there again in October.

USNR

My wife and I can understand those who prefer staying in the same place each time they visit anyplace, Paris included.

However, we like to go to a different locale because it's like seeing things anew.

I first went to Paris almost 55 years ago. The small hotel is gone today, demolished in the name of "progress," I suppose. Other hotels where my wife and I have stayed have expanded, gone more upscale, or decayed. So we continue to move around, seeing Paris from a fresh viewpoint each time. Now that we are in our late 70s, we still wonder where we will stay if and when we go again.

sfowler

A little of both. We've rattled around between the 5th, 6th and 7th, but seem to have settled on the 7th -- although the search for a nice 2 star hotel under $100 USD may lead us further afield on the next visit...

ParisAmie

Thanks for the thoughts here. (Keep them coming!

Message to sfowler: have you considered an apartment rather than a 2 star hotel?

martytravels

Move around, definitely. Every time I stay in a different sector, it's like experiencing (and falling in love with) Paris all over again. Each neighborhood feels like its own city-state. I've stayed in the Grands Boulevards area, the Latin Quarter and the Eiffel Tower area and loved them all, and had a completely different experience ine each.

pjsparlor

this is my 8th trip to Paris. The first two trips I stayed at Le Meridien in montparnasse. Just to take advantage of some package specials. Now I always book airfare and hotel separately. I am enjoying the 6th, I stayed at Au Germain once. And now my prefernce is Hotel Danube. I love the street, and I do visit all over Paris to get new insight everytime I go. But there is perks to get an established connection at a hotel. Discounts, little niceties that you would not recieve if you moved aroung all the time. PJ

Scarlett

We have always stayed in the 6th (not counting the first time to Paris on the Ille St-Louis) but this past time we stayed in an apt in the 7th.
I think next trip we will be back in the 6th

melissa19

i'll put in a vote for the 4th arr. in which we have stayed twice in the past two years. each time we stayed on opposite ends of the quartier, so had some familiar and some new. would probably stay there at least once more (i saw new things i didn't get to!), and move around after that. the ultimate being a flat with an eiffel tower view.

you just have to go to paris lots and lots. at least 3 times for each arr.!

enjoy your trip,

madameX

While I have some favorites from the past, it's always nice to experience a new neighborhood if there are interesting cafes, sites, and shops to visit, and a convenient metro location. We've enjoyed the 6th a lot (the Cristalle, around the corner from Cafe Flore,( and Champs de Mars in the 7th, etc. I've stayed at a number of the lower-priced hotels listed in the "Hotels of Character and Charm" books, and have always enjoyed exploring a new neighborhood.

However, we've also taken advantage of some excellent values at other places, other times. 'Got a great rates for the room and lcoation at the Lotti (Rue Castiglione, down the block from the Place Vendome) and Claridge (Champs Elysee.) 'Not budget places, but affordable at the rates we paid.

'Will stay at the Meridien Monparnasse coming up, more because of its location to a business commitment -- decent hotel, okay location, but I'd prefer some of the other places that are more convenient to cultural attractions. 'Still, hop on the metro, and you;re there.

Christina

I do a little of both. I most often stay in Montparnasse and in a hotel I like and have stayed in for probably around ten years. Sometimes if I'm in Paris for more than a few days, I might split my time between two hotels in order to experience a new area and neighborhood. Other than the one hotel I like in Montparnasse, I've never stayed in any other hotel in Paris I felt any special attachment to that I would always want to go back there. I don't stay in expensive hotels, though, so they have ranged from adequate (but something not that nice about them, or not fully comfortable) to nicer. Last summer, for example, I was in Paris ten days and spent about half in a new area and hotel, and then the other half back in my old standby. Partly I do that to hedge my bets as to whether I'm really going to like the new area.

If I'm only there a couple days, I am more likely to try a new hotel and area as I think that's a good time to do it. This summer I'll be doing that by staying around the Bastille area in the 12th for a chance (I usually stay on Left Bank), but I'll only be in Paris five days.

I usually travel solo to Paris, and have rented an apt. a couple times but don't have any strong desire to do that, and it's a lot more trouble than just making a hotel reservation -- and riskier to me in terms of the money you spend vs. how you'll feel if it's not so great or a bad location. I have no desire to stay in when I'm visiting Paris, so a kitchen isn't of any great importance to me. I do like a minibar for drinks or small items of food I might want to keep in the room, that's plenty for me. For a single person, I've found apartments are more expensive than a hotel of comparable quality and comfort. Actually, I spend less on a hotel than on apartments, and my favorite hotel is nicer than any apartment I've been in at my price range. Plus I like to go in summer and you can't get AC in most apartments, and I like the interaction with other people I get in a hotel (even if just my favorite desk clerk). I won't spend huge amounts on an apartment, though (would never pay 200 euro a night for a hotel or apt), so I know you can find nice apartments if you are willing to pay a lot for them.

I wouldn't rent an apartment unless I were going to stay in Paris a real extended time, at least 10 days, but more likely two weeks. I can see how they would be good for families with kids or babies, though. I think some other people don't like going out as much as I do, though -- one reason I go to Paris is to be out in it, including breakfast (which is one of my favorite times in Parisian cafes).

mingtsainy

I've been to Paris only once in the last 10 years and would love to go back again. But you guys all talk about going there like it's just across the pond (which it really is, if you consider the Atlantic Ocean a pond).

But seriously, how often do you guy go to Paris? And is Paris the only place you go to frequently, forgoing other travel destinations? Or are you all Donald Trumps?????

How much do you spend on an average trip to Paris, including hotel & airfare?

I need to plan for another trip to Paris.

THanks!

crefloors

I met an American couple at our hotel my last trip and was chatting with them a bit. They had been to Paris several times and they stayed in a different arrondisment each trip just to experience what each area had to offer. I've only been to Paris twice and I think my next trip I'm going to stay in the same areas as I did before. I know the area a little bit so it will be easier for me to get around and there are still many places close by that I didn't get to experience. So I guess it's just what ever your style is.

kismetchimera

I usually alternate between my favourite's ARRs. which are the 1rst, 5th and 6th.
Two years ago I stayed at the Bonaparte in the 6th and the hotel of my choice this year is Hotel Des grandes Ecole in the Latin Quarter .

Underhill

So far we've stayed in the 16th (Regent Garden Hotel; very nice), the 1st (good Hôtel Mansart and two not so good), and the 6th (Bonaparte way back when, Madison--our favorite now--since). Next time we're thinking about the 7th: the Bourgogne et Montana or an apartment.

mermaid_

Good question, Amie. I am always torn between my favorite places, the "tried and true" and the lure of new arrondisments (which might become new favorites)! So we effect a compromise and switch between the two. Sometimes it turns out to be a big surprise. Last fall we stayed near Place de Clichy, and area I never in a million years would have picked--it was part of our tour package, which is how we ended up there--and wouldn't you know it led us to explore the area. Result: we now have a new favorite neighborhood!

BTilke

We used to move around more, between the 7th and 6th, once in the Marais (which we didn't like) and a couple of times in the 17th. Now, however, we always stay in the 16th. From time to time we are tempted to try another area (the 8th, for example), but we generally tend to stick with our favorite neighborhood in the 16th.

Beatchick

Hi ParisAmie,

I move around each time. First trip was in the 5th close to the Seine at the Hôtel les Degrés de Nôtre Dame, the 2nd trip was in the 7th at the Hôtel Valadon one street over from the rue Cler, the last trip was in the Marais (which I LOVED) in the Grand Hôtel Jeanne d'Arc near the Place des Vosges.

Next trip I plan to stay, if possible, in the 1st on the Île de la Cité.

It is a dream of mine to stay in each of the arrondissements someday, just to get a feel for each (listmaker extraordinaire that I am I actually have a list of places I'd like to stay - I know, it's crazy). Maybe when I'm older I won't be so peripatetic but for now that just seems to be the way I'm geared.

jody

We always stay in the 6th..but we've tried different hotels but almost all were on rue Jacob! We just like the convenience and we go to different sections every day but always come "home" at night! We've considered an apartment..but I really don't feel like making beds, doing dishes,and clean towels only once a week! Our latest hotel that we enjoy has large rooms, a gracious staff, is convenient and not much more than an apt. would be..in fact it's cheaper than some I've looked at.