Which area of paris should I stay

Old Jun 24th, 2015, 07:36 AM
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mrt
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Which area of paris should I stay

I asked this in a another post but it is simpler just to ask this specific question.
Adult American couple going to Paris for the first time, intending to see the typical sights. In what area/neighborhood do most tourists stay. I want to be centrally located and not miles away from the notable attractions. Thank you.
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 08:02 AM
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Maybe I should have said which arrondissement instead of neighborhood?
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 08:03 AM
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In the 5th (rue des Ecoles Blvd. St. Germain area to the Seine) or 6th (area between Luxembourg garden and the Seine) arrondissement.
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 08:36 AM
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Money to burn: the historic tourist center of Paris, arrondissements 1-7

Money to save: the residential arroundissements 9-15 and 17-20.

In what area/neighborhood do most tourists stay.

The vast majority of European tourists stay in the 9th and 10th arrondissements, which are also the two arrondissements with the most hotels. Americans seem to prefer arrondissements 4 through 7 because they look more like the postcards, and they are also happy to pay 200€ a night instead of 80-120€ a night.
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 08:50 AM
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I would stay in the 5th or 6th on the left bank or the 4th (isles in river plus small part of rive droit). This is within walking distance of many major sights and easy Metro to anywhere.

More expensive than the outer (9 plus) more residential arrondisements (many areas middle or working class).
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 08:55 AM
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I stay in the 9th sometimes and I sure don't pay 80 euro a night, I pay a lot more, and only in a 3* hotel. But the 9th arr where a lot of those tourists stay isn't that nice an area IMO, it's the part around the dept stores. It's also more crowded in many parts, I think. I don't stay in that area (you'll find a lot of chain hotels called Opera something and they aren't that close to the Opera sometimes). Of course, there are about twice as many hotels in arr. 9, for example, than arr. 5 (according to tourist office).

I'd think you'd want to stay in 5-6 from what you've said.
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 08:58 AM
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It would really be easier on all of us, including you, if you kept it to one thread about your trip, IMO.
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Old Jun 24th, 2015, 09:54 AM
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It takes about 5 minutes by metro to get from an "outer" area to any of the areas where you can "walk to all of the sights." If people want to pay 100€ extra for a hotel in those places, they are absolutely free to do so.

Christina, why do you feel it is necessary to stay in a 3* hotel? You understand the rating system, I suppose, and the fact that the stars are not based on the quality of the hotel but just things like languages spoken at the reception desk, a restaurant on the premises and the size of the bathroom? Many 2* hotels are excellent and much nicer.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 06:57 AM
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We just returned from Paris and loved our stay in the Latin Quarter (5th) - lots of fun with all the universities, many important sights within a few minutes' walk, and several Metro and bus stops very close to our hotel. We stayed in Hotel Residence Henri IV and thought it was a great place to stay - nice room, most modern bathroom we've had in Europe, great staff, and the rooms have a small frig and microwave. When we walked through St Germain des Pres (6th) we thought it would also be a lovely place to stay.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 08:28 AM
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I think most choose 5th, 6th, maybe 7th as first time visitors who want a central location. We stayed in the 5th (Latin Quarter) on St Mich Blvd and that worked beautifully for us.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 08:32 AM
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Well, that certainly confirms where Americans want to stay, even though most tourists stay elsewhere.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 12:18 PM
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For me Canal St Martin, Bastille, Republique.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 01:40 PM
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<Americans seem to prefer arrondissements 4 through 7 because they look more like the postcards>

And here I thought it was because you are closer to the Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens, Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Tuileries, and so forth.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 02:24 PM
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If people went back to those places day after day, it would make sense, but most people just visit them once and move on. They also want to see Montmartre, Père Lachaise, Versailles, Fontainebleau, the Buttes Chaumont, the Canal Saint Martin and lots of other places that are not in the center.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 03:05 PM
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Wow, I'm hearing hostility here. What gives? I have chosen the 5th, but I can still change my mind. Last time I was in Paris, which was many, many years ago I stayed in the 14th, in Montparnasse. It was a bit different then, I expect!

I don't want to spend a lot of time travelling to museums etc., and I would like some great bistros and bars close to our hotel. But we do love charmin neighbourhoods and don't really like being in a neighbour that is too, too touristy.

So, advice? (And for the record, I'm Canadian, not American, and can get by with a bit of French.)
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 05:41 PM
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Well I obviously am an american and we always try to stay as centrally as possible - whatever city we are in. No, you are not close to everything, but you are close to a lot of things.

And frankly I'm not interested in staying in an area that's primarily residential - since I am NOT living there. I'm sure if I lived there I would pick a different neighborhood. Nothing wrong with tourists being tourists.

Oh, and our time is always limited, so we value central location more than cost.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 09:25 PM
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lol, kerouac, I do go back to those post-card pretty places day after day when I'm in Paris. I just can't get enough of them. I really love being immersed in the grandeur, space, and historic vibes of the Tuileries.

s
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Old Jun 26th, 2015, 09:44 AM
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You may be interested in a trip I made to places in Paris that are a bit off the tourist trail ( though there is some information about the Louvre).
Sort of quirky Paris.

Anyway here it is:

http://andrewchum.blogspot.co.uk/201...-in-paris.html
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Old Jun 26th, 2015, 09:54 AM
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I have happily stayed in the 5th and the 6th several times now at affordable two-star hotels. While I prefer the 6th, the hotel where we last stayed in the 5th--the Hotel du College de France--is a good budget-minded option. I would be happy in any number of other areas but I ultimately gravitate toward the Left Bank and like the ease of getting to/from the airport via the RER that the St. Michel stop near Notre Dame provides. Of course, there are other locations that offer the same convenience, but that is what guided my previous choices (on three of my four trips, I was alone and on a tight budget).
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Old Jun 26th, 2015, 10:09 AM
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Well, said, nytraveler. We too value central location over cost as well to maximize our time and overall money spent to enjoy the small amount of time we have to travel and to see what we want to see. We do still try to find something that is lower-cost, within an area that appeals to us. What is typical for our Europe travel is that the cost of our pricier nights in a city is usually offset by our significantly cheaper nights in the country-side.

OP, you just need to prioritize what is more important to you. Saving money or saving time. Or simply picking an arrondissement because something about it appeals to you in particular. There is nothing wrong with that, either.
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