It's my first trip in Paris. I found two inexpensive hotel, one on the 5 th and the other on the 14 th arrondissement. Which one is the best location for tourist? <BR>Thanks a lot!

I think your choice depends on where in the 14th you found a good, low cost hotel. I stayed at a hotel that was on Boulevard Raspail, but close to two different Metro lines and several bus lines. If you are near either a bus or a Metro line, nothing in Paris is all that far away, except possibly some of the northeast sections, where there is a limited number of tourist attractions. <BR>(Not counting Disney.) <BR>I cannot argue that the 5th is closer to the river and perhaps closer "to the action." But I found the 14th along Raspail to be interesting, while Boulvevard Montparnasse was a short walk away. It bustles seemingly all the time. <BR>I am curious, which hotel in the 14th did you identify??

<BR> It depends on the exact adress, the 14th is quite large.... But I would said that you have 90% chance to be in a more charming area in the 5th (concerning convenience, I don't think it'll make a important difference).

OOPPS. I meant to say <BR>I cannot deny that the 5th is closer to the river and perhaps closer to "the action." <BR>I am not sure I would want a hotel in the 5th, but it is sure a lively place to visit!! <BR>Paris is one city that can be just about all things to all people. Not quite; but close.

Response to Bob! <BR>I found on the 14 th arrondissement: The Fiat Jean Monnet on 30 Cabanis . <BR>On the 5 th, it's the Familia Hotel, 11 rue de l'école. <BR>Do you know these hotels? Is the Fiat Jean Monnet also good for adults(40)? <BR>Thanks !

Louis\ <BR>I stayed in the 14th on my first trip to Paris and compared to subsequent locations I have stayed in, I found the 14th to be, relatively speaking, <BR>less convenient, more time consuming in traveling, certainly much less convenient in terms of being able to walk to most of the places I wanted to visit. <BR>The Familia hotel has been very often praised on this forum, I don't think I've ever read a negative comment. <BR>You can Search here on this forum for past comments, and also check both hotels at www.paris.org for comments from past guests.

I don't know these hotels. But rue Cabanis, you'll be quite away from the downtown. The area is not awful at all, but it's not really touristic, either (you'll find 3 hospitals and a prison within 500 meters of your hotel, and you'll be just in front of the main parisian psychiatric hospital). If the second hotel is rue DES ecoleS, as I suppose, you'll be on a busy avenue, but <BR>in the center of the latin quarter, and very close to the Seine, Notre-Dame, the Cluny museum, the Luxembourg gardens, etc...Without other informations, I would choose immediatly this one.

Louis: I don't know either of those hotels you mention. My concern about the Fiat Jean Monnet would be whether or not any of the desk staff spoke English! If you speak a little French,then there should be no problem for you. I don't speak French, so I must seek hotels where someone on the front desk can help me. <BR>The closest Metro stop to hotel in the 14th probably is Glaciere. The line you can take there leads directly to the big interchange station at Montparnasse-Bienvenue where several Metro lines intersect. I don't know the buses routes in that area. It is quite far away from where I stayed on Boulevard Raspail. <BR>I think you would be more in the center of the action if you were in the 5th. <BR>

Dear Louis, <BR> <BR>Without question, stay at the Familia in the 5th. It's definitely the best location for a first-time tourist. You'll have a wonderful time, I'm sure.

Louis, I gave you specific details and info on the FIAP in the 14th arr. in another post that you had on this topic yesterday. I told you it was not a hotel; it is a student residence, similar but better than a hostel and mainly for longterm temp. residents, such as people taking French classes at private lang. schools, although I guess you can book there for only a few days if you wish. They have lots of international residents so definitely speak English. If you are just there for a few days as a tourist, a budget hotel closer in would be better, such as the Familia. However, if you have a lower budget than even a 2-star hotel allows for, the FIAP Jean Monet would be superior to most of the hostels in Paris and a good bargain as doubles are only about 300F for a private room (even less in a group room); also, for long-term stayers, it is more convenient than a hotel as it as onsite services such as laundry facilities, tourist office, cafeteria, etc, and you would meet lots of other people there. But, for a short touristic visit, go with the Familia for convenience.

TO: Bob Brown. Do you have any info on a Best Western hotel called <BR>Hotel di Colise. Looks to be on Rue di Colisee about one block off of the Champs de Elesyees and about 2 blocks from the Arc . <BR>("Pardon my French")