So I booked a cancelable room at a place called French Theory. It's located on Rue Cujas, not far from Blvd. St. Michel, so very close to where my photo group is being let off at the Pantheon. Anyone have any experience with this place? Chicago gal - Tell me more about the area where your 34B is located. I'm more familiar with the Latin Quarter and this hotel is really convenient to metros and so forth, but I am also thinking it would be good to stay in a new area. I want to do some night photography so I need to be in a relatively safe neighborhood. Does 34B fit that bill? I ask because I did read that the rooms at French Theory are really small, and I know most hotel room in Paris are small, but if I can find something with a little more room, that would be nice.

Thanks all!

This was a charming hotel we stayed in many years ago. It’s on left bank in the 5th.
https://en.hoteldesgrandesecoles.com...EaAhbaEALw_wcB

I personally prefer the right bank now and like the upper Marais. Still touristy but not quite so packed with tourists. We stayed here and it’s a nice quiet street but very walkable to lots of good restaurants and sights.
https://hoteljeannedarc.com

Those look great - a little more than what I want to spend, but perhaps I will push it...

Grandes Ecoles used to be the secret budget hotel of Paris, but apparently no more.....

We have had good luck with Airbnb in Paris and all over Europe. We only select a place that has many many reviews.

Irice, would you be willing to share info on the apartments you rented in Paris? we're looking for someplace for a 1-week stay at the end of October, and it's a bit overwhelming. we also only rent apartments, from any platform, that have multiple reviews, however what I'm seeing now looks like a lot of new hosts who are trying to capitalize on the Olympics flooding Air BnB!

For stays of 10 days or less, we stay at a hotel that offers spacious rooms, breakfast in our room, a good location and a nice lobby salon (fireplace preferred). For more than 10 days, we would probably go with ParisPerfect, most likely their Saint Amour apt, which offers an amazing view (fall/winter), two bathrooms and full size Miele washer and dryer. Plus a stop across the street serving multiple bus lines.

Sometimes we have to do a little work while on holiday and we have found that the better hotels are more likely than apartments to have a desk and ok desk chair to work at.

Hi adlmllr It was in 2018 and I don't see it listed anymore.

We have also rented from VRBO throughout Europe for many years now and have not had a bad experience. I spend a lot of time reading the reviews and look for anything negative. Since we usually spend at least two weeks in any rental, I look for reviews from people who've spent longer times in the apartment. I also give back! The only negative experience we've had was at a Paris apartment where we were surprised that the toilet was on the lower floor and there was a circular staircase from the bedroom. That was a challenge for us in the middle of the night! I put that in my review and noted that I did not remember seeing it in others' reviews.

This coming year we are returning to a VRBO where we spent three weeks last March and loved. I made sure to reserve it early as it is really special. I also pay attention to the rules re cancellation as we did have an issue when we had to cancel VRBO rentals because of COVID.

For stays longer than a few days, we definitely prefer apartments. It is great to have a washing machine and especially a good kitchen so we can cook all that wonderful market-bought food.

It is my impression that some cities favor Air BnBs and others VRBOs. In the U.S. we have used Air BnB and generally have had very good experiences.

A few years ago, I rented a 1-br apartment in the 6th from ParisPerfect . Not terrific, but certainly ok for the price we paid. They had better options (at a higher cost). This Fall, we will be staying at a Citadines apartment/hotel- they have several around the city including one very near Notre Dame on the Seine. Another in the l'Opera area. It's not as spacious as a large apartment, but it offers some advantages of a hotel.

Interesting ideas. At this point, I have cancelled French Theory and booked 4 nights at the 34B Astotel as recommended by ChgoGal. The location looks really good, and for about the same cost I'm getting a slightly larger room, breakfast, free mini-bar and snacks midday. The other great thing is that this hotel group has a feature called Asto tour or something like that. As a guest, you can pop in to any of their locations for snacks! I think it will be great. The more I think about it, I don't want to mess around with an apartment. Things can go wrong, etc., and I like the idea of a hotel as a solo female traveler.

While we had great airbnbs in Abruzzo, the one we rented in Rome was not as great. The kitchen had NO towels, not even paper towels, and the minute I tried to turn on the sink, the handle almost came off in my hand. And since I'm now apparently venting, lol, twice here in the U.S. I've had issues with the heavy chemical smells of laundry soap and cleaning products. I'm super sensitive to that; one I had to leave and drive home. Grateful for all of this input!

I've had issues with the heavy chemical smells of laundry soap and cleaning products. I'm super sensitive to that;

Glad to hear I'm not alone! I have trouble with that in US hotels. They seem obsessed with Febreze, which I cannot stand.

And since we're venting, I will chime in to say that airline passengers who proceed to clean everything around them with Clorox or Lysol wipes are completely clueless about how such strong odors affect those in close proximity -- gives me a massive headache, not fun for flying.

No you are NOT alone! For me, it's the Febreze but also laundry soap and fabric softeners. People seem to bathe their clothing in it. I can smell it in empty bathrooms and elevators. Hell, I can smell it from the street if I'm walking in my neighborhood, and someone is drying clothes! That can't be healthy - it's all chemicals.

Rocket - yeah, I'm fragrance free, dye free as much as possible. Nothing worse than putting a heavily fragranced towel or pillowcase to your face. I take my own detergent when traveling but can't avoid the strong scents completely. My skin and nose are just too sensitive for their own good. Don't get me started on perfume. Rose water was a pervasive scent on planes when we lived in the Middle East and it made me physically sick.

I was going to apologize for hijacking the thread, but I see you're the OP, so you probably won't mind

@Rocket79: I hope you have a nice experience at 34B, or I'll feel guilty! I liked the Astotour, too, though I only used this at my own hotel when I returned each evening. If needed, there was a bathroom available, and in the lobby, I always saw people there with a drink and snack. When I return with my senior mother and my brother & his family, I think I will take advantage of the Malte's lobby as that would be nearest the areas we'll be visiting. At 34B, they had teas and one of those automatic coffee machines, which was surprisingly good. (At least the latte option was.)

I had katsu curry one day at nearby Neko Ramen and a dinner at Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevards, which was lovely to experience, though the food was only so-so. The fastest waiter I've ever seen. I shared the table with two lovely young French women, which was fine and expected. It was comfortable enough to dine with strangers. As I love Japanese food, the next time I go I want to try Omusubi Gonbei Paris Palais-Royal. There was a line around the corner. Also, had a nice pastry (melon pan) from Aki Boulangerie--also very busy.

Have a great time! (Now I can't wait to go back!)

No pressure! The more I looked into where I was staying, the more I didn't want to stay there. The 34B seems ideally located metro-wise, and this is an area of Paris I haven't really explored that much. And if I do a day trip to Rouen, the train station is fairly close by. (Austerlitz.) I don't know if I will hit up the other locations, but if I do, it's nice to know there is a bathroom and a snack to keep me going! Thanks for the food ideas, I love Japanese food too, but it seems sacrilege to eat it in France! We'll see... Can I ask how you got back to CDG? RER is how I plan to do it but where did you catch it?

Nope! I am the OP and the OH (original hijacker!) Couldn't agree more about the towels. May as well just clean your face with laundry soap. This has become more of thing as I've gotten older, I have to admit. I can handle some scent, funny enough. As long as it's not overpowering. Essential oils are fine.

I took the Eurostar to London after Paris on this trip, and flew home from LHR. I'd arrived at CDG on a Sunday when the metro was under construction, so ended up taking a roissy bus (from Terminal 3-important,) into the city (opera stop) and walked to hotel from there.

I mention T3 for the Roissy shuttle as important b/c the bus originates at T3, and by the time it hit T1 and T2, many people couldn't board due to lack of space. But also, it was odd to see groups be disappointed at not being able to board as they could've easily just got a fixed price taxi into the city rather than pay for 2 or 3 roissy bus tickets.

Yes, I hear you about the Japanese food, but I'm not much of a foodie, and Japanese is my comfort food. I was thrilled just by the croissants and Viennoserie at the hotel breakfast, and jambon beurre sandwiches I ate. Not the biggest fan of classic French cuisine. Oh! Also loved the Michoko chocolates I brought home for my coworkers and my mom. I thought they'd be coffee flavored, but they weren't. Just delicious. Bring home a bag!

You know, it may be easier to walk over to the opera and catch the Roissybus back to the airport. Longer, but less of a cluster than Gare du Nord. Well, I have time to figure all of it out. If anyone has tips on which metro tickets to buy I'm all ears. I'd prefer to have a booklet at hand, rather than using the machines, at least at first. And do I need to get my RER B ticket in advance or can I just get one and get on the train when I arrive? It's been a minute since I've done this!