We have stayed twice on Rue Cler, at the Hotel Grand Leveque - it is popular, reserve early. We like the ambience of stepping right out on a pedestrian shopping street, and this one is fine - although our favorite for shopping is "La Mouffe" (Rue Mouffetard).

bookmarking

...and of course the non-tourist market streets are even better, even if the tourist places are just fine. 50% difference in price is all.

We used the vacation in paris folks out of new jersey. Got an apartment in the second, 50 feet from the first arr., near rue montorgueil and Les Halles metro, walking distance from most of the major sites, and the price was doable. Search "historic vacation apartment" on google, or go to the vac. in paris site itself, I believe the id is 1 or 2.

The key is actually calculating the cost per day, and then you can throw in a little apartment savings in food. We found the Montorgueil market ideal for that, brought back the food from the market and stored it in the fridge until ready. It was a 5 min walk, r/t to the market.

Good luck and enjoy!

I am retired (for the most part) and divide my time equally between N.E. Ohio and Paris. (with lots of trips throughout all of Europe)There is no right or wrong, best or worst place to stay in Paris. It just depends on your particular personal preferences. Do you like peace and quiet when you return to the hotel or apt. at night, prefer to party late, don't mind lots of street and traffic noise, prefer being close to quiet beautiful gardens such as Luxembourg, Bercy, Montosouri, Jardin Des Plantes, Jardin Des Tuileries etc? Like to jog and exercise?

Don't worry about being conveniently located to "the sites". Paris has without question the best transit system on this planet. There are 14 Metro (subway) lines, 5 RER (rail lines cris-crossing the city and connecting to the suburbs, 3 tram lines, hundreds of bus routes and a funicular. You can get from anywhere to anywhere in the city in minutes. My apartment is in the 15th between the "Commerce" district and "Port Versailles" and I love it. This city is compact and very walkable. I have a Navigo transit pass but many days I never use it but just walk as I am a bit of an exercise nut. I often walk between the 15th and the 7th, 6th, 5th,4th, 3rd, 1st, 9th, 12th, 16th etc. During the recent transit strike everyone in the city did this for 9 days.

Also keep in mind that the arrondissement number is not a good indication of the distance from the center of the city as the numbering goes in a clock-wise circle with each ring extending farther out from the center. Perhaps the most bourgeois arr. being the 16th which faces the Eiffel Tower and is not at all "way out". You won't stay in the 15th so you will be much closer to everything than me and yet I consider my location to be no inconvenience at all. You can buy a carnet of transit tickets or a choice of short term passes or if you return often get a Navigo pass that works on all the above transit modes.

Base your hotel or apt. location on personal tastes or price but not geography. Wherever you stay there will be a mini-super-market, boulangerie, ATM, nice cafe and everything else you will need.

I hope you enjoy Paris as I do.

Larry J

just returned from 1 week staying in the 7th in an appt 2 min walk from rue cler very quiet, very convenient, lovely neighbourhood and close to 2 metro stops and rodin museum/napoleons tomb/eiffel tower and only a 15 min walk to the seine. our appt was a 1 bdm, slept 4 (pull out couch in living room) and was lovely, for $175 US per night. great value, all well organized and rented through paris vacation (on the net) I would deal with them again in a second. enjoy!

I don't much care for Rick Steves, and while Rue Cler IS quite charming, I am sure there are other equally charming places all over Paris. That said, I've taken 2 trips to Paris and plan to take a 3rd in the not-too-distant future and have stayed in the 7th both times and would do it no other way.

The first time was at the lovely Hotel Relais-Bosquet that someone else mentioned above. I adore that hotel and its location! It is a bit out of your ideal price range though, but the Hotel Champs de Mars is very nearby and I've heard nothing but good things about it.

The second trip, we stayed in an amazing apartment that the Relais-Bosquet manages. It was the best of both worlds - hotel benefits (some cleaning, assistance in making restaurant reservations and such) with privacy and really feeling like we had a "home" in Paris. Nevermind that with the apartment's incredible location and non-cramped size (oh, and private courtyard) that it would probably be a million-dollar "home" we could never actually afford to buy!

I love the 7th in general though. It's quiet, but not too quiet. The metro is quick and very easy, and we had the Ecole Militaire stop literally a 2-3 minute walk away. But the best part to me about the 7th is the amazing food. Le Florimond, Fontaine de Mars, Le Petit Troquet, Clos des Gourmets, Cafe Constant, etc etc etc. Sure, we have to take the Metro to the major sites, but it's well worth it to me to be able to stay away from the TONS of tourists crowding up the other arrondissements... and you can't beat an after-dinner-pre-bedtime stroll to gaze at the Effel all lit up.