best hotel locations in Paris for "best in 5 days" itinerary
 

I will be in Paris for the first time during the end of January 2007 for my honeymoon, and am interested in doing something similar to the "best in 5 days" itinerary on this site. I was wondering if I could get some feedback as to which general location in Paris would be best to stay in.

I have been using orbitz.com which has a listing of locations in Paris, and I am currently considering the following locations: Champs-Elysees, Latin Quarter, Louvres, Montmartre, and Opera.

Montmartre requires a bit more transportation back and forth, and nice lodging can be more 'iffy' there, unless you very carefully choose an apartment. It isn't close to much except its own attractions.

The Champs is a busy avenue with lots of businesses and chain stores, so not that appealing.

That leaves the Louvre area, the Opera area and the Latin Quarter area, all of which have their good points and many nice hotels.

And the latter 3 are more central with site/sights within walking distance. What is your budget?

If it were my first trip to Paris AND my honeymoon, I would stay somewhere in the 6th between the Seine and Blvd. St. Germain. Very fun area for your first trip (I'm assuming you're probably in your 20's/30's if on your honeymoon -- however, I could be wrong!!). It's a very lively area around Rue de Seine/Rue Jacob/etc., etc. and easy to get to pretty much anywhere. Lots of restaurants!

Enjoy!!!

joy/luvparee

Hi

Paris is a big city and most likely you will have to get on the metro to get to various location. So I don't think that it matters that much where you stay as long as you are not located out of town and as long as you are near a metro station :d My wife and I went to Paris for a week and we stayed in the 15th district to save some money on the hotel. I have posted a trip report with some pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there. Get in touch if you have any questions.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Yes, we are in our 20's =) I've been looking at rooms in the price range of anywhere from $100 - $200 U.S. on orbitz, but really paying attention to the reviews and how many stars each hotel has been getting.

Do any of you think it would be better to call the hotel directly? I was thinking they may not speak english though.

Thanks for all the help!

I agree with luvparee's recommendation of staying in the 6th district. You may also wish to consider staying in either the 4th or 5th districts as well.

alyap35: I think the first thing you should do is give up on Orbitz. Paris' fun hotels, in the best locations, are too often not the kind of larger hotels that Orbitz offers.

I agree with joy/luvparee that the best area is in the 6th arrondisement, closer to the Seine if possible. There are portions of the 7th and 5th that I also like, but they are the portions closest to the 6th.

The first thing you should do is get a guidebook like Fodors or Frommers that maps hotels in Arrondisements.

The next thing you should do is a search here for Fodorites favorite hotels in Paris.

In May, we are staying at the Jardin de l'Odeon. By playing with their website, you can come up with some incredible rates. I am not recommending this hotel, because we haven't stayed there yet. I'm telling you this because I think it is best to research for yourself and email hotels directly.

next trip i would stay in the 6th. just really enjoy the area the most.

but in reality...you guys are in your 20s you could just use priceline and get a good deal somewhere nice.

metro makes everything close...and in Jan it will be chillier.

In January the days are going to be fairly short too... so I recommend staying in the 5th or 6th; I personally enjoyed the 1st for my walkabouts. I liked the energy and the youthfulness in the 10th & 11th.
You're budget is fine - I'd use Venere to "see" hotels and THEN you can decide.

Hi alyap,

Also ditto to those recommending 5/6th.
I would also give a look to the Ile St Louis area, which is in the 4th. This is the island connected to the island on which Notre Dame is located. It is a nice area, one main street with shops and some good restaurants, not overly busy, a good central location, nice views over Seine,etc... From here you can easily access 5th and 6th districts, as well as Marais and main 1st district sites. The RER to/from the airport is also a reasonable walking distance from the island. Metro is nearby also.

I've stayed at Deux Iles, here is a web site to it and its sister hotel Lutece. Smaller hotels, located in updated mansions on main street.

http://www.paris-hotel-lutece.com/

the most convenient location to get around an itiniary would be one right on an intersection of multiple metro lines(gare du nord/chatalet/republique).but choosing this way might sacrifice a scenic hotel room view if this is important to you.

Try using www.venere.com instead of orbitz. I find it very user friendly with maps of the arr. and locations marked for each hotel, star ratings, and most importatnly a large number of user reviews.

I am staying in the 7th on the very edge of the 6th next summer in a cute little apartment on rue de Grenelle that I'm renting from someone I've leased from before. Its close to the D'Orsay and St. Sulpice and plenty of cafes and boutiques and not too far from the Louvre or Luxembourg Gardens.

I stayed in a small hotel in the 1st when I was there for 4 days earlier this year. It was the ideal location, less than 5 min walk to Louvre entrance, the Tuileries metro stop was right there, so up the Champs Elyssess or back to Ile St. Louis in a flash. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend my particular hotel, but that neighborhood was quiet and safe.

In May I stayed at the Best Western Jardin de Cluny, a block from St. Germain, 2 blocks from Notre Dame, 2 Metro stops nearby. Wonderful area.

Don't know whether you want a fancy hotel for your honeymoon...This one isn't fancy. It's simple, basic but very comfortable. The English-speaking staff is incredible. Great breakfast.
I'd definitely stay there again. I booked on bookings.com.

Have a great time!

As an after-thought to my prior post........

My first trip to Paris I stayed at Le Marronier (spelling??) on Rue Jacob (6th). My second trip I stayed in the Muguet (7th) (went to Lyon & Provence for several days) and then stayed at the Familia on rue des Ecoles (5th) upon return to Paris. This summer I stayed in an apartment on Rue St. Dominique (7th) with the Eiffel Tower almost right outside our dining room window. I must say that even though I loved each place, my heart belongs in the 6th. The Familia was a very nice family hotel, but even walking at night with my sister and brother in law, it felt just a little scary after dark after leaving all the lights and crowds of the 6th. That said, let me say that I have spent very little time in the Marais area simply because of lack of time. I'lle St. Louis and I'lle de la Cite are totally in the middle of Paris and would be very easy to get around from there.

Hope you find your perfect spot!

joy/luvparee

hey, David, guess what -- advertising isn't allowed on Fodors. Now I don't suppose your comments about the wonders of travel agents has anything to do with you being one, does it?

thanks for all the responses! great advice! i'm seriously considering staying in the 6th. I still need to check out Venere.. thanks again!

Once you've come up with a list of a couple of potential hotels, check out Trip Advisor for the ratings and comments of fellow travellers - in addition to comments about a hotel, often comments include whether they feel the location was appropriate for their needs, etc.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g...Vacations.html

Enjoy your stay, and Congratulations!!

I highly recommnd le Madison hotel in the 6th ( on Blvd. St. Germain).
Best wishes, Fluffy

We stayed right off St. Germain at a little hotel called the ST. Thomas D'Aquin. It is on a quiet street yet it is just steps away from the action on the St. Germain such as Cafe de Flore and Cafe Deux Magots. I haven't checked the current exchange rate but we paid $150 US dollars. You will love Paris!!

We have just come back from a one week stay @ Jardin de L'Odeon. It was even nicer than I expected from tripadvisor reviews and we had a wonderful rate (just checked and it is available for the end of January under winter special rates) as tuscanlifeedit has said. It was well located but quiet. Expect a small immaculately clean room with good storage and comfortable beds. I booked directly online. The front desk staff speak very good English. The breakfast is a little pricey but very good value and delicious.

kamark... I'm really happy to read your review. I'm looking forward to the Jardin de l'Odeon, but we won't be there until May. How I wish it were sooner!

I see you've already received a lot of advice, and I have no idea how you'll make your decision. I live in the 9th arrondissement, not far from the Opera, and there are hundreds of hotels around. The Hotel Chopin is located inside the Passage Jouffroy (one of many covered passages in Paris), but I've never been inside the hotel itself. Looks great, quiet at night (a key factor!), but again, take a look on the web.

Another place you might want to check is http://www.parisdailyphoto.com where the community is made up of Parisians and frequent Paris visitors as another place to get some ideas.

Good luck and bon voyage!

Hi al,

We always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 124E dbl w/bkfst. It is located near 3 metro stops. Has AC

Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
www.hotelbonaparte.fr

For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search this forum" box.

Photos are at http://tinyurl.com/ludgd

They speak English.

((I))

Ira's favorite hotel is in an excellent location, quite near the St-Germain métro station and within easy walking distance of the Orsay and Louvre. The sixth is a lively and interesting place to stay, much more so than the Champs-Elysée or the Opera.

Att:IRA...went to web site of Boneparte and see that despite A/C and private bathroom they prominently display their 2* while looking like a 3*. Wonder why. Since size is not a factor in star ratings I ask you...... Your continued endorsement interests me and do you have any idea of their largest rooms...say a twin-bedded about 18 sq.m (certainly not less than 15/16).

IRA.....in my search I discovered I asked you the same thing over a year ago.Guess I'll give them a call.
I did the Fodor search and it only came up with two posts . I know there are dozens.

Hi Bigal,

>Att:IRA...went to web site of Boneparte and see that despite A/C and private bathroom they prominently display their 2* while looking like a 3*. Wonder why.<

Star ratings have to do with "amenities" not quality. For example, a hotel that serves you breakfast in your room (as the Bonaparte does) has a lower * rating than one that has a breakfast room - no matter how squalid.

((I))

bookmarking

bigal-
Not an expert but I think that some places that could jump to *** ratings chose not to add the needed amenities and stay ** on purpose due to increased taxes for them....

I think Ira hit the nail on the head..2* rating because no breakfast room.Funny, with all the postings of this hotel I never noticed that breakfast had to be taken in the room. Also, there is a confiscatory deposit in case of cancellation. Both of which I am not amenable to.

If you are not confortable speaking french (or strictly english speaker), the limit 5th/6th can be a good area as it is extremely touristy and some days you'll hear much more english there than french (i have even noted lately that some shops around Saint Michel/ Saint Julien le Pauvre didn't have displays notices in french any more)

My two favorites:

ST. Germain-lots of restaurants, very upscale, beautiful area, "cafe society" but...crowded and expensive.

Marais-very quaint, "looks like Paris", not as expensive as St Germain, good retaurants, but....not as central as St Germain

It depends what you call "amenities". To me, I think of soaps, hair dryers, trivial things like that when I hear the word amenities, although I guess maybe elevator, also. But the star ratings in Paris have a lot to do with more than that, as they also can related to sizes orf rooms, etc.

As for the 2* rating of Bonaparte, I don't think it is true that a hotel can remain 2* solely because of not having a breakfast room, or that a breakfast room is required of a 3* hotel. I have the official standards in front of me from the French ratings agency (les normes de classement dans l'hotellerie de tourisme) , and it says the opposite, actually -- that a breakfast room (or a restaurant area that serves breakfast) is only required of a 3* hotel if the hotel CAN'T serve breakfast in the rooms. So, if you can serve it in the rooms, you aren't required to have a breakfast room in a 3* hotel.

Where did you get your info, Ira, that a squalid breakfast room will get you a 3* rating versus a hotel that only serves it in the room? It seems to conflict with what I have seen on the standards list I have.

alyap35 - I'd recommend the Hôtel Parc Saint-Séverin in the Latin Quarter. It's a familiy favorite, and where I stayed for my honeymoon. In fact my in-laws are there right now. Request room 50 if available.

http://www.esprit-de-france.com/hote...nt-severin.htm

We just returned from Paris and stayed at the Jardin de l"odeon. Loved it. My only complaint was no coffee in the rooms and no complimentary coffee or breakfast. It seemed like such a let down from Norway where they have a very large and plentiful buffet every morning free for their guests. Anyway, we loved the Jardin de l'Odeon because it was charming, nicely furnieshed and right around the corner from the Luxembourg garden. I should mention they did have a very nice breakfast which cost about $10 and we thought it well worth it.

We booked through Venere and had no problems. Would be happy to return.

bogger, tea and coffee making facilities are not standard in Parisian hotel rooms so a hotel shouldn't be discounted because of that.

As for comp. b'fast that is not standard either. It depends on the hotel. Sometimes such as when it's low season months the hotels will offer free breakfast in order to get more bookings.

Well I would like to respond to Ira and his recommendation to Hotel Bonaparte. First, I was there in May and it was a wonderful location especially if you take the train into Paris and walk to the hotel. A little hike but very very doable. Secondly, the hotel has all the amenities you would want in Paris if you spend a lot of the time sightseeing and come back exhausted. The staff is extremely helpful and very friendly and will help you with all your questions. The location is excellent. Close to the Louve and D'Orsay which is very walkable. Next, real close to the Latin Quarter right up the block. The restaurant they recommend around the block is delicious and very Parisian. I absolutely enjoyed my stay and want to go back. I was very happy with Hotel Bonaparte.

Stayed twice at the Grand Ecoles in the Latin Qtr. Very Romantic, Great Location, & Very nice people. Got the hint from Rick Steve's.
If you're interested

www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com