Do you prefer the Le Marais district or the Opera district (8th) in Paris?
 

Curious on people's opinions on these two districts - Le Marais district (4th) or the Opera district (8th) in Paris? This will be my 1st time to Paris and want to see Notre Dame, Louvre, Champs, Eiffel Tower, etc.

Thank you so much!

you can see all the above no matter where you are. Paris is a big city, just use the Metro.

I would prefer the Marais as a place to stay. The opera district is not my favorite area of Paris. Very commercial, that's where all the big department stores are. But your mileage may vary.

FWIW, this may give something of the flavour of the two areas, even if it is more from the residential viewpoint -

http://www.howto.co.uk/abroad/living...arrondissement

Hi jillDavis,

I love the Tuileries so like to stay nearby. The last time I was in an apartment in the Opera district and just hated it. The noise, the traffic, the hustle and bustle -- I'll never stay there again.

Good luck!

s

Definitely the Marais

I personally prefer the Opera-district. Just beacause it is more commercial. It is where the Grand Boulevards are, filled with shops and restaurants. I personally like the roominess (correct word in this context?) of this area. Lots of hotels also.

Le Marais is a fun area also, but much busier, less roomy in my opinion. Fun to go to on a Sunday (when all the shops are open there), but not for me to stay in a hotel.

For a first time visitor? The Marais is more atmospheric and vibrant.

Anselm

Definitely the Marais area. A great area to walk around in and close enough to all the attractions that you might want to see, either by walking or public transportation.

I stayed in the Opera area on one of my trips. It was fine. I was about three blocks or so from Galerie Lafayett one way and not far from Passages Joffrey and Panarama the other way. We were also close to the Madeleine area, easily walkable.

It is busy but we never heard any traffice noise and such. There were several handy metro stops.

I've never stayed in the Marais, but stayed in the 14th my last trip, and liked that a lot. Every area has it's own flavor, and I'm thinking you might like the Marais better.

Le Marais for certain. I try to stay away from the Opéra area if possible, unless I'm in shopping mode or want to have tea at the Intercontinental or see the bees at the Opéra.

What you want to visit doesn't really fit into the hotel equation at all, as many have explained over and over. It's a small city. It wasn't all built at once. The main tourist sites are spread out. You're going to have to travel to them no matter where you stay.

StCirq - yes, I have realized that I cannot get to all my sites walking and will have to take the bus metro. I am just trying to figure out which area to stay in now that I have narrowed down my hotel choices.

Marais. Note that the Islands are also part of the Marais.
The 8th, as others have stated, is just a bit more commercial and busier than the 4th. Pick the 4th, make Place des Vosges your hang-out location and you will do fine.

For your case, I'm not sure it really matters. It depends where, as most people don't even call the 8th the Opera district as the Opera isn't in it. However, if you are talking about the Queen Mary hotel from your other thread, it is near the Madeleine and the Opera.

I am not a big Marais fan, just don't like it that much. For your situation, I'd prefer the Opera.

No question for me. I prefer the character, beauty and central location of the Marais.

just saw your other thread and see that you are considering the Hotel Queen Mary versus Caron Beaumarchais, that is important info on location, if nothing else. The Caron de Beaumarchais is a pretty little hotel, but I hope you understaned it is not remotely like a Westin. The rooms are extremely tiny -- I think the interior ones are roomier, I forget the deal on that one, someone whose stayed there should know. Also, it is in an extremely noisy location, right on the corner of two very noisy, busy streets. So maybe a room that didn't look over the street would be better for that reason, anyway. Well, you can read reviews on that hotel and figure that out. It is cute, though, and lots of folks like it. It's just small, and it is a busy corner.

I think either of those locations would be fine for you, really. I think the Caron de Beaumarchais might be closer to some smaller restaurants and things like that.

Christina - I know you understand a lot of the history with the previous threads and what I want. (btw - I have given up the fact that I will have a small room unlike the Westin.) As long as the hotel looks chic and has an understated elegance. I don't need anything over the top considering my budget is limited. A lot of people say the Marais has a lot of character. Which part of town do you think I will like better? Also, I am curious on your opinion regarding which hotel you like better too.

Few year's back stayed at the Bretonnerie in the 4th. Good location, old buildinfg, large wooden beams in the ceilng, nice place. Anyone been there lately?

Michael - I heard that hotel doesn't have AC.

I’ve read your hotel posts and would like to comment on the desire to see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Notre Dame. As long as you are staying in Paris you will be able to see all three, in the same day if you have stamina and pick Thursday (the day the Louvre stays open until 9 PM).

As St. Cirq and Christina have pointed out, Paris was built over an extended time frame; your big three span 700 years, from the 12th century Notre Dame to the 19th century Eiffel Tower. Spread out across 2.8 miles per Google maps (walk from Notre Dame to the tower). But as someone once mentioned on this forum Paris is a bit like Disneyland for adults. Bright eyed and bursting with enthusiasm, you can ride a boat down a river and see some amazing sights (your big three among them), you can ride an elevated train to get a glimpse of the city from a different perspective, and you can stop here and there to grab a delicious crepe or pastry as you stroll from sight to sight. And after the sun sets watch a brilliant light show starring the tower.

I envy you your visit, pick a hotel you like, grab a Paris map and start planning your days. And don’t overlook the Rodin museum garden.

And thank you for teaching our youth.

And if you are not comfortable using the metro, take the bus. I like the bus because I can see so much. The desk clerk at your hotel will be able to provide you with bus or metro numbers.

Betty and Scat - I have narrowed it down to two hotels. Caron de Beaumarchais in the Le Marais district (4th), which will be in walking distance to Notre Dame and Louvre. However, this hotel is 184 Euros more (which is a lot more in American dollars) than Hotel Queen Mary? (which is in the Caron de Beaumarchais, I can only afford the courtyard rooms and not the front facing rooms. Also, I am used to higher end hotels that are upscale and elegant. (something to keep in mind when thinking about the hotel and location.) Small rooms don't bother me if they are furnished nicely and have some nice details. What do you think?

Just my opinion, but not real fond of the 8th----far too commercial for us. In the Marais, I agree about Place Vosges. We really prefer to stay as close to the Seine as possible for convenience, so Ile St. Louis is the place for us. 2nd choice would be the St. Germain area. Our last 3 trips we have stayed on Ile St. Louis and our next trip we will do the same.

"Also, I am used to higher end hotels that are upscale and elegant.'

With your budget you'll HAVE to forget about that.

I stayed in a 3 star hotel in Paris last summer ( 150 euros- the least expensive room they had) :the location was perfect, the room was so small I was glad I was alone, I could hardly put my ( carry on only) clothes in the closet, the furniture was neither nice nor elegant.

Although we usually stay in apartments (we love the Marais) we did stay one night at the Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles in the Latin Quarter. Nice size rooms for Paris, quaintly decorated and a lovely courtyard garden may meet some of your requirements. Rates are between 115 to 140 euros for a double. Check out their site and see if it's what your looking for.

Jo

Oops, just realize there's no mention of air conditioning on their website. We were there in May so it wasn't an issue for us.

As for your 2 original choices, I don't know either hotel, but we love the Marais. Full of winding little streets, cafes, bistros, shopping, museums, bakeries, and walking distance to Notre Dame and the Louvre. You can also take the 69 bus directly to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

We're going back in the fall and are staying in the Marais once again.

Jo

I know you are looking for AC, so without looking them up, I would be afraid to comment on one hotel over another. However, I absolutely do NOT like the location of the Caron de Beaumarchais. Noisy, traffic, and a less atmospheric and attractive corner than most of the rest of the Marais.

A hotel I know that has AC and decent sized room is the Hotel de Varenne in the 7th. Don't know if it fits your price range. We once got a very good deal there in August.

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

I might add that when it comes to Europe and spending euros, against our US dollars, DH and I have lowered our standards considerably. We like nice hotels, too, but tend to save up and use more elegant and upscale hotels for a couple of nights in a US city. For instance, we had two nights in a fairly nice hotel in NYC over Christmas. Got a very good buy.

In Paris, we go with what we can afford and what we know will be comfortable. Clean, comfortable and AC are within your reach.

I believe that some of the hotels that belong to the Left Bank Hotel group have AC. These hotels are in the 5th, around Luxembourg Gardens, or thereabouts. They have a good website and offer some good deals.

http://www.hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com/

I wouldn't stay in the 8th; it's never my choice. I generally pick the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th as my first choices.

I totally agree with Tuscan's assessment of the Caron de Beaumarchais. Most unattractive location. Convenient, yes, but it ends there.

After I saw Tuscan's post about the unattractive location, I booked the Queen Mary hotel instead. Everyone has been so helpful. This Fodors stuff is addictive! I love it!