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

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

Old Jan 12th, 2010, 10:14 AM
  #21  
 
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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.
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 10:19 AM
  #22  
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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?
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 10:48 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 11:15 AM
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"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.
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 01:47 PM
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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.

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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 01:52 PM
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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.

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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 02:10 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 14th, 2010, 08:55 AM
  #28  
 
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I totally agree with Tuscan's assessment of the Caron de Beaumarchais. Most unattractive location. Convenient, yes, but it ends there.
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Old Jan 14th, 2010, 09:56 AM
  #29  
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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!
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