We are going to Paris in October. We have booked a hotel on the Left Bank, but our traveling companions are wondering if we should stay on the Right Bank. Any suggestions? The hotel, Acacias Saint-Germain is a Superior Tourist, close to the Montparnasse railway station.

I would start by asking your traveling companions what they meant by that.<BR><BR>It's too hard to make generalizationa bout right bank and left bank.<BR><BR>Just like you wouldn't want to characterize all "east of Fifth Avenue" and "west of Fifth avenue" (in Manhattan) as having any particular characteristic. Or north of 42nd street and south of 42nd street.<BR><BR>Too many different pockets that defy generalization in either split.<BR><BR>I don't know that particular hotel. Length of stay, budget, first time or not purely leisure or partially (or all) business, have local friends, plan to leave the city much - - these could all affect whether you will be happy near Montparnasse.<BR><BR>How did you pick it?<BR><BR>I find the mapping function of www.webscapades.com to be useful in getting an overview of hotels in various parts of the city. I have used it once, and I was satisfied (it was for my dad, and I didnt go with him) - - I have stayed in Paris in hotels four other times (two in the same hotel), and I don't think there is such an obvious "best" location in Paris.<BR><BR>Nor in NYC.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I always prefer to stay on the Left Bank. Stay in the Saint-Germain area, for example.

I think the Montparnasse area is not real interesting either.

topping, for Debra<BR><BR>

I couldn't suggest whether Right or Left Bank would be better for you or whether it would make any difference. It probably depends more on the hotel and exactly what neighborhood and street. I haven't stayed in that hotel but have read beaucoup about it on here and elsewhere, doesn't have the greatest reputation but I'm sure is okay if you don't expect anything great. I dislike that location a lot (not the neighborhood as I stay in Montparnasse myself, but I wouldn't stay on rue de Rennes nor near the railway station)--that hotel isn't really that near the station, though, it's some blocks away. Rue de Rennes is not one of my favorite streets, but I've read several comments on here from short-term tourists who stayed there that thought the location was fine and convenient, so you never know. You companions might have a reason for wanting to stay on the Right Bank which would make sense, or because they like luxury hotels and that luxe ambience of designer goods and showrooms or something--that's certainly not all of the Right Bank, just part of it as an example. On the other hand, some of the more trendy, young nightspot and jazz clubs are now on the Right rather than Left Bank. Both areas are quite large with many different neighborhoods and feelings in various parts.

All depends.<BR><BR>Right bank = Rush Limbaugh<BR><BR>Left bank = Howard Stern<BR><BR>Of course, faced with that choice, many people would choose another city!<BR>

Debra: Have stayed at that hotel and it's fine. You will find threads on it if you search, but most comments were pretty negative. As far as rue Rennes is concerned, I don't know what the problem is. It is a business area with lots of stores, shops, etc. Lots of buses which make for easy transportation choices. The hotel is about two blocks from Montparnasse Station and Metro (tons of restaurants, movie theaters, etc. in this area); in the other direction several blocks is St. Germaine Metro station.<BR><BR>It may not be trendy, chi-chi or whatever, but we found it convenient, clean and our room was nicely decorated and had a great tiled bathroom. Don't worry about staying there despite all the naysayers!

The Right Bank does have quite a number of luxury hotels, many have starred in movies, plays and real-life dramas. The Left Bank is not bereft, however; there are several luxury hotels, most notably the Hotel Lutetia. If your companions are concerned about luxury, either side of the river will provide it.<BR><BR>As others have pointed out, proximity to sights and safety/interest level of neighborhood depends on where on each bank you stay - the 19eme is on the Right Bank and is out in the hinterlands; the 7eme is on the Left Bank and is in the thick of it.<BR><BR>The area around the Gare Montparnasse is certainly busy as it's pretty commercial (like Christina, not my favorite part of the city - nothing wrong with it, just that other areas are prettier and more interesting). There are parts of the Marais, the area around les Invalides/Champs de Mars, and l'Ile St Louis, as examples, that I'd prefer.

up<BR>

Oh, BTW, it is not east or west bank -- the Right Bank is north and the Left Bank south. <BR><BR>The reason I don't like rue de Rennes is I think it's a noisy, busy, dirty large street and is not attractive in any part I can think of. Also, a lot of the stores are not at all attractive--they are cheap discount places, McDonalds is near that hotel, for example, and other fast food places. Other large thoroughfares may be boulevards, for example, so have some vegetation in parts, or are at least more attractive. I myself often stay in a hotel on bd Raspail, which is a major thoroughfare but considerably a nicer street than rue de Rennes. So, that's why I don't like rue de Rennes, to me it is quite different from many other major thoroughfares and I would never consider staying on it. However, as I said, this just proves that things that bother some aren't even noticeable to others. It isn't really that close to nice cafes, either, now that I think of it--rue de Rennes is not like bd St-Germain, Montparnasse etc in having nice sidewalk cafes.

ttt