First Trip to Paris
 

As part of a larger trip we will be traveling by train from London to Paris in August. We will have 2 nights in Paris and then will need to move to one of the hotels in Disneyland Paris for 2 nights.

I am struggling with where to stay the first 2 nights, in order to make the most of our short time.

*We are 3 adult females and will want someplace safe to be out late and walk, with access to restaurants that are open later.

*Budget is important, but so isn't maximizing our short visit- ideally no more than 400 per night.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Well, 400 anything (dollars or euros) per night should get you a decent place in Paris. So I wouldn't worry so much about the budget.

The first question to ask with Paris is: what part do you want to stay in? Paris, as you probably know now, is huge. You need to pick an <i>arrondissement</i> (district - they are numbered) to stay in. Which arrondissement? Lots of people have their own preferences, like a favorite flavor of ice cream. You kind of need to decide for yourself.

I've stayed in a few areas of Paris over the years. In May I stayed in the 5th arrondissement, which is near the Notre Dame. This area is fairly touristy but also quite safe, I felt (although someone pulled a hammer on a policeman in that area a week after my visit, one reason that was shocking was because how safe that area usually is). I would recommend the area - but there are other good areas. There's no right answer.

Hop on the website Booking.com and use the map feature to look for places in different arrondissements. (Like the 5th.) You can also filter by price, then hover over each place and read its reviews on Booking.com (which are written by people who have stayed there). If you are not sure about a place or two you are choosing between, you can also look up their reviews on Trip Advisor. I have learned to read between the lines on some of those reviews - throw out the too-good-to-be-true reviews (maybe fake) and the too-unreasonable-to-be-useful reviews. Read a bunch of the reviews, get a feel for the place and the area around it.

*We are 3 adult females and will want someplace safe to be out late and walk, with access to restaurants that are open later.>

anything in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th arrondissements should be fine-centrally located and like most of Paris safe as possible at night.

"3 adult females"..."need to move to... Disneyland Paris for 2 nights"?

While you don't owe us a thing I'm sure I'm not the only one questioning this allotment of days and giving equally of precious travel time to both Paris and Disneyland, first rate city and 2nd? 3rd? rate manufactured attraction? No mention of young children who must be entertained. Just wondering.

I, too, wondered at the Paris Disneyland visit since your time in Paris is so limited. But, to each their own!

I would also add the 6th arrondissement is very nice and safe for walking at night. You can do a search here for "Paris hotels" and find many Fodorites have enjoyed.

If you mention what sights you are planning to see during your short stay, you might be able to get more suggestions regarding hotel locations.

The St Germain area has tons of hotels, cafes and restaurants. Not sure of your age....if you are looking for more bars/nightlife Bastille/oberkampfe may be of interest.

I'll concur with the St Germain suggestion, an area I really fell in love with. St Germain is in the 6th, and the nearby Sorbonne area is the 5th, also known as the "Latin" quarter. A hotel in or near "Luxembourg Gardens"(Le Jardin du Luxembourg) will fit your needs nicely. Of course, this is all "left Bank" - some posters will insist "Right Bank" is more right than left. You'll have to decide for yourselves.

I will also echo the question above. DisneyEuro?? As they would say in my mom's favorite TV show, "Loocy, 'splain!"

I'd suggest the 6th arrondissement, due to the excellent transportation options and the ability to walk to most anything you want to see or do.
The area around Metro Odeon has a plethora of hotels.

Maybe they are interested in the outlet shopping mall in EuroDisney area?

What caught my eye was "need to move" to Disneyland Paris, like it's not an option?

If there is any choice involved, you won't regret staying in Paris!

With only two nights for Paris I would want to stay somewhere central, so would pick a hotel in the 5th or 6th arrondisement.

Inquiring minds really DO want to know why you want to go to Disney?

I like the 4th arrondissment -- the Marais, which has classic narrow streets, the beautiful Place des Vosges, lots of nearby sights, and good transport to others. It can be crowded at night, but that's true of all the arrondissments recommended.

But, as others said, the 3rd through 6th are great places to stay.

ssander

Some of use really don't care if a total stranger on the internet wants to move to Disneyland, and that didn't "catch our eye." What difference does it make. To the OP--there are just a bunch of nosy busybodies on this thread who want to criticize the plans, it's not idle curiosity, they want to tell you off.

Anywhere in the center is fine for a couple days and will be convenient, I'd suggest arr. 4-6.

Well I try to be non-judgmental but I do think it might be helpful to the OP and her friends to suggest rethinking 2 days in Disneyland. But maybe there's some particular reason why they have to go there - a conference they have to attend perhaps? - so like most people I'm curious (or a nosy busybody) as to why 3 adult females would make that choice.

This is obvious, but here it is: In addition to the booking websites, check all the regular tour guide books for hotel recommendations. It's pretty hard to get a bad one, if it's listed in one of the major books.

ssander

They WANT to go to Disney for 2 days. They don't need to tell us "why". Sheez!

Exactly!

Quite to the contrary . . Lord knows I've made some travel decisions which did not stand up to the scrutiny of this group. I am certainly not here to judge - rather I am curious, and also want to ensure the OP has an opportunity to think through some assumptions that may or may not be valid, Hopefully, this can be done in a supportive environment.

There is interest in knowing why you need to move on to Disneyland. Not judging just curious?????

they obviously have booked a hotel at Disney - not judging but curious - what if they said they wanted to go to the Louvre - would you be curious as to why?

They obviously want to go to Disney for whatever reason. The night before and night of visit.

Because the WANT to go to Disney. Why is that so hard to understand?

I prefer to hear it from the horse's mouth as would the others who are curious. Paris and Disneyland don't usually go together like say London and Paris.

Also if the poster is from the states, then its even more curious as people who live in the states can visit Disney in either California or Florida and do not have to travel to Europe to get their Disney fix.
Its begs the question, folks as there might be an interesting story behind it other than we want to go there.

Suze, it's all in the syntax - OP didn't say they WANT to move to Disneyland; she said they NEED to.

This piqued curiosity in some like me, but I acknowledge it's none of my business.

As for hotel location, I'd say "close to the Seine."

Hi! Thank you all for your suggestions.

Our plans have shifted a bit and we will now be arriving in Paris a day earlier from Mont Saint-Michel.

I will be visiting DLP for work, but am also a lifelong Disney fan. The accommodations were far too affordable for us to pass up.

My traveling companions will be departing on a tour to Versailles (Backtracking quite a bit), while I tour the parks.

We have no interest in visiting the outlet mall.

Our primary interests are great food, visiting the main attractions, taking a walking tour, and catching a show at the Moulin Rouge

Our current dilemma revolves around hotel selection. We have reservations for 3 nights at Hotel Design Secret (8th), but I have been looking at Le Six (6th).

Le Six seems to be in a better location, but Hotel Design Secret is unique and closer to Moulin Rouge which I assume would make a late night there more convenient.

However, we will be arriving late at night on the train to Montparnasse station. Le Six will most likely be the most convenient location for us.

I would do Le Six, as it is closer to Montparnasse. I would not plan a visit to Moulin Rouge but it's your trip and not mine.

" I would not plan a visit to Moulin Rouge..."

I would, but I don't approach the issue as a civilian, having been part of that industry in Paris. I can tell you that the Moulin Rouge show is a good one, if you like glitzy shows. You'll likely hear from others, as above, who either know they don't like such shows or think they wouldn't if they bothered to try one (many, I fear, in that category).

Well, there you go!! :) The visit to Disney is work related. None of us guessed that. I think you're hotel selection is fine, and if you can swing the cost of a taxi from the MR to LeSix, I would suggest just staying there. Note just to the south of the Hotel is a block of Rue de Montparnasse with an abundance of creperies. (my jealousy knows no bounds!) and you are within walking distance of the Catacombs, which you should consider if you have not done it before. It is an absolutely fascinating place to visit.

I would forego eating at Moulin Rouge.
If you don't pay for a VIP table, you'll be herded in and won't have a choice of table.
I'd eat somewhere else in the neighbourhood and just go for the show and drinks.
I also wouldn't stay in the area around Moulin Rouge, just because it would be convenient.
Taxis are readily available at the theatre. Just look for the green light on top. Good idea to print out the complete address of your hotel, too.
If you are an early riser, the area around Moulin Rouge is not going to be pretty.

Yes, I concur with Fuzzbucket's observation above

I agree about not having dinner at the Moulin Rouge.

Regarding staying the the neighborhood, I always stay within several blocks of there as that's where I feel at home. But probably not the best location for someone in their first couple of trips to the city and without reconnaissance first, to find the parts that are appealing, of which there are a number. Now, addressing those with a bit more adventure in their soul, the times I've stayed elsewhere I've always wished I was back in Montmartre so now don't bother staying anywhere else.

I'd pick the 6th over the 8th. Wouldn't you be using a taxi after the show late at night anyway?

If you're in the 6th, instead of Moulin Rouge: Paradis Latin. You'll be able to walk home, as it were, and I think the shows are better. (the food too)

We will be staying at LeSix. Thank you for the advice! If we do go to MR we will take a taxi, and skip the meal. We are looking at catacomb tours. Thank you for the tip about the Creperies DocDan1! I am also trying to decide on a foodie tour. With so many wonderful places to eat, it would be a shame not to sample as much of a variety as we can. You have all been so helpfull, I hate to be greedy- but any additional restaurant recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

These are my recommended restaurants near le Six (or relatively close). Reserve several days in advance:

l´Epi Dupin
Toyo
Le Timbre
l´Assiette
Nakatani

On a bit of a different scale, I do enjoy la Coupole or la Rotonde. These places are about more than the food, they are high energy events in classic settings.

Restaurants in this area which are sometimes recommended but which I avoid do to a lack of consistency from their kitchens:

Chez Marcel
Josephine chez Dumonet

If you are really hungry and want a dinning bargain, try Montparnasse 1900; wonderful art nouveau interior, dinner at 35€ includes: champagne apéro, entrée, plat, cheese, dessert, coffee and a ½ bottle of wine. They have a new chef and his improvements are noticeable. Ignore all of the tourists, it´s a fun place.

Rue de Montparnasse or rue d´Odessa, just into the 14th are full of crêperies. My favorite is Plougastel. Not sure if it´s the best but it´s very comfortable and they serve cidre in magnums. The Café Breizh has opened a new location at Odéon.

Lastly, for lunch try Auberge de Venise on rue Delambre. This is the location of the old Dingo bar of movie fame - the Last time I Saw Paris - probably one of the worst films ever made using Paris as a backdrop, but at the bar which is still there, is reported to be where Hemingway was sitting enjoying a libation, I am sure, when in walks F Scott Fitzgerald and joins him for a drink. However, the reason I mention this location is that they have a fabulous lunch, entrée & plat plus a glass of wine for only 15€. Another bargain.

Take a look at Paris by Mouth. I love their food tours and have gone on the St Germain and Marais tours. They are all different as the guides are different but they do inquire about your interests and preferences as the tour begins. For us, we know we tasted cheeses we would never have known about otherwise, as well as chocolates and desserts that we wouldn't have known to try. I highly recommend them and they buy a lot of food, so it will be more than just a taste of everything. Worth the money, in my opinion.

We love Allard for their sole menieure. If you are near Le Bon Marche, the tartines at Cuisine de Bar (next to Poilane) are so good and make a great lunch. We also love Cafe Varenne near the rue du Bac Metro station for lunch. Freddy's wine bar (rue de Seine) and L'Avant Comptoir (near Odeon Metro station) are excellent places for small plates and wines...samples lots of different things....all done very well. Da Rosa is another place for wine and sampling Spanish olives, hams and cheeses (on rue de Seine). Many love Semilla, next to Freddy's, but we have not dined there.

The Cuisine de Bar has closed. The space is now Poilân Comptoir.

Thanks....looks like the menu has not changed even though the name has. Is that right?