Hotel for solo first timer ?
 

Hello! Bonjour! I'm traveling to Paris from Seattle in early September 2002 and was wondering if anyone could suggest a good hotel with air conditioning in a central location...maybe someplace where there would be lots to walk to easily? I'm thinking 2-3 stars. I'll be on my own for a few days prior to meeting back-up with some friends who will be in Chamonix. Also, how far shall I book in advance for that time of year? I'm open to any and all suggeestions. Thanks. Jeffrey.

Book now. We stayed at Parc St. Severin in the 5th Arrondisement just off the Blvd. St. Germain and Blvd St. Michel. Nice hotel with lots to do nearby, including some nice restaurants. Rooms as low as $115 or so. We paid $168 for room 50 which is an enormous room for a Left Bank hotel. Have also stayed at Hotel de Notre Dame at 19 Rue Maitre Albert just off the Quai de Montebello across from Notre Dame. Similar prices. Small rooms but nice and Dominique, the concierge couldn't be nicer. Again in the 5th with lots of interesting restaurants and sights nearby.

Jeffrey, <BR><BR>I would agree with Julie's recommendation for the Notre Dame. Note that there are tow "Notre Dames" within a couple of blocks of each other. The "De Notre Dame" is as Julie described, web page:<BR>http://www.travel-in-paris.com/hotel-notre-dame/english.htm<BR><BR>the "Le Notre Dame" is further north, on the left Bank, Quaie St Michel, located on street that runs along the Seine. Great views of Siene and Notre Dame, can be bit noisy. Both of these hotels are near lots of restaurants and cafes, and you can easily walk to Notre Dam, Louvre, Champs Elysee, etc from there. As well, Metro/RER stations are very close. I have also found that staying on Ile St Louis to be very nice. Have stayed at Deux Iles and St Louis. Ile St Louis has a lot to offer in terms of restaurants and shops, and is also very central. <BR><BR>Enjoy!

A lot of people on this forum like the Grand Hotel des Balcons. Cute, but basic hotel. No AC though. However, I went Sept 2000, and didn't need it (and it was pretty warm). I think we paid about $65 for a room back then. It's in the 6e off the Odeon metro stop.

I stayed alone in the 7th just off rue Cler but in a studio for a month. Friends have stayed on rue Cler for a few days in a hotel and there are a couple of hotels on rue Cler listed in Rick Steves book, also hotels nearby. I recommend the area as very safe, lots to see walking around, very close to Eiffel Tower, metro, restaurants. I think you should check out available ASAP.

You don't state your budget, but just was going to comment that it is not common for a two-star hotel to have A/C in France. Even some 3-star hotels do not (probably more than half, actually, in Paris, outside Paris even fewer it seems to me) as it's not required for a 3-star rating. Just thought you should know that if you look by stars. I doubt if you need AC in early September, but some people like the Jardins du Luxembourg in the 5th; that's pretty central but not in the most congested tourist areas, and has AC but is not too expensive (prob around $125). There was another post on here recently by someone looking for a cheap AC hotel in the 5th/6th, so there were some budget AC hotels on that post--both those quartiers are certainly central. I assume you want something fairly cheap because you mentioned 2-star hotels.<BR><BR>Finally, you really should book ASAP after checking things out a bit--September is extremely busy in Paris, I think it's the busiest hotel month, due to business and conventions or trade shows. So, the best and most popular hotels book up very early (and I don't mean most expensive, just best value or well-liked).

Book as soon as possible. I was in Paris last October and stayed at a very nice hotel, Le Clos Medicis, in the 6th - but on the edge of the Latin Quarter near Luxembourg Gardens. Quite close to the Luxembourg RER and a little downhill walk to the Odeon stop, , which is a convenient metro line. I walked to Notre Dame, the Louvre and lots of other places, but also used the Metro extensively. The staff at the Clos Medicis were super nice, and efficient.It's a very attractive, clean 3-star with A/C. Even in October I slept with the A/C on, as it was quieter. This hotel in on a rather quiet side street, anyway, rue Monsieur le Prince. I tried to book it again for my May trip, but they were already filled up. I started looking about 2 months before trip, and just about everything I wanted was already booked up. So don't wait!<BR>

I like the 1st Arr near the Chatetet Metro Station or the Louvre. When I stayed there it seemed to be central to everything. Here are some good inepensive choices...<BR><BR>Hotel Relais du Louvre (near Louvre) http://www.relaisdulouvre.com<BR><BR>Hotel Axial Beaubourg (near Marais/Hotel de Ville) http://www.axialbeaubourg.com<BR><BR>Caron de Beaumarchais (heart of the Marais) Know to be a great hotel. If you are traveling solo ask for one of the rooms that are on the front side of the building. They cost a bit more than the dark small single rooms in the back. http://www.carondebeaumarchais.com<BR><BR>Grand Hotel Champaigne - No on the most beautiful stree, but its quiet and well located near the Louvre and Chatelet Metro station. I am not sure if they have A/C, but you can inquire by email. http://www.hotelchampaigneparis.com

H&ocirc;tel Duquesne in the 7me, near the rue Cler area, which has of late become SO popular, has A/C and is deliciously comfortable. From there you can walk to the Tour Eiffel, Les Invalides, Le Mus&eacute;e de l'Arm&eacute;e, Le Mus&eacute;e Rodin, and Le Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay (the last being about a 20-minute walk, but I consider that peanuts in Paris).