How many people split their time between two hotels in one city?
 

Greetings!

I'm going to Paris next year for 9 nights (Paris and 4-5 day trips via train). I'm considering splitting my stay between two hotels - one on the left bank (5th Arr.) and the other on the right bank (4th Arr.) to enjoy the experience of both areas, restaurant options (inexpensive: say around $30 for dinner with a glass or two of house wine), and being close to sights (although I know the metro is very conveneint and I do walk a lot).

I'm wondering how many other people do this. Would love to hear your comments!

Thanks!

Monica ((F))

It sounds like an excellent idea to me. I have done it once -- in Tallinn, Estonia. In this case it was because we could only get a few days in our preferred hotel, so we had to use another hotel for part of our stay there. In your case your reasons are excellent JMHO for using two hotels.

I know some do this. But frankly I feel like spending 9 nights in one hotel really lets you feel settled in. Two stays of 4 to 5 nights do not.
And in Paris I never feel limited to the area I'm staying in. When we stay in the Fifth we often walk to the Marais for dinner or lunch or would do so vice-versa. I'd really opt for one stay for the whole time -- in fact we just booked our 10 nights in the Fifth again for this summer.

Why don't you stay on Ile St. Louis in the middle; that will save you the hassle of packing up and moving. If you are doing 4-5 day trips you won't have all that many full days to explore..why waste time moving? That said, if you want to, go for it but maybe pick two areas that are farther apart than those two for more variety. You will get more choice in restaurants if you can add a few euro to your budget...the house wines alone are going to be at least 4 euro in most places.

I only get to stay five or six nights in Paris and split up my time in two hotels/districts. It doesn't make me feel uprooted at all.

I agree with the above poster who suggests that you stay on Ile St. Louis since it is in the middle of the two areas you want to visit. I liked the Hotel de Lutece alot although the Hotel Saint Louis and Deux Iles are good too.

I haven't done this but for a stay of nine days it sounds like fun. Staying in a different neighborhood is not the same as going there to see something. And I do find I end up going out to eat much more often in the neighborhood where I am staying for convenience, and also because there are always so many good places nearby that I want to try them.

I'm not suggesting anyone's right or anyone's wrong, but I wouldn't dream of doing that. What a waste of time. And Paris is so small.

I did it in Amsterdam, for the same reason as Kristinelane. I could only get the second half my week at a hotel that came recommended and I knew was in a good location. I found another hotel that I knew nothing about, nor did I know the location, that was available for the full week. Rather than giving up on my preferred hotel entirely, I split my stay between the two. It was a good move, as I wasn't too crazy about the first place, but loved the second!

To each their own but I would never be bothered to do this, unless the first hotel was suitable. I've never gone anywhere for a "veiw" of the walls.

We have had to split hotels for various reasons, not of our choosing ... several times either the hotels, or the apartments were not available for our entire stay, so we had o spend precious Paris time moving and setting in a second time.

I would much rather spend that time visiting other areas or just plan relaxing.

As for monicapileggi staying on St. Louis - a great idea, but possibly more than her budget will allow. Those three hotels, two of which we have stayed in, are not what I would think of as budget hotels.

Although, if you aren't schlepping a lot of luggage and the move will be easy for you, go with your plan, it may end up a 2 for 1 stay in Paris.

Lots of good comments here, thanks! Several years back my Mom and I stayed in the 7th Arr. for a few nights, then headed to Normandy for several days, and then back to Paris, where we finished our stay in the 6th Arr. It gave us the opportunity to enjoy both areas (although I found the 7th arr to be too quiet for me).

Will think about my options since I have time to decide. One other reason for moving over to the Marais (besides enjoying the area in the evenings) is that with the price difference I could save $175 in hotel expenses. I am traveling with just a carry-on suitcase (expandable of course!) and small duffle bag, so the walk from one hotel to the next wouldn’t be any problem. I would just head out in the a.m, drop off the luggage at the hotel and head straight out enjoy the day in Paris.

I do like the idea of having a “home” for 9 nights at one hotel and finding restaurants in the neighborhood, although I hope that Let Bistrot de Breteuil is still worth a visit no matter where I stay.

NeoPatrick, which hotel did you book for your 10 nights?

Ekscruncy, thanks for the restaurant/euro comments. I can definitely add a few more euros to my dinners. Will keep breakfast and lunch at cheaper prices to enjoy my dinners.

Francophile03, thanks for the hotel suggestions on Ile St. Louis; however they are out of my price range.

Thanks again!

Monica ((F))

The 4th and 5th arrondissements are not that far apart (never mind the metro, you can walk between the two in 15 minutes) and not that different, so I'm not sure you'll be getting a dramatic change of scenery from switching between the two.

I know people who have changed hotels in Paris to experience two different types of hotels. My friends last year spent 6 days in a rather grand, and rather large, "American-style" chain hotel with full amenities on the Right Bank and then spent 4 nights in a funky, small boutique hotel on the Left Bank.

If you were talking about a bigger change of scenery/location, e.g. from the more upscale Trocadero, the Champs-Elysee area or the 17th areas to the 5th (or the 4th), or from Bercy or the area around Republique, or Oberkampf to a hotel in the 7th around the Eiffel Tower, or from Montparnasse to the Left Bank, than the switch would seem to be worth the trouble.

Lots of frequent flyers who collect points for hotel stays often stay at two or more hotels in the same city (sometimes part of the same chain) because some hotel loyalty programmes determine your status based on the number of separate stays, not the number of nights stayed in the chain's hotels.

But the bottom line is do what you want to do.

Monica I just returned from 6 nights on the Ile at the Hotel Deux Iles. I had a double room for 170 but singles are cheaper. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you while I work on my trip report.

"But the bottom line is do what you want to do."

I agree with this wholeheartedly. The negatives (being "uprooted", inconvience of moving over to the hotel) are pretty apparent and if it's no big deal to you, then you should do the switch if that's what you want to do.

Having said that, I would suggest you also consider renting an apartment for your entire stay.

Mark

Monica, we're totally into apartments these days, so I booked an apartment, not a hotel.

Ooops. Meant to post the link to the apartment we're renting for the second year in a row. At 108 euro a night by the week, I think it's great value.

http://tinyurl.com/zbvew

I've done this several times and always enjoyed it and was glad I did. I wouldn't do it for a stay of a week or less, probably, but have for 10 day or so stays. I've done it in order to stay in different areas of Paris and to try out different hotels. I wouldn't do it for areas that were fairly close together though (once I did it with a hotel in the 9th near St Georges metro and then to a hotel in Montparnasse, for example).

I don't get to go to Paris that often that I can experience different neighborhoods by staying in different areas each time I go. Also, if I'm staying in a hotel for the first time, you never really know if it is going to be one you like or not, or how well. A hotel may not be "unsuitable", but still not as nice or comfortable as you would like or have experienced elsewhere. I do care about hotels a lot, though, so those folks who always say they don't care about them "it's just a place to sleep and shower", etc., probably wouldn't bother.

It doesn't take that much time to move hotels, maybe an hour between checking out and moving and checking in. I don't have so many things with me in my luggage, nor do I ever take things out and put them in drawers, etc., so packing isn't that big a deal to me to move. It's a minor use of time within a ten day period to me, to get what I want. It's not the same thing as staying in an area to say you can go there by metro some day if you want. I also really do not like traveling all over Paris to go to dinner, etc., and prefer to stay around my hotel.

I'd do it if I were you -- while those areas aren't that far apart, it's quite different being on two different banks (in comparison to moving a block on land between the 5th and 6th arrondisements, for example). Nine days is a long time in one hotel if you don't just love it.

Although we have stayed in differing hotels 'coming & going' we've never moved w/in the same city. W/two small travelers in training, we do our best to minimize moving aound.

Monica, have you decided which hotels? My finger's on the trigger for some I believe you were considering (I think I read one of your posts about hotels). I'm having a hard time deciding because I usually stay in apartments nowadays, but I'll only be in Paris for 3 nights at the end of a longer trip.

And to answer your question, I split a stay in Florence once because I had to (no room at the inn my first night). It was fine. I just chose a hotel nearby. I'm pretty fit and energetic and <b>try</b> to pack light, so it's not a big deal. But I wouldn't choose to do it that way.

Best of luck.

Patrick, that apartment looks wonderful - has style, and a great location - besides great value!

We have split our time between two different hotels when we were travelling somewhere else in between. Otherwise I don't think the hassle of moving is worth it.

I'd go with the apartment for 9 days over any kind of a hotel/motel and changing midway, myself.

IMHO, it's not only the area, but also the ambience of apartment living that makes the biggest difference. You are not surrounded as often with visitors as much as native dwellers. Every time I have rented a house or an apartment I have had a much closer approximation of the native experience, myself.

I think with 9 days all in Paris that is a great idea. I haven't tried it, but a co-worker recently did and enjoyed very much seeing the two different neighborhoods of the city up close.

I love changing hotels! In Buenos Aires we stayed in all the different neighbourhoods and at Xmas I'm going to NY for a week and staying at Gansevoort and Soho Grand just for the fun of trying out two different hotels. Would definitely do it in Paris!

Ekscrunchy,

Would love to hear about where you dined. I'm always looking for new places to try, as well as hearing that some of my favorites are still doing well. I'll keep an eye out for your trip report too.

Patrick, thanks for the apartment web site. I might have to look through that. Going solo, I'm thinking I should stay in a hotel so that if I have any problems or emergencies, there is staff to help right away. Or, is there easy access to the owner of the apartment? My cousin and I rented an apartment when we were in Montepulciano and loved it! We had a nice kitchen where we enjoyed our breakfasts and cooked dinner one night. If I were to get an apartment in Paris, I could see myself having breakfast there and making sandwiches and other goodies for lunch. Will definitely look further into an aparment.

Leely, I have selected Hotel du College and for the Right bank, I'm considering Hotel Andrea Rivoli.

Monica ((F))

PS: Are there apartment web sites I can research in addition to the one that Patrick provided?

Thanks!

Monica ((F))

Monica: I am in the process of (slowly) writing a trip report. I am just about to enter the Dordogne in my report. Perhaps I will arrive later today, but to help you along with your planning, here is a list of the places I dined during 6 days in Paris. I have marked my favorites with a *:

Le Reminet
Le Petit Pamphlet
Allard
*Atelier de Joel Robuchon
*Chez Denise/La Tour
*Chez L'Ami Jean
*Ze Kitchen Galerie
Le Procope
Laduree
Les Philosphes

I will elaborate when I get to the Paris section but will be happy to respond to any questions about these places here.

To answer the original question... Yes! This past summer we split our week in Paris between 2 hotels, and it was the best thing I could have done.

5 of us stayed at Hotel Claude-Bernard near the Pantheon for 5 nights. We had a special Internet rate, CHEAP price with breakfast included and the 5th night free. A wonderful stay, nice staff and rooms, incredible breakfast (compared to the normal croissant and baguette we've normally seen in Paris hotels). We loved the hotel.

However, once DH and one son left, I took my other 2 kids and we spent out last 2 nights at Hotel Duquesne Eiffel, where I could lay in bed and see the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower sparkling away. I had always wanted to do that and was in heaven. A splurge was not in the cards for an entire week, but what a beautiful hotel and view for 2 nights. Definitely worth the 15 minute cab ride in the rain!

Would people here have recommended doing this? Probably not. Was it the perfect thing for me? Absolutely! I say if there is a good reason to switch hotels and it would make you even half as happy as it made me, go for it!

ekscrunchy,

what kind of price range do your list of restaurants fall into?

Monica ((F))

I found a studio in the Marais area on the VRBO web site: http://www.vrbo.com/26337 I also did a mappy.com to check the location (rue Vieille du Temple). Is this a good location? Also, is it a pretty safe for a solo traveler? I emailed the company and am waiting to see what price they have for my trip.

Thanks!

Monica ((F))

Monica, I would estimate about 50-60 Euro per person for dinner with one bottle of inexpensive wine. With only a glass of wine prices would be less. This is just an estimate..I will dig out the actual bills when I write the section on Paris in my ongoing report. The exceptions to this would be Atelier JR which was more expensive. And Laduree was much less becaue I ate breakfast there. Les Philosphes was less than 20 for a three course lunch but the food was not great. At Le Procope I had oysters and wine only so the total was less than the figure above.

I have split hotels a lot in many cities around the world, but haven't found it necessary in Paris. I've been vacationing there almost annually since the mid-70s and don't remember ever splitting hotels. I don't find it necessary. I can easily hop on the metro or bus to go to other areas to get a different experience. Happy Travels!

Well, I changed my plans! I booked a small apartment in the Marais from rentparis.com for my 9 nights. No moving around and it has a cute little kitchen, washer, etc. I think I'll stick with an apartment for future travels if I'll be in a particular town for more than a week.

Monica ((F))