joy

i've been to paris several times and stayed in the latin quarter which i enjoyed but it sounds like i might find quintissential paris elsewhere these days. i had narrowed accommodation down to les balcons, muguet,or champ-de-mars (none of which i've stayed in before) anything to say which compares and helps me make final decision?
the other complication is that now i'm beginning to wonder if the marais would be better...i want residential area but with parisian charm...the "real thing" without too much commercialism but attractive and accessible to the sights. maybe just moving into the seventh from the usual 5th or 6th would do it? my god there are a lot of hotel rooms in paris aren't there? HELP!
joy

Christina

yes, I believe there are 1,400 hotels. Those hotels are good budget choices but obviously the Balcons would not suit your requirement as it's not far from the Latin Qtr and St-Germain is one of the most touristy areas in Paris, espec around there, and expensive. Not commercial? not a chance. I think the move to the 7th might do the trick, it's certainly quieter, I don't think of the area right around those hotels as that residential, I guess you know every American with a Rick Steves book stays around there in that immediate vicinity. I don't know where you stayed in the Latin Qtr, but large parts of it are more residential and less commercial than these other areas you named, but that's probably not where you stayed in the Latin Qtr. I don't know as I don't stay in the 7th or the Marais so can't best compare those two, I just know the Balcons is not what you are looking for in location. But if you've been there several times, you know what that area is like, don't you?

joy

don't misunderstand me..i don't necessarily want to get away from the latin quarter...just wanted some input as to whether it is still a good place to stay or if it would be better to go elsewhere. i don't mind commercialism as long as it doesn't mean rip offs, noise and the destruction of charm and essential "frenchness"
thanks for the input...hope for some more.

Melissa

Wow! I think it's great to move around and stay in different areas each time you go to Paris. If you have the opportunity to stay in the Marais this time, yeah, go for it.

StCirq

Lately, the Latin quarter seems to me to be more like the American quarter than anything quintessentially Parisian. I love the 7me arrondissement, for its genuine Paris neighborhood feel, its diversity of cafés and restaurants, and its proximity to many things I love to visit over and over. If you're looking to branch out to a new neighborhood, the 7me or the Marais, which has experienced a complete makeover in the past decade, would do nicely.