Has anyone stayed in this hotel? I just looked up on the basis of incredibly favorable reviews. We will be there for three nights in October. I did a search here and didn't find anything, which made me a little nervous because I know Fodorites know all the hotels in Paris!

Okay that was Siri... I booked it I didn't "look up"!

That's interesting as I stay in that neighborhood a lot, but have never heard of anyone staying in that hotel. Someone must, of course. Most Fodorites don't stay in that part of Paris, so I wouldn't expect anyone to know about it.

It is convenient to metro and a good neighborhood in lots of ways. I know nothing about the hotel, it was redone a lot about five years ago, before that was pretty budget nondescript. Hate those skeletons on the wall, but some rooms don't have those. It is off the main boulevard, so is on a fairly (relatively) quiet street, that's a good point.

I think if you like the looks and the price, it should be fine. All those reviews can't be false.

Hmm, Christina, when you say most Fodorites don't stay in that part of Paris, could you elaborate?

We have stayed on Blvd, St. Germain, and on Rue des Saints Peres, in the past and most recently in a small hotel near Rue de Baci---which was modest but very comfortable--whose name I do not remember b/c we booked it rather last minute on laterooms.com.

This hotel I reference in my post says it is in the 6th arr. and I thought we had generally stayed in the 6th arr. in the past, but my knowledge of Paris--and geography, in general-- is sketchy and has been compromised further by not having been there in 8 years!

I guess that I am asking if there is a downside to the area that you know of.....

(PS I feel the same about the skeletons, but chalked them to artistic license. )

That should be Rue de Buci above!!

It's a perfectly fine area, just not one where lots of American tourists seem to stay, or at least lots of American tourists on this forum. Many seem to gravitate closer to the river or to the other side of the Jardin du Luxembourg, depending on budget.

The mailing address is in the 6th but not near where you've stayed in the past. Did you look at the map on the hotel web site to see where it is - south of the Luxembourg Gardens. About a 15 minute walk to rue de Buci.

Skeletons on the walls, they ain`t.

They are "white men" made famous as graffiti on the walls in the streets of Paris by a fellow named Mesnager. Anyone who walks a great deal in Paris during the last twenty five years or so would be familiar with these look-a-likes of artist`s mannequins. He became very popular with his trademark .......... they were done with stencils and there are still many of them around so keep an eye out for them.

I guess he has moved on to more lucrative artwork.

While I can't speak to the hotel, I do recognize the name of the street! I have always enjoyed a meal at Wadja when I'm in the area: number 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumiere. It's definitely a neighborhood place with a local clientele (though I have once seen it filled with tourists, maybe from the hotels on the street). Delicious, simple fare and they're great about helping pair wine with your meal for a neophyte like me...

I remember enjoying a Borgeuil from the Loire Valley and mentioning to the hostess that we were heading in that direction. She wrote down the name of the vintner and said to mention her name, which I took as a nice touch. (Unfortunately, we never made it to the vineyard!)

At any rate, I like that part of Paris. Quiet but not dead, near transportation (and famous cafes!) and not a bad walk to more recognized districts... In October the air will be crisp and you'll see plenty of students from the nearby Universite de Paris locations.

Thanks ggreen! That is very helpful info! So I guess that counts as a restaurant reco for Wadja?

We stayed in that area two years ago at the Hotel Sainte Beuve: http://www.hotelsaintebeuve.com/ and thought is was just fine. Just down the street from the St. Beuve is a very nice small restaurant, Le Timbre.

That hotel looks like a really nice place from the website photos and info, and the prices are exactly the same as the one where I booked, W/ender.......did you like the hotel? I was not sure if your use of the descriptive "fine" was referring to the hotel or the neighborhood.

Thanks for the restaurant reco, as well. Our experience w/rstrnts in Paris has been so hit or miss that we resolved this time to only go to places that others recommend.

Yes, socialworker, that counts as a restaurant reco for Wadja! On our first visit there, we didn't make a reservation or anything, but arrived when they first opened for the evening, if I remember correctly. It was just a couple of regulars in the window seat and us until the place began to fill out. That was a number of years ago, but I still remember we had some kind of delicious smoked salmon appetizer and a chicken main course - with that beautiful Borgeuil.

Subsequent visits were at a later hour and it was busier but still nice. At any rate, I'd say my experience jives with much of what's said about Wadja on TA, minus the ones that say the food was poor or the hostess overly mean.

I hear you about hit-or-miss experiences with Paris restaurants! I'm afraid in the past I've not always been on top of my game in that regard... I blame it on first experiencing Paris as a student, when a meal out probably meant the raucous fondue place in Montmartre with wine in baby bottles-!!!

If you haven't found them already, I always enjoy reading denisea's Paris trip reports. Loads of restaurant visits and I believe she stays in the 6th...

I hope my restaurant reco works out as well for you as yours did for me last month! This is a little off-topic, but will your trip conflict with the Boston GTG, or might I possibly see you there?

Socialworker:

The Hotel Sainte Beuve was terrific-we were there just before Christmas and the hotel has a beautiful salon/lounge with a fireplace.

I enjoyed the neighborhood as well and would stay there again. We took the RER B from CDG to Port Royal station and walked to the hotel.

I am so glad that I posted this question about the hotel, b/c as a result, I see that the hotel you stayed in, Weekender, seems to be an even nicer choice for exactly the same price! I mean one totals 728 and the other is 729 euros(a book in advance bed and breakfast rate for each) for 3 nights.

Our "usual" hotels more centally located in St. Germain tourist areas were *significantly* more expensive, and IMO, not worth it for this trip.

I am going to cancel des Artes and book Sainte Beuve. We will be heading back to Boston after our 3 nights there, as that is the last of a 2 week trip, and we may take the train to CDG instead of our usual cab.

Sadly, ggreen I will miss the BOS GTG, which I had been planning to attend for the 1st time this year, but I hope you saw that we are plannig an afternoon tea for those of us who will miss that---and anyone else who wants to attend! The date is not yet set, but it will be later in the fall on a Sunday at the former Ritz Carlton--now the Taj---in their lovely room that overlooks the Public Garden.

sw, I'd rather be in Paris than Boston, no matter who I'd get to meet!! I didn't see that about afternoon tea, but I'll be sure to keep a lookout once you settle on a date. I never need too much of an excuse to head home to MA for a weekend! I'll also be at the NYC GTG in August, if you happen to want to head down here...

For three days in Paris, especially since you're not a first-time visitor, I think (hope?) you'll really like that area of town. Happy planning!

Socialworker:

I hope you like the Sainte Beuve as much as we did. The staff is really terrific.

I typically stay at the Hotel de l'Abbaye in the 6th but this was a nice change and gave us a chance to experience a different neighborhood.

Reviews from booking.com if you haven't seen them:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/le-sainte-beuve.en.html

Have a great trip!

I agree it's a lovely area and perfect for return visitors (or even a first timer with more than a week).

That said, a first timer with only three nights will likely spend most of their time close to the river/islands where the most popular tourist sites are. If this is your situation, you might opt for the more well beaten path and stay closer in...

Double oops. I now see you are a repeat visitor and have switched hotels. You'll love the area - have a great time!