katherine_sim_33

Hello everyone!

I am au pairing in Martigny for two months this summer, and at the weekends I'd like to explore the rest of France a little, so I'm planning a short trip to Paris. Upon trying to find good hostels to stay in, I discovered that there seem to be two main groups: those in Montmartre and those in Montparnasse. I've read a couple of threads discussing this choice, but they were from the point of view of middle-aged couples, with presumably different tastes to someone of my age (turning 20 very soon), who is travelling alone on a VERY tight budget. What I'm really looking for is a location that is convenient for seeing the city's famous sights. An abundance of night life and cheap food would be a plus, but the most important thing is that I can either walk or easily take public transport to all the best sites - preferably walking. I'll only be taking a weekend bag, so although Montmarte's proximity to the Gare du Nord is a plus, it's not a deal-breaker. Thank you for any help you can give!

Here are the links to two of the hostels I'm looking at:
http://www.hostelbookers.com/propert...3/ngt/2/ppl/1/
http://www.hostelbookers.com/propert...3/ngt/2/ppl/1/

Katie
xxx

michelhuebeli

Montmartre for Sacre-Coeur and Place du Tertre and the nice old-timey vibe.
Montparnasse for a 20-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower etc.
Much more than those in both locations' vicinity of course, but to me, they are the main points to consider.
While in Martigny, go to Montreux and take the little train up to Les Rochers du Naye!

StCirq

Montparnasse is far closer to the main sites most people want to see in Paris. Montmartre is of course very accessible, and many people like the villagey vibe there, but it's a ways out of the city center.

MmePerdu

I cannot imagine that you'll want to visit Paris only once while you're in France. So why not plan to stay once in each location. Paris is a small city and if you like to walk you can do so from either.

You realize, I'm sure, that most of us here are old...very old.

Christina

both those links are to places in the 20th arr or something, they aren't in Montparnasse.

I stay in Montparnasse and there are not really a lot of hostels there at all (I don't know of any) in the main part of it. I don't know any in the entire 14th arrondisement, although there might be some. I know of one in the 15th over near Pasteur or Cambronne or something, I think someone might call that Montparnasse but it isn't the main part of it where the cafes and nightlife are. It's not too far, of course.

I just looked at that website and they only list 2 hostels in Montparnasse, and one is a total error (I think you posted it, it is the 20th arrondisement near Parc de Belleville). The other is where I suspected, the 15th -- the ALoha near Volontieres metro. That would be closer to things than the one in the 20th for sure. It's not really Montparnasse IMO.

julia_t

There are also the MIJE hostels which are much more centrally located

http://www.mije.com/uk-accueil-individuels.asp

They may be a bit more expensive due to the location, but you really can walk to many more sights from le Marais.

FrenchMystiqueTours

The perfect hostel for someone your age where you'd be in a hip location with others your age and have lots of reasonably priced (for Paris) restos, bars and cafés would be at this hostel in the 11th arrondissement:

http://www.aijparis.com/

katherine_sim_33

Thank you so much everyone for your advice, it's really invaluable! With so little cash, there's no room for error! Really can't thank you all enough