Need help choosing a Paris neighborhood and hotel
 

Much thanks already to those of you who helped me on my first post 'What to do with 7 Days in France'. I've now realized, with everyone's help, that I'll keep Paris as a home base and maybe do a couple of day trips.

I'm looking for charming Paris. The neighborhood with cozy streets, cafes, bistros and within walking distance to the main sites. I'm traveling with my best friend. We don't need elegance and luxury in a hotel- just coziness, charm and good location in terms of hotel.
After reading several threads many people to seem to speak highly of Grand Ecoles but at $125/night I'm wondering if there's anything with equal charm at a better price?

thanks,
Amy

Amy, there are many posts about your subject as this topic is covered almost each week. Please do a "search" in the text box above.

The Hotel des Grandes Ecoles is a popular hotel in the Latin Qtr. (5th dist.). For the rate you mention it's pretty good for the area but be aware there is no TV or a/c at this particular hotel.

For similar value there are quite alot of hotels to list and everyone has favorites so do a search and see which others appeal to you.

Hi Amy! We just got back last night from a 3-week French trip. Stayed in Paris 4 nights at a Utell chain hotel, the Duminy Vendome. It's in the 1st Arr., on a quiet street just one block from the Louvre, 107 Euros/night, which included a lovely buffet breakfast. Friendly English-speaking reception as well. Also, the Ibis chain has lots of hotels at decent prices (60-80 Euros for 2 people), a budget chain with nice clean rooms; breakfast only about 6 Euros. Good luck!

We always stay at the Hotel du Lys, which is a charming 2 star in the 6th. I think it's running 110 euro (inc. continental breakfast) for a double now. Great location; very close to both St Michel and Odeon metro stations. Go to www.hoteldulys.com No A/C or elevator, but tv, room safe, renovated bathrooms.

For location, Grandmere's suggestion is certainly worth taking seriously.

"I'm looking for charming Paris. The neighborhood with cozy streets, cafes, bistros and within walking distance to the main sites."

This is that neighborhood, unquestionably. :o)

Thanks for the suggestion of Hotel Du Lys. I sent them an email and will await their response.
I just heard back from Grand Ecoles - they are full for my dates.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Are you going in summer?
Do you require air conditioning?

AmyChow, I can recommend Hotel du Danube in the 6th. It is on Rue Jacob and is fairly close to the Seine. We walked easily to the Louvre. In fact, we walked almost everywhere including Rodin Museum and the Eiffel Tower. There is a cafe next door where we had a croissant and coffee every morning. I believe the standard rooms are in the 110 euros per night range, but do not include breakfast. We had a family room (2 rooms and a shared bath.) It was not luxurious, but quite clean and confortable, and the bathroom was quite nice. Even cheaper, I think, is the Regent's Hotel on Rue Madame (not on Rue Dauphine.) It is not as centrally located, but is in a nice neighborhood in the 6th near Luxembourg Gardens. You can do a search on both these hotels for more comments. Good luck.

You may want to telephone Hotel du Lys. I had sent the hotel an email inquiry in the past and never received a reply. I did not bother to pursue it as there were other hotels to choose from.

Other than Grandes Ecoles try Hotel Balcons or Hotel Familia.

Hotel Danube on rue Jacob is in a very nice area, the heart of St. Germain. But the cheapest double room is courtside for 105 euro and it goes all the way to 155 euro for a superior courtside room. The streetside superior room is 145 euro.

Hi amy,

Also look at the Hotel Bonaparte in the 6th.

Do a text search for a full discussion.

We have stayed twice at the Hotel Deux Acasias at 28, Rue De L'arc De Triomphe. VERY reasonable (under $100 for a double with private bath and elevator) and 1 block from the Arc and its transportation options (including the Air France bus from CDG). Filled with faded elegance, on a quiet side street in THE neighborhood for cafes.

You can walk from the 6th to the Eiffel Tower but it's at least a half hour, very pleasant, walk

Amy, Check out these two - both have websites and are just the neighborhood type you request. Le Sainte Beauve and the Hotel Pas des Calais. Before you decide- check sites and you may find them just what you like, My wife and I stayed at both on different trips.

Amy, I am staying at the Hotel St. Jacques in the 5th in Sept. It has received some good recommendations here. I'm paying 70 E. for a single. It seems to be pretty centrally located. I'll try to find web page.

Amy, here's the web page for the Hotel St. Jacques - www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75005stjacques.htm The hotel is the film Charade.

Amy,

On the other thread you said you are arriving in Paris on MAY 17th! You're awfully late making reservations for that date.

There are posts on these forums where people have used websites specifically for late reservations. If that date is right, you need to spend your time on those sites rather than faxing and waiting for replies. At minimum, phone rather than email.

Here's one
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/

Maybe others can provide more sites.

parishotels.com allows you to search for availability by dates.

Many of the popular charming, well-located small hotels recommend here will already be booked, so this would certainly be a good starting point.

Amy...2 more sites:

http://www.bookings.org/fr/

&

www.parishotels.com

We recently were in the same boat as you. After much research, our answer was the 6th(Saint Germain area) and Hotel De Fleurie. Much to our chagrin, it was not available. But, while we were in Paris, we went there and checked it out anyway. It is perfect.A charming hotel, with a great price,the best location, and it was exactly everything we were looking for. We will be going back to Paris soon and this time will be staying there. Do a search on this site for the Fleurie and you will see what I mean. Whether you stay there are not, the Saint Germain area(6th) is hard to beat for a first timer looking for the Paris that you've dreamed about. Good Luck !!