How do you know the best area to stay in Paris? And what is your favorite hotel?

Sheila, <BR>This will be my first trip to Paris & I chose my hotel by information I have gleened from this site. If you do a search on 'Grande Hotel des Balcons' you will see all of the positive comments that pop up. This hotel is near Luxembourg Gardens & near Notre Dame. AND it's reasonable. Their website is www.balcons.com -- it will also show where it is situated -- I *think* it's between the 5th & 6th. <BR>--J

Stayed at that hotel years ago and it is a great location.

Sheila - I responded to you under the Spanish Steps thread.

Sheila, to be honest about it, I don't think there is any way to know what area is best unless you could stay several nights in at least 7 of the Arrondissements, and sample about two to three dozen hotels. People tell you what they like or did not like, but I wonder how broad based their sample of hotels really is. I have my own favorite place that I found last September. I liked it because it was a comfortable place off of the tourist track but still convenient to three Metro lines and at least 4 bus lines. <BR> <BR>Paris is full of good, small hotels. <BR>If you look at a comprehensive list, you will see hundreds of entries in the two and three star categories. Recommendations in guide books and from travel agents are indications of value, but we stayed at one place in 1998 that I thought was a poor choice even though it was highly recommended -- by a travel agent. Once I find a place that meets my needs, I tend to go back because I know what to expect. <BR>I think many other people are the same way. So just because someone praises a given hotel to the skies does not mean that all others are excluded. There might be a better one 100 years a way that they never used. Dredge up the postings on hotels in Paris and you will find quite a variety of recommendations. I do feel, however, that if a hotel consistently gets good reviews from the posters to this forum, you will not be disappointed if you stay there.

OOPS Another senior moment. <BR>100 yards away!! 100 years is too far out for even a fast jet, unless it achieves warp speed. Email me and I will tell you which one I disliked and the one I did. But I will be the first to say that my sample base is limited!! <BR>Some of the frequent visitors probably have stayed in several hotels and can give a balanced view.

Thanks for all your replies. I find it very confusing to choose but from all your help I think we may narrow it down to staying in the 6th. I don't know how one of my messages ended up on "the spanish steps" message but I got reprimanded by someone for "inteferring with a question re: Paris.

You might want to photocopy a one-page map of Paris. Then, highlight the places you plan to visit and annotate the map with any particularly appealing restaurants, shops, etc. from your notes. Once you've done that, a good area for you will present itself.