Hi everyone. I am right now researching room rates for various Paris Hotels selected from helpful suggestions of people on this forum in previous threads over the past 12 months or so.

I will get back to this forum for opinions on my final shortlist, but meantime - as a way of narrowing down the search - I'm looking for comments on what Paris districts might be best to stay in.

I have narrowed our selection down to the 4th, 5th & 6th arrondisements. This is based on knowledge of some areas (love the liveliness and cafe scene of the Latin Qtr & St Germain), plus remarks on this forum about how nice the Marais district is.

But I don't have personal knowledge of the Marais, and to decide where to concentrate my search, I need to know in what way is it nice. Is it siminlarly lively to the other two districts? Or is it much quieter or completely different in some other way?

Grateful for some guidance on this question.

Unfortunately I don't really know 5th or 6th, but the Marais streets feel older and narrower than much of the rest of Paris (more pre-Haussmann buildings and street patterns), with lots of chi-chi/quirky shops, small restaurants and what remains of the old Jewish quarter around rue des Rosiers. It is also as close as Paris has to a gay neighbourhood, though far from exclusively so.

As in other cities, alternative/arty/quirky has led to gentrification and is starting to attract an influx of international chain brand shops. I gather there is much local concern about this, particularly in the rue des Rosiers.

Although international chains are sprouting up in the Marais, I find that it still seems less touristy than the heart of the 5th and 6th.

I would say the Marais is similarly lively to the 5th and 6th arrondissements. Lots of cafes, bakeries, shops, restaurants, people in the streets. Also a high concentration of museums and historic houses.

I have some photos here (start at picture 27, through to 41):
http://www.patrickwallace.me.uk/france.htm

Patrick -- I really enjoyed your photos. How interesting to see Monet's gardens. All those impressionist paintings suddenly make sense.

Thanks much for posting!

Great pictures Patrick. Yes, I see the Marais may certainly be as interesting as the other districts mentioned, and maybe even a little funkier!

I loved staying in the Marais!

It's gay as Christmas in the Marais. Two of my gay friends had an apartment there when I lived in Paris, so I spent lots of time there. I love it. It's very picturesque, there are some great bars and restaurants. However, for some tourists it may not have the typically parisien feel.

Loved your photos Patrick!