PARIS First Time - Accomadation Help Please
 

Need help choosing area to stay in - Champs de Mars or Saint-Germain des Prés area? 5 nights.

Hotel Clement or Hôtel Lindbergh?
Hotel Muget or Splendid Hôtel Tour?

Please advise or make suggestions, as I am finding all the choices overwhelming.

Thanks in advance

Are you aware that the Champs du Mars (named after the Roman god of war) is a giant open field originally used by an area to practice marching by the French army - cadets and soldiers. Granted you are near the Eiffel Tower - but not sure what else.

Suggest you use google earth to have a look at the outside of each of these buildings and see what the street scene looks like. Sorry - there are so many hotels in Paris I know only the large famous ones or those I have stayed at.

And I would definitely prefer to stay at St G des Pres - but partly it depends on the exact address - since hotel often list themselves as places they really aren't.

Thanks for the response - I thought the Champs de Mar was near the Rue Cler area? Can you suggest a nice small hotel around 200$?

Champ de Mars is not far from rue Cler. We have stayed at the Muguet numerous times and it is VERY nice. It is about a block from the head of rue Cler, is about midway between two Metro stops, has about 4 bus lines within a few blocks. From some windows of the hotel you can see the Eiffel tower. There are numerous good restaurants in the area as well as supermarkets and other shops. The desk is very helpful if needed. the breakfast room is pleasant, not an extensive amount of choices but adequate.

It's not too far from it (farther than you may realize), but most people just don't describe hotels as being in the Champ de Mars area, as that is a big park and then there are institutional buildings near that, unless they mean that (there is a Hilton near it, may have changed names). Those hotels are close to one far corner of it. hard to say, both locations would really be fine, I'd prefer St Germain myself. I stayed in the Muguet once and wasn't crazy about it, the room was really small and the bed wasn't that comfortable. So if you are in the cheapest room category, it isn't going to be that great IME. And definitely no views except from a couple higher rooms, I think. I know the HOtel Splendid seems to have more room variety and views, I'd personally go with it if reviews are good (which I think they are).

I just booked my hotel through hotels.com in Paris and it cost me only $150/night at the Latin Quarters Area. After 10 night hotels.com gives you a free night... :-)
Good luck

We stayed close to Champs de Mars, at Hotel de la Bourdonnais, on a nice boulevard of the same name. A couple of blocks behind our hotel was Rue Cler. A market was next door, as well as an ATM. It is in the 7th, and is fairly quiet and mostly residential.

We had a family room, for 4, with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower. I think it was $225, several years ago.

http://www.hotellabourdonnais.fr/eng/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

Most recently, we stayed at Hotel Saint Jacques, close to the Latin Quarter. We actually liked this neighborhood a bit better, as it was more lively.

I second PeaceOuts recommendation of Hotel St Jacques, much better area then Champs du Mars or Rue Cler( boring really , one street with markets on it, not central to most metro and RER lines) I much prefer the 5th and 6th to the 7th.. much of the 7th is residential and some of the streets are quiet at night , as in no one out so since I visit alone sometimes or with my kids I find it nicer to walk home at night were there is a little life going on.. cafes, shops etc.
That hotel is in a quieter area of the 5th, but so close to many sites and a nice area to walk around in..

I can also suggest the Hotel Diana, closer to the Seine and inexpensive. Clean rooms , with a/c( great bonus in this price range) .

I like the 7th VERY much and stayed there for the greater part of 20+ years of visiting Paris because it's not chock full of tourists, except for the rue Cler and that area. Now I don't even want to stay in any of the "regular" arrondissements and prefer to head to the 11th or 20th or outer places where the "real" Paris is happening. But there's nothing wrong with the 7ème - it's really convenient to the Invalides, the Tour Eiffel, the Ecole Militaire, the Musée Rodin, and lots of other things. Yes, it's a bit quiet at night (is that a bad thing? Not for me!) but there are plenty of good restaurants and bistros and ethnic food places ALL around.

I absolutely hate the Latin Quarter (5ème), BTW. We all have our favorites. Mine is now Ménilmontant, which is hardly where any normal tourist would end up, but I find it intriguing and cheap and fascinating.

I love the Champs de Mars area. I have stayed at Bourdonnais and Relais Bosquet. I would receommend either (although I really love the latter). I like the area because of its proximity to the metro, local groceries, good cafes and lots of excellent restaurants. And every evening, one can go to the Champs de Mars, walk around, look at the beautifully lit Eiffel and say, "Ahhhhh."

After reading others comments, everyone has their own experiences and opinions and I guess you'll have to go with your own feeling. But IMO you can't go wrong. It's Paris, after all.

I have stayed in the 7th a bunch.... And tried the 5th last time... I prefer the 7th. I stay at the Hotel du Champs de Mars which is steps off the Rue Cler and not far from the Ecole Militaire metro stop. It is about 130$ per night and quite hard to get into so I generally book the hotel and schedule my trip around it. You will enjoy whatever you choose - it's Paris!

Last summer we stayed at Hotel Bonaparte on Rue Bonaparte in the 5th & really liked it. Our room was a decent size, with a roomy bathroom. Hotel has an elevator & A/C. Location is perfect. Staff is very friendly & helpful. We paid about $172 per night. We walked everywhere & occasionally used the metro or bus. There are restaurants, cafes & shops nearby so we felt safe walking back to our hotel at night because there were always lots of people around. The Bonaparte is about a 5-minute walk from Luxembourg Gardens.

Fodorite ira always recommends the Hotel Bonaparte, too.
Paris is not wanting for nice boutique hotels!

Here are my notes:
"We have recently returned from Paris, staying in the Latin Quarter at Hotel St Jacques. We liked it a lot. The location was especially good for us. Lots of little cafes, bars, and very good restaurants within a couple of blocks up the hill.

While there, we looked in other nearby hotels, but none were cuter IMHO, and most were more expensive. Our room had a twin and a double bed, a small marble fireplace, a desk, a clothes armoire, a narrow balcony with a pretty street view in all directions. Breakfast was offered for 14EU, but we went to nearby cafes, instead, and never checked out the hotel breakfast.

Le Coupe-Chou and Le Petite Prince de Paris-- both wonderful restaurants-- are on the same street about two blocks up from the St Jacques. Blvd St Germain is two blocks or so down the hill. Several markets for fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee are within a block. The Sorbonne and Palais Luxembourg are an easy walk, as are Notre Dame and Hotel de Ville.

I reserved the Hotel St Jacques on-line, well in advance, for 193 EU, including wi-fi and all taxes, with a free cancellation policy.

Front desk personnel speak English, and were very friendly and helpful. They arranged a shuttle to CDG, for 18 EU apiece, which was a great deal, considering how long the drive was."

Personally, I'm one who prefers the 6th over the 7th. But, it's all a personal choice. I like the Hotel Clement and it's location as I've stayed in that area for decades although I have stayed all over Paris, including the 7th.

Hotel Clement is the first hotel that I recommend in my below hotel thread.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm

Happy Travels!

Correction: "its", not "it's". We need an edit button.

Happy Travels!

Hotel Clement looks very nice! Thanks for recommending it. Will bookmark.

How wonderful that we like so many different locations in Paris, if we all liked the same arrondissement there might not be a room for each of us ;;)

As a first time visitor, you can't go wrong staying in the 5th, 6th or 7th and you are right when you say the decision can seem overwhelming. Look at the location of metro/RER, sights you want to be able to walk to and the amenities of the hotel and the price. Give yourself some "must haves" to rule out particular hotels.

My husband loves being in 5th or 6th close to the Seine so when I'm in Paris with him that is where we stay. If I were with my girlfriends I'd choose the 4th!! Deborah