S4842

My mom and I stayed at the charming Hotel D'Aubusson in May for one week and it was fabulous! Large rooms (by Paris standards) and bathrooms, very nice and helpful staff, and wonderfully located. I will never stay anywhere else in Paris!

caroline_edinburgh

I wonder why people recommend the hotels on the Ile Saint-Louis specifically for first time visitors ? I've been to Paris quite a few times before but have never stayed on the Ile and was thinking of doing so next time. Will the hotels there be full of Americans ?

Donaldus

Yes, really you have to book your hotel NOW of you want to be well located in Paris...I thought to two hotels that can maybe interest you: there are really cheap and comfortable. I give you their websites:
www.saintdominique.com and www.saintemarie.com!!!

francophile03

Caroline, first of all, if you've been to Paris a few times, you'd know that the Ile St. Louis is well-located to many sights even for first time visitors.

In addition, I don't understand your comments about the hotels there will be filled with Americans. Maybe you should just not stay on the island at all. It'll be filled with too many Americans.

Travelnut

Don't most of the hotels recommended here on a regular basis have a strong American clientele?...If you don't want to stay with other American visitors, it would probably be best to research/locate a hotel on your own, probably one that is not in the single-digit arrs. and that has little English-language feedback on Tripadvisor, Venere, etc. Otherwise, it would seem that a popular / favored hotel will have many American tourists staying there.

4sammy

I have been to Paris before and stayed on Rue Cler at the Hotel Leveque. The location was fantastic, but I wouldn't stay at the Leveque again - it was perfectly fine for the $, but I would prefer something a bit more upscale.

Based on this, I booked Hotel Relais Bosquet for our Sept trip. It is in the Rue Cler area and a bit more upscale but still relatively inexpensive - I think $175 US per night. You may want to check it out on Trip Advisor.

sparkykidden

We just got back last week and stayed at a place we found on vrbo.com
here's the link:
www.vrbo.com/37466
It was inexpensive and we had a kitchen!

Spygirl

For my picky self, and the money, the perfect two-star hotel in Paris, is, without question, the St. Jacques Hotel, 35 Rue des Ecoles. Its rooms have all been recently refurbished, its balconies overlook the Pantheon, its singles are spacious, the staff is cheerful and friendly, it has lovely 19th cent. details- a wrought iron staircase, it's located in a most desirable location (5th arr.) Metro: Maubert-Mutualite. Rates: singles 75E, doubles from 103E. What more could you want in the City of Light?

cheryllj

For a first-time visitor, and for "good proximity to all of the major sights," I would recommend finding something in the 5th, 6th or 7th arr.

I really like the Hotel Champ de Mars (2*), which is a fantastic bargain - a very inexpensive, clean and charming little hotel in the 7th just a couple of blocks from the Eiffel Tower. But it can be very hard to book b/c apparently it's recommended by Rick Steves (which I was not aware of until I stayed there and everyone asked me if I found the place through the RS book). The Hotel Cadran (3*) is also ideally located, across the street from the Champ de Mars -- it's more upscale but still fairly reasonably priced as Paris hotels go. I've also heard good things about the Levesque, which is around the corner from the Champ de Mars, and the Hotel Claude Bernard, which is in the 5th arr. near the Sorbonne.

There are many decent budget hotels in Paris, but the best ones are pretty popular with repeat guests, so book as far in advance as you can.

Christina

A lot of these hotels are good options, but by350 specifically said he wanted a hotel with AC and some of these suggestions definitely do not have AC so I think that may be confusing to him or a disappointment if booked without further checking (eg, Champ de Mars, Bretonnerie, St Jacques, etc. -- I didn't think Hotel de Notre Dame did either). The Muguet is in the 7th, not 6th.

I think the Ile St Louis is a nice spot to stay because it is so central and has some atmosphere.

francophile03

Re: Ile St. Louis I find that the two related hotels, Hotel de Lutece & Hotel des Deux Iles, are reasonably priced at 158 euro for doubles. Yes, I guess that is a bit more than in some other areas but it's the atmosphere that's you pay for mostly. I find that some people favor Hotel de Lutece more than the Deux Iles. Others the opposite-all depends on your tastes.

by350

Thank you all for the great info! I ended up booking a double room at the Relais Bosquet for 150E/night. I keep hearing so many good things about this hotel!

Laidback

I am very much in favor of your choice. Haven't stayed there but have visited and know the area well, and have heard good comments from friends that own another hotel close by.