Paris Hotel Bonaparte: Is this a neighborhood with good bistro, people watching, etc?
 

We are still deciding on an area to stay in Paris. Originally thought the Marais area or Latin Quarter. Many Fodorites like Hotel Bonaparte. Is this a great area for "after a day of touring?"

Absolutely. Cafe Bonaparte and Cafe de Flore are two that I have been to, both are on the square of St Germain des Pres, easy walk from hotel. The St Germain area is a very nice place to stay with plenty of patisseries, boulangeries, street markets and parks to visit. Restaurant wise, this is the area that I usually end up eating in, since there is a range of basic to gourmet restaurants. The 6th also has some nice museums, good shopping and easy access to Metro and RER (eg. to get to airport, Versailles)

The hotel is only a few paces away from the Pl Sulpice - where there are lots of outside cafes. Also about 5 min walk to the Cafe de Flore & Deux Magots & a half dozen other cafes around the St Germain church. It's not quite as active in the evening as the Magots area & the Marais, however, but that might be preferable. We were in the Marais about 3 weeks ago on a Sat, & it was way too crowded for me.

Excellent bus access from the Bonapart to other sites & neighborhoods in Paris.

Stu Dudley

Michel_Paris & StuDudley: Have you stayed at the Bonaparte before? I know Ira likes this hotel but Elaine did not give it a good review.

As a Parisian, I would say this Saint Germain area people in this forum rave about is now a very gentrified, very touristy one, which has lost much of its authenticity. It is basically an open-air, upmarket shopping mall. The local cafes are "tourist cafes". Everything is a matter of taste...

Hi Tru

>The local cafes are "tourist cafes".

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. If you sit at a little table in front of the Cafe de Mairie across from St. Sulpice with all of the folks who are waiting to take a bus home, you might change your mind.

((I))

And you might not. There are tons of tourists around there, even though there are some people who work there and wait for buses to go home, and certainly some French people in the cafes there. But it's still very very touristy and very expensive. I personally wouldn't step foot in Deux Magots, but to each his own, as they say. I used to like it, but it's really changed in the last 10 years or so. At least Hune is still there (I hope), but many of the other stores have closed and are now expensive designer boutiques. But for the OP, it certainly is a place that is a convenient location and has lots of places to eat easily, so I think it is a fine alternative to the other locations (assuming Latin Qtr means a block or so around St Michel metro, as it often does when people use that term), as they are very similar in many ways in terms of being gentrified and lots of tourists (at least some parts of the Marais, not all of it). The Latin Qtr isn't that gentrified, though, or expensive, and I like it but not the part to where this is probably referring.

Sylvian, are you sure Elaine gave it a bad review? maybe I don't know which Elaine, but the Elaine I know had issues with their reservation and cancellation fee policy (which is stiff), but never stayed there, as I recall. She did give a bad review to another place some folks like (Grands Balcons), but not the Bonaparte.

But if you want plenty of places

I've stayed at the Bonaparte multiple times and I think the location is fabulous!

Yes, there are tourists around there as well as plenty of locals. There are lots of cafes and restaurants, and great shopping. (I happen to like all those upscale boutiques! ;;) )

The decor at the Bonaparte is nothing fancy, but it's very clean and the staff is terrific. I consider the Bonaparte an excellent value and a great location.

Christina: Whoops, the Elaine I was speaking of was on TripAdvisor. She traveled many times to Paris and Prague and London. sorry about that Fodor's Elaine.

I stayed at Hotel Bonaparte based on the suggestions from this forum and loved the area and the Hotel. I am going back and will will be staying in the area but not the hotel because they cannot fit 4 to a room for my wife and kids. I did not find the area touristy and found it extremely convenient to all the sites, including taking the train from the airport. The rooms are nice and they have free wifi in the breakfast area. The staff was very very helpful, fun and spoke english. I would go back and stay there if it was just my wife and I. It is right next to the Latin Quarter and it was not noisy at all. It all depends what you are looking for in a hotel and location. I love busy, full of life locations where I travel. It worked very well for me.

I just came back from my umpteenth trip to Paris, and I stayed both in the area around St. Sulpice, (which IS considered the Latin Quarter, btw) but then I switched up to the 10th, around the Canal St. Martin/Jaures metro stop and LOVED IT.

There's no denying that the area around Blvd. St. Germain is touristy. I had just arrived in Paris from some 6 weeks in Italy and in that entire time in Italy I had not seen nor heard Americans to the extent I did in the area around Rue Guisarde, St. Germain, Cluny, Notre Dame-I only escaped it somewhat when I went northwards-honestly it did seem last month that a quarter of the US population had decamped to the Latin Quarter- wherever I went, I heard American voices-could not escape it-and I don't go to Paris to hang around Americans, that's for sure.

But St. Germain/Odeon/Mabillon 5th/6th arr. IS still a charming area, nonetheless. I too, think it has gotten quite gentrified-and far more expensive. Just as an example, I had a cafe au lait (standing, as I usually do, at the bar) at a little bistro/cafe on Rue Christine or Rue Guisarde-a little tiny cup-was 2 Euros- in all of Italy I never paid more than 1.10 Euro for a caffe latte/espresso/cappucino at a bar.

When you go out of this area, the bistro food tends to be a bit better, and cheaper. I ate at the "Cafe des Jaures" which is a really lively, happening bistro across from Canal St. Martin (even up into the wee hours of the morning), and had a great meal of fresh fish, salad, vegetables, potatoes and a half carafe of white for about 15 Euros-and there was an interesting, decidedly bohemian, non touristy clientele to boot.

That bohemian atmosphere (and I realize, that's not a preference for most tourists) is long gone from the Latin Quarter, and there are very few, if any, inexpensive bistros in the area as well. My Parisian friend tells me that the 10th is the new "boho" area, so (yet, at least) there is not this sense of "total tourist takeover"-it's a more working class area, but with a picturesque location by the canals, and a lot of hip shops/ateliers now...gentrification setting in here as well.

As far as the Bonaparte, that would not be a hotel choice for me, but the area around St. Sulpice/Mabillon/Odeon-would be-it's quite central to the sights, you can walk to the Louvre if you want, and it is ever charming and picturesque, and of course, the Seine is but a few minutes walk away. If you don't know Paris well, or are a first time visitor I would definitely recommend this area- and to go and do the tourist thing of sitting in one of the grand cafes-Deux Magots/Cafe de Flore, or some of the others along the Blvd. and in Mabillon/Odeon area. If I didn't know Paris well, and hadn't sat at these cafes myself through 20 plus years of going to Paris, then I would definitely play tourist and check them out. It's fun, for maybe the first couple of times...

The Latin Quarter is still the romantic Latin Quarter-no denying that-it is precisely because the area still retains so much of its charm, and is so central to the sights, that it is, and ever will be, the tourist magnet. But at the same time, it has changed a lot through the last 10 years, it is a LOT more expensive, more chain stores have moved in (there's a big GAP store there, in a small shopping mall by Rue Guisarde-the GAP is not seen in Italy) so it has become much more corporate/commercial than ever before.

I do like this area, but I can take it or leave it now. There are other more interesting areas (to me) to stay in Paris, with their own distinct charms, that are not yet quite so overrun with mass tourism. The area around the 10th, the 13th, the lst, all of these formerly sleepy arrondissments are newly hip-Paris keeps changing, and it is my observation that the city is friendlier and more hospitable than I ever remember it being (even more than a year and a half ago, when I was last there), infused with more energy, more dynamism, more culture, more optimism, more happening events, just more of everything good that I value, Paris is IT.

The formerly Fodors Elaine did give Bonaparte a bad review here:
http://tinyurl.com/u5fom

Girlspytravel...it's great that you travel so often. What do you do when you are in Paris for the umpteenth time, or Italy, too? I'm not being facetious. It would be just great to hear. Thanks for the input here. cabo

To complement my earlier post, St. Germain especially, the Latin Quarter and the Marais are also examples of how local commerce evolves in very gentrified neighbourhoods. Everything is taken over by the upmarket garment trade, fashion accessories, home decoration, etc. The variety of yore is gone, giving the place a sanitised, artificial look, as if local businesses no longer catered to the resident.

These are also the areas with some of the most expensive real estate in Paris (8000-13000 Euros per square metre in St Germain). Even if the visitor is not there to buy property, the prices he'll or she'll pay reflect that fact too.

Paris is a very compact city (about 40 square miles), and there are perfectly safe middle-class areas to stay in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th arrondissements, with food shopping streets, which can give a more authentic Paris experience, even to the first time visitor, and as much value as possible in a capital in terms of dining and accomodation.

In New York City terms, would a local recommend an European to find accomodation at Times Square or in the Village? Maybe yes, maybe not.

This is just my thoughts as a Paris resident, with no interest whatsover in any tourism-related business. I have no experience of the hotel cited above, but I think this forum and others should help prospective visitors to look beyond the obvious and maybe not direct them systematically to the most disneyfied areas (while offering free advertising to the same establishments).

There's nothing charming about most of St. Germain and the Latin Quarter. Last June I walked around rue de Buci one evening and couldn't wait to get out of there. I find that Hotel Regent that is so often praised here is located in one of the worst, noisy, busy streets in Paris and I would never stay there.

The area of the Bonaparte is a little more relaxed, but I still wouldn't pay 95 Euros and above for a 2-star in Paris when I could pay much less and get a hotel in location that I conseider far better.

I actually think it's quite a bad area for "after a day of touring", because it's so crowded and noisy. Both the 7th and the 8th arrondissements are quieter. And of course, my preferrence is almost always for the outer arrondissements - much more relaxing and reasonable.

Thank you for your post, Trudaine.

I can hardly pass judgement on the hotel(not having been there) but I understand in a posting by Ira that there is no breakfast room and the included breakfast is given in one's room. Not for me, merci,especially when most rooms are rather small.

I had inquired at the Bonaparte myself not long ago, and was told that breakfast could be taken either in a breakfast room or delivered to the room. It doesn't sound as if that has changed. That newest tripadvisor review is at
http://tinyurl.com/y7sa2g

I personally don't think of any part of the 6th as the Latin Quarter; to me, the LQ is entirely in the 5th, around Place St Michel and the Sorbonne but I don't know if any official boundaries have ever been set.

Hi Bigal,

>..the included breakfast is given in one's room. Not for me, merci,especially when most rooms are rather small.<

Chacun à son goût.

My mother felt the same way, until she actually had it delivered to the room and found that she didn't have to get dressed and made up before bkfst.

Changed her entire outlook on the day.

Re Elaine's post:

We all have our expectations. Some places meet them, others don't.

There are over 1500 hotels in Paris, the Bonaparte is only one - and a very small one at that.

Hi GST,

>There's no denying that the area around Blvd. St. Germain is touristy. I had just arrived in Paris from some 6 weeks in Italy and in that entire time in Italy I had not seen nor heard Americans to the extent I did in the area around Rue Guisarde, St. Germain, Cluny, Notre Dame-...<

Does that mean that African, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European and South American tourists are OK?

Hi Tru,

>As a Parisian, I would say this Saint Germain area people in this forum rave about is now a very gentrified, very touristy one, which has lost much of its authenticity.<

On my first visit to Paris, they said the same thing about Montmartre. The Latin Quarter was the place to go.

Later they said the same thing about the LQ. St Germain was the place to go.

Then it became the Marais.

"Plus ça change, plus c'est le meme chose".

Yes, the sixth is very different from what it was in 1981, but so are we all.

>I think this forum and others should help prospective visitors to look beyond the obvious and maybe not direct them systematically to the most disneyfied areas (while offering free advertising to the same establishments).

Visiting a city, especially for the first time, is very different from living there.

Using your example, how many New Yorkers go to the Empire State Building, Times Square, The Village, take a Circle Line Tour, see the Rockettes, etc in their lifetime?

Tourists (or travelers) are not necessarily interested in watching their laundry whirl around while engaged in rapt conversation with their neighbors about the latest doings of the Interior Minister.

As for "free advertising": I think that almost all of us are simply trying to inform others of what we liked and didn't like about our own experiences in different places. It is in no way a form of advertising.

((I))
Who will continue to stay at the Bonaparte, unless it changes drastically, despite there being a YSL shop on one corner, Pierre Herme' across the street and Laduree down the block.

Had breakfast at Cafe Bonaparte a few years ago on Christmas Day after mass at St. Germain de Pres (sure I spelled that wrong). It was a miserable day, rainy and cold, but the staff were very nice and people just came in and out. I remember one little old lady with her dog and how nice the waiters were to her. Obviously a well-known local who didn't mind sitting with us peasants, oh I mean, tourists.

"...which can give a more authentic Paris experience, even to the first time visitor."

With the greatest of respect, what is not "authentic' about the pasrt of Paris under discussion? It is IN Paris isn't it? Whether you like it or not this part of the city has obviously evolved in a certain fashion and to imply that it somehow isn't the "real" city seems perhaps a bit odd.

I'm not convinced a lot of first-time visitors necessarily WANT to be in those areas which some seem to feel reflect the "more real" or "more authentic" Paris..at least not for their first visit.

As to the Bonaparte, or any other hotel, I would agree with Ira...people stay in certain places for a variety of reasons some of which are more important than others. And I have no doubt that those people's experiences were for them at just as high a level as anyone else's.

Ok. A couple of years ago I stayed at my sister's appartment in the 16th, near Metro Michel Ange. Not a touristy area. Small farmer's market twice week, nice local shops, small restaurants that only locals go to, a slice of everyday Parisian life. The Eiffel Tower was a 30 minute walk, but apart from that, there is nothing for a first time paris visitor to see. I've been to Paris many times, staying centrally, so this was a neat experience. At night, it was very quiet, nothing much open.


And yes, I'd like to live in an area like this, but when I was there I needed to Metro to go to there areas I (and other tourists) would like to visit. Convenience would suggest staying in Central Paris when you are visiting. I like the idea of walking out of the door of my hotel and being walking distance (or a short metro trip) to what I want to see.

That being said, on my next trip to Paris this november, I'll once again be staying in the 16th, for the simple reason that the hotel rates are cheaper. So I'll get the 'local' flavour, save some money, but accept that I'll be on the metro every day.

To Dukey,

What I simply meant is that fashion big names, decoration shops, art galleries, antique dealers are not elements of most people's "daily life". Besides, what those businesses sell is basically what is sold everywhere.

Some decades ago the 6th-7th had a variety of commerce. Many bookshops of course, but also greengrocers, bakers, etc. This mix is still found in some areas in Paris, maybe not for long.

Hi Tru,

>What I simply meant is that fashion big names, decoration shops, art galleries, antique dealers are not elements of most people's "daily life".<

I think we get your point.

OTOH, lots of visitors are not interested in the daily life of the locals. They want to see the (fill in name here) that they have heard and read about.

((I))

Well, there are good reasons why places are considered touristy. It doesn't make them bad places just more crowded.

Cabo-thanks for your kind remark-I could say that I am truly a nomad at heart, and have been studying, living working traveling in Europe and other parts since I was a young college student-I've always been happiest when on the road, and in many ways, I'm far more comfortable in European culture, since my closest friends are there as well. But I luckily live in a very international environment here, so I can frequently go to Europe by going to European embassy parties, which can be QUITE entertaining!

Julienas-actually, I think there are official boundaries for the Latin Quarter, and the part of the 6th arr. that includes St. Sulpice is included within that definition-see Wikipedia article:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartier_Latin

Trudaine-I agree with much of your assessment about the loss of authenticity in the LQ, but for the occasional or first-time tourist, this area, filled as it is with other tourists, American chain stores and other trappings of mass tourism (in addition to its landmark sights) will always be much more comfortable than those areas that retain more local, less English-speaking, and less touristed, Parisian flavor.

As to the cost of real estate in the Latin Quarter, yes indeed, one can do very well if one owns property in this area. In this sense, my artist friend there is VERY lucky: her parents bequeathed to her a large 18th century apartment just off the Blvd. St. Germain, on a very fashionable street. She rents it out to an American who made a fortune at 40, and then hightailed it to Paris, where he has been renting FOR THE LAST 10 ODD YEARS. Oh the stories she's told me-tooo funny! (My friend, (his landlord) had a crush on him, but alas, it was not returned). Apparently, all he does is hang out, picking up the latest in a string of young European girlfriends-for shame! what hedonism! (smile). At least I can say that I know of someone who's still leading a somewhat Bohemian lifestyle in the Latin Quarter-albeit at a rarefied level!

My husband and I AND 2 other couples stayed at the Hotel Bonaparte for a week in September. We couldn't have been more pleased. Each room was more than satisfactory. The staff was warm and welcoming. Breakfast was served each morning in a small but adequate room just off the lobby. As for the area around the hotel, we found it "involved" yet not overwhelmed by crowds of any sort, tourist or not. While the Hotel might technically be in the Latin Quarter, it is a pretty good walk to the intersection of St. Germaine and St. Michel, where the activity and noise really pick up. After a full day of touring, we were grateful for the peace and quiet of Bonaparte.

I just read Elaine's comments on ezboard. Shock is my reaction! Our 3 different rooms were located on the 5th floor. Two of them were larger; one was smaller. All 3 rooms were well groomed! I am puzzled by Elaine's experience of Hotel Bonaparte. Maybe they have started renovating the rooms from the top floor down. I noted that her room was on the first floor.

^^ I read Elaine's review also. It struck me that maybe she just has very high standards, and, indeed, as she suspected, simply did not belong in a 2 star hotel. These things are so hard to judge when you don't actually know the person.

I mean, we all have friends who would no sooner consider staying at a small European 2 or 3 star hotel than they'd consider camping!

True. Not everyone's idea of a 'nice' hotel room will be the same thing. Also keep in mind that if a hotel has renovated and unrenovated rooms as mentioned you may not be as pleased if you get one of the unrenovated ones which will definitely make for a negative review of that hotel.

I can't say if it happened here, but often solo women report getting worse rooms and treatment than accompanied women.

I've been a guest at the Bonaparte several times. You are steps away from the Rue de Seine/Buci food market, numerous art galleries, pricy retail shops geared toward the American and Japanese tourist. You will find the area teaming with Americans, of all ages: zillions of college kids, well traveled YUPpies, and gasp! the stereotypical American tourist with big camera, big belly, big mouth, wearing white tennis shoes and a LSU hat.

The hotel serves a very nice breakfast (well presented, on a large tray: fresh breads, butter, jams, juice, coffee, fruit) to your room delivered to the minute you requested the prior evening. My only objection is that with the tray, the bed, etc. the room is FULL. This hotel has possibly the smallest rooms in Paris, particularly for the money. So, the location is central: very close to Metros, buses, cabs; surrounded by an array of food opportunities from market stalls to bistros to gourmet resturants; you are an easy walk to the Cluny, to the Seine, to Notre Dame, etc.

If this is a first trip, you can't beat the location. Friendly, helpful English speaking staff. However, you can find all of these features for significantly fewer Euros, if price is a consideration. You will pay dearly for the crisp linen napkin, hot coffee and flaky croisant which is available for a fraction of the cost if you get going in the a.m. Since I am sounding "pious" let me quickly add that there were days that I would have easily slept till the crack of noon had I not ambitiously ordered breakfast for 7:30. Which resulted in my having breakfast in bed, and starting the day much earlier. A good thing.

Girlspytravel: Thank you for the information. My husband and I have been through France and Paris many times. But each year we take a niece or nephew overseas and this year it is my 14 year old niece. As she has never been to Paris, I thought the Latin Quarter or the Marais area would be convenient to the touristy things we will surely have to see for her sake.

My husband speaks French so we are interested in other areas for her to experience that she actually is in France, meaning that English is not always spoken in restaurants, shops, etc. We would prefer the country but this trip we are limited to Paris. We will check out some of your suggestions.

Where did you stay in the 10th?

Hi, Sylviam-I stayed at a surprisingly good budget hotel, which could NOT have been more ideally located-and more importantly, I booked it the night before on-line while I was still at my hotel/residence in the Latin Quarter (I decided to stay longer in Paris before moving on to Brussels, as my Parisian friend invited me to a couple of cool art exhibitions and parties, and I could not extend my stay where I was staying in the Latin Quarter.

It was the Libertel-Canale St. Martin-this is a find! I had a very clean small double room with a comfortable double bed (a real double-no twins) facing right on the busy main avenue Secretan, where I could look out and see all the activity going on in the streets-which I like-YET, I was surprised that I heard absolutely nothing when I shut the window-no sounds whatsoever. They had a lovely variety at breakfast, which was included-literally everything you could want, with fresh cold unsweetened juices, hard boiled eggs, cheeses, fresh chocolate croissants, friendly English speaking staff, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, newspapers,really what more could you want from a hotel, besides location?

And that is what I liked the best. There was a Monoprix store on the one side of the hotel, (where I went accessories shopping, of course) a small sandwich shop on the other, the whole street is filled with small not too expensive boutiques, eating places, hair salons (Jean Claude Beguine-which is a cool and inexpensive French chain salon-really, no one can do chain hair salons like the French-(Jean Louis David, Jean Claude Beguine, Jacques Dessange, Alex Ferrer-have been to all of them, and like them all for the uniformly good results I get, and with the exception of Dessange, am quite impressed how inexpensive their services are, as well). These hair salons are all in the area but as I said, I went to the J-C Beguine halfway up from the hotel, and was very pleased with my trim, wash, blow-dry and flat-iron (flat-iron, called a "fer" in French).

The metro is right across the street, as is the lovely canal St. Martin, with all the hip new ateliers that have opened in this area. (Try to go over to the Boulevard de Strasbourg-there is a shop-Fred Pinel's Atelier-where you can design your own leather flip-flops for around 200 Euros, have them made to order and pick them up in 72 hours-I didn't buy, but I did look, and I liked!).

A restaurant in the 10th on Rue Beaurepaire, on the quai de Valmy-you'll definitely want to walk this area- that I've heard good things about-CHEZ PRUNE-great people-watching, and inexpensive entrees. Also, there is a boutique complex, "Le Village" along the Canal you'll want to check out as well.

As I mentioned, the Cafe des Jaures (Jaures is the name of the metro stop) right around the corner from the hotel-take a meal here in the afternoon or evening, as it's a another great people watching spot.

However, you can ALSO go across the street to the quai de la Loire, and for a mere 1.50 Euro, take a LOVELY barge ride that goes through the picturesque locks and canals of St. Martin-I did this last month, late afternoon, unusually warm late September day-gorgeous!

Believe me, you could get FAR less in Paris and pay so much more, and that's the best part-76 Euros for a double? I will definitely stay here again-there's more to explore in the 10th, and I have not spent enough time here, that's for sure.

Sounds like a nice, un-touristed and uncrowded place to be...
Walkable to Parc de Buttes Chaumont; access to 4 metro lines and 3 bus lines.. Glad you enjoyed a new part of Paris!

Girlspytravel: The area sounds lovely, we will definitely take time to look around. We are in Paris after Easter so it may be a bit chilly but the barge ride sounds good to me. My niece would get a kick out of designing her own flip flops. However I am sure she would reconsider after seeing the price. Still, it would be interesting to "browse". Thanks again.

>>There's nothing charming about most of St. Germain and the Latin Quarter. Last June I walked around rue de Buci one evening and couldn't wait to get out of there.>>

Keren,
I'm so surprised to read this, as I think that Saint Germain des Pres, especially the rue de Buci, is one of the most charming areas of Paris. We have always stayed in that area and love it. We're branching out next trip and will stay in the 7th, but will still spend plenty of time in Saint Germain des Pres, stopping for a pain chocolat at Gerard Mulot and walking to Saint Sulpice and heading on to Jardin du Luxembourg. In the evenings, we always spend a little time at Les Deux Magots. When I think of Paris, Saint Germain des Pres is what I picture. I don't think of it as "noisy" so much as lively. In fact, I'm a little concerned that the 7th will be too quiet in the evenings.

Sandy

I had the same feeling as Keren about blvd St Germain area - soooooo many people, very crowded. Went to the City Pharmacie - could barely navigate the aisles. Once you get accustomed to the more peaceful, uncrowded 'non-central' neighborhoods, you can't wait to escape the popular areas. We do our sightseeing the first part of the day and then head back to 'our Paris' for the remainder.

We stayed at the Hotel Bonaparte summer two years ago, staying the 1st 2 nights in Paris and then our last night before the flight home. We found the location very convenient for tourist sites, such as Notre Dame or a Seine River cruise (ideal for the end of the first day of jetlag), we did this to orient ourselves for the following day of touring. The staff was nice, helpful and made a great restaurant suggestion.

The first room we stayed in was spacious had a good sized bathroom on a middle floor and the second room (on the top floor) was smaller with a much smaller bathroom that you had to step up into. We didn't mind the small space until I knocked my husband's toothbrush into the toilet - yes, I told him especially since he was suspicious as to why as I was laughing uncontrollably in the bathroom...thankfully, we had a back up toothbrush, one advantage to being a veteran overpacker! Oh, the charm of European hotels; always memorable.

It's a quiet & pleasant place; there are several boutiques on the street. I got a kick out of seeing the shop windows' mannequins change overnight with a sudden drop in temperature - one day it was summer dresses and the next fall couture. Great chocolate shop on corner as you walk towards the river, too! Enjoy; Paris is lovely.

Sandy,
I actually don't see any charm in that small, very crowded street, maybe just "charm". I also think there are better market streets in Paris. I can't really get the idea of staying in one part of Paris on each and every visit. I change location every time I go, I find it much more interesting than to stay in the most touristy area of Paris. I find Saint Germain full of upscale, uninteresting, boutiques, very commercial and expensive. And I prefer Parc de Bercy or Parc de Montsouris over Jardin du Luxembourg. When I picture Paris, I actually see in front of my eyes the Promenade Plantée & Boulevard Daumesnil, Canal St Martin or rue de Lévis, to name a few places.

I like staying in a quiet area. After running away from rue de Buci I ended up in the 8th by the Madeleine where my hotel was located, and felt grateful to myself for having booked it. That area felt more local to me and this is what I'm looking for when I go to Paris.