I hope someone can help. I have a problem walking and want to spend my energy at sights not getting to them. Can someone recommend a hotel, 3 star, in the 6th or 7th that is close to a Metro. The closer the better. <BR> <BR>Now the tough part: My wife and I are in our mid 50's and do not know if we should even pick the left bank. We've heard that it is very "artsy" and for the young at heart. We're not dead yet but we're not in our twenties either. <BR> <BR>We do like a neighborhood that has lots of bistros and bars for people watching. We like shopping and eating. An hour or slightly more will get me museumed out for the day. <BR> <BR>Sorry to lay it all out like this but, any suggestions?

Given your parameters I think I would choose the 6th just south of St. germain. Or the right bank -- between the Louvre and Madeleine [someone can help me here. I'm a left bank bunny] <BR> <BR>About transportation: The metro can involve long walks, not to mention STAIRS. You will probably do better familiarizing your self with the bus routes and using those. <BR> <BR>I hope others will pitch in with some help here -- after all Paris.... c'est la plus belle ville de la monde

I agree with th above poster.Using the Metro can involve a lot of walking. Also, after a few days you may get "metro-burnout", too much time underground, everything looks the same,crowds,etc.Using the busses is easier than it sounds and the ever changing view is fantastic. <BR>The left bank isn't really "artsy" it's just more interesting.

Hi <BR>The 6th has countless cafes and bisros and shopping ideas and is very convenient to most major sights on both the left or right bank. In the 6th you will see Parisians and tourists of all ages and interests. You can't do better for shopping, eating, browsing, etc. <BR>For convenience, look for hotels a short distance from metro stops <BR>like St Michel, Odeon, etc. I don't know what price you have in mind, but just two 3-stars that have been recommended here are le Regent, d'Aubusson, etc.There are others that are less expensive. <BR> <BR>I have also often stayed in the first arrondissement on the right bank. I like it, but it's quite different. <BR>Fewer choices for moderately-priced restaurants and cafes, many more tourist traps (although watch out on Boul St German for some of those as well). The 1st has mostly larger hotels, more business and luxury oriented,with just a handful of moderately-priced hotels, and even those on average are usually more costly than on the left bank. <BR> <BR>I don't take the metro all that much, but I'm not much on buses either. <BR>Once or twice a day on metro or bus for especially long trips, otherwise I do a lot of walking. <BR>Paris isn't that large really. <BR> <BR>I have a file; if you'd like to see it, email me

First let me say that making sweeping generalizations about neighborhoods on the left bank of Paris is unrealistic. You can find about anything you want on the left bank, ranging from hot spots to residential areas. <BR>Can you be more precise in what you define as left bank? I think any where in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and the northern edges of the 13th, 14th and the 15th Arrondissements is "left bank". <BR>And what is wrong with "artsy?" Do you equate that term with hard drinking, loud behavior, and loose morals (whatever they are)?? <BR>Another point I wish to make is that the Paris bus system is much easier to use than the Metro. Some of those Metro stations are nothing but tunnels and steps, and long ones at that. Bus routes often are closer to your hotel and take you closer to your destination than the Metro. Just because a Metro stop is shown on the map as close to your hotel does not mean that you do not have a long walk down steps and along tunnels to get to your platform. (I think Montparnasse Bienvenue is a good example. There was a Metro entrance not far from our hotel, but the platform for the train we needed was farther away from the entrance than the door of the hotel. A bus stop was within 50 yards or less. After the first time we walked past the bus stop to descend into the caverns of the Metro, I figured out where that bus went and found it took us to the Louvre.) <BR>I personally look for(and have found a favorite) a hotel that is close to several bus lines. I have not found that taking the bus requires much more time than the Metro except in a couple of cases. (Last year we wanted to get from Blvd Raspail x Montparnasse to Musee Marmottan. The Metro got us there with fewer changes.) We have used the bus to good advantage to get from our hotel on the southern edge of the 6th Arr to the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Gare St. Lazare, Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, the Eifel Tower, Musee Rodin, Opera Bastille, Invalides and other places. <BR> <BR>I have also found that passengers on the buses are much more likely to yield a seat to an infirm person. I don't consider myself infirm, but at age 68 I received deference for a seat more than once, even from teenagers. <BR>And we have had more offers of assistance in getting to our destinations from bus passengers that we ever received on the Metro. Most educated Parisians can figure out in half a second that you speak English and a couple of times we were engaged in conversation. I attribute some of that to my wife. She is the type who inspires confidence in just about everybody with her ready smile and sincere expression. <BR> <BR>Paris is literally full of small hotels, those in the 70 rooms or fewer category, and dozens of them have been recommended by an equal number of posters on this form. I am reluctant to discuss the subject because my tastes are not those of others I have my favorite 3 star place and that is where I go.

Marty: One very important point: When do you intend to go to Paris? A lot of places discussed on this forum are very small (between 30 and 40 rooms only) and are often booked for months. <BR>We booked "our " 3-star left bank place already for next May.

The left bank is wonderful. My husband and I, in our late 40s, love the left bank. We were just theere last month and stayed at the Hotel de la Motte Picquet. It is on the corner of Rue Cler and Avenue la Motte Picquet. The hotel is a 2 star - not fancy, but clean and it met our requirements. It is less than one block from the metro and just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. <BR> <BR>I'm sure you'll find a 3 star nearby. <BR> <BR>We enjoyed this neighborhood tremendously. There were bistros, shops, and lots more. In the past we have enjoyed the 5th, but wanted a change. <BR> <BR>Good luck. <BR>

First of all mid-50's is still young! It's all a matter of mind-set, you are in my age bracket and I don't think of myself as "old" even with some aches & pains We've stayed in many areas, 16th, 7th, 8th, 1st, 6th to name a few over our many visits. Personally, we prefer the 7th Arr. Last month we stayed at the Relais Bosquet Hotel at 19 Rue Champ de Mars (between Ave. Bosquet and Rue Cler) and 1.5 blocks from Ecole Militaire Metro Stop (several cafe's right at that corner too by the way, & a bank (ATM). Rue Cler is a lovely pedestrian street with many food stalls, bakeries, flower stands, etc. It's a couple blocks north of Rue St. Dominque which has many places to eat as well. The 7th Arr is a great people watching area (quite residential, so you don't just see other tourists), you are also about a 10 min. walk from Eiffel Tower (we saw about 3/4 of it from our room window). It's a short walk to Invalides & Army Museum as well, which even if you are not a museum person are interesting (the Army Museum has plenty of places to sit down inside too, I know, I had foot problems on our last visit and utilized every place I could to sit for a few minutes!!) We really like the Relais Bosquet hotel (but ask for superior room if you look into it, they are larger!). As for being "on top" of the Metro so to speak, we stayed two yrs ago at Residence Hotel Trocadero at #3 (I think it was) Ave. Raymond Poincare, which is right at the Trocadero. This hotel is a Best Western Affiliate (not to be confused with BW motels in the US, in Europe they are small hotels who belong to the BW marketing network and are on the BW websites). The Metro (Trocadero) was literally at our feet, right in front of the hotel. Several cafes at Trocadero (tend to be a little expensive, it's a tourist area!). Also have stayed at Cayre Hotel which is right at the Rue de Bac Metro stop. Actually, going back in time I cannot remember any hotel we stayed at that was less then a block or two from the Metro. As Bob Brown said buses are good too, you have the advantage of seeing where you are going without walking long distances in the Metro to connect at stations. As for non-walking sightseeing may I suggest a boat ride on the Seine (but not dinner cruise) as a nice way to see things without walking a lot. Also, there are plenty of sightseeing bus tours and if you have never been to Paris before it might be a good idea as they give you an overview of the city and you can pick your places to go visit in more depth. <BR>Likewise tours outside of Paris. I personally am not a tour person (and we have family in Paris so we never needed to bother with tours) but I think in your case a bus tour to some of the "outside of Paris" sights might be best, if you are interested (Versailles for example, or Fountainbleu, or Chartes). <BR>

Marty- <BR>All the previous posts seem right on, but let me emphasize that if walking is a problem DO NOT rely on the Metro system. There is a tremendous amount of walking (including lots of stairs) involved, and one can never be sure that the escalator/lift will be available and/or operating. <BR>I learned this the hard way when traveling with a companion who had some mobility limitations. I gave up my romanticized views of "le Metro" and found that the bus provided an all around better alternative - got to see more of Paris, less walking and stairs, and the routes/schedules are well planned. <BR>Enjoy!

Marty, I've stayed 3 times on the right; once on the left and prefer the left for the cafes, groceries, liveliness, friendliness. I'm 50+ and didn't feel at all out of place. Older Parisians are very much a part of any scene - there doesn't seem to be that "them" (under 30) and "us" (over 30) that you find in the States. The problem with the left bank is that the metro stations have fewer lines and connecting lines without long walks and it seemed that there were simply longer distances between stations. Study the maps and find a hotel that has a close metro with many good connections. I've not used the buses much, so can't advise there. You will find many places to sit - parks, etc. - just take a kerchief to cover the occasional bird doo or tree droppings. Have fun; I love the city.

Hi Marty, <BR>I am 44 & my cousin is 59. We're going to Paris in October & have elected to stay in the 7th. My research indicated this is a very residential area, & is quite busy early in the morning & not tremendously "loud & lively" after about 7pm. This is just what we're looking for! We will be in the 8th, the 6th, the 1st, 2nd,3rd & 4th for sightseeing, visiting, shopping, etc. all the same, however. <BR> <BR>Hope you find the arrondisement that best suits your needs. <BR>Bon Voyage, <BR>Kathy

HI, I think some areas of the Left Bank might be considered "arty" in their are some good antique, art supply, design, etc shops there and some art schools (and music schools, I'm going to one this July), but what you've read kind of sounds like touristic hype, to be honest. One would only wish it were that arty -- most of it is upscale, designer, expensive or touristy and you know Catherine Deneuve hangs out in the cafe in sq St Sulpice sometimes, I've heard, she's in her 50s. Unless Armani is your idea of an arty, young-at-heart guy. Around the Sorbonne and towards the Seine from there is pretty "young" but not very arty. Anyway, there are plenty of hotels within a block of a metro stop or so, here are a few good ones (most 3 star) I think: Le Tourville (7th), Muguet (7th), Duqesne Eiffel (7th, but about a block farther from metro than first two which are very close); Hotel St Paul on rue mr le prince (6th), Hotel Clos Medicis (6th), Hotel de l'Odeon (6th), Hotel Relais St-Sulpice (6th), Hotel Pantheon or Hotel des Grandes Hommes (5th really but good location and convenient to Luxembourg RER/metro stop). I've made these suggestions because they are all very near a metro and also near bus lines. Also, I believe the closest metro/RER stops have escalators (pretty sure Luxembourg does going up and Ecole Militaire, but can't swear to it). they are all also near cafes, etc. YOu could consider the Hotel Cayre or Hotel Lutetia in the 7th also, although they are maybe a little more upscale in budget; but both are near great shopping and very near a metro stop.