Paris hotels/apartments
 

We haven't been in Paris in 21 years, and are thinking of spending a week in September. Please recommend a hotel or apartment you've liked in the $250/night range. Thanks!

That's about 220 euro, I think. Perhaps you aren't aware, but your dates make a big difference. Rooms aren't that expensive at the very begining of the month, say the first week, but then prices rise to some of the highest levels of the year, and vacancies get rare.

IN any case, this is my favorite hotel in Montparnasse and it is in that budget (don't get the cosy room unless you are solo, and you aren't). My one caveat is that in recent years, they have taken to having some rooms only available with nonrefundable rates. It used to be just the cosy and then only at certain times and now it's getting to be all rooms, all the time. This is an unusual pricing strategy which I've never seen before and even I (who have stayed there almost annually for decades) am beginning to rethink staying there. Last month I just cut my stay short by a couple days to avoid the heat wave as no way was I going to be in Paris in 110 degree heat, so I ate the cost, but I still don't like the tactic. It is a nice hotel, though. I cancelled some days in advance and wouldn't have had to pay at most hotels. Andf their rates are actually fairly low compared to comparable hotels, also, even in the same area.
https://www.paris-hotel-aiglon.com/e...el-paris-rooms

Coincidentally, there is another thread on almost the same topic which has some ideas, it was a couple who wanted a room in Sept for about 200 euro, a bit less than you, though, which made things even tougher.

My second favorite hotel in that area where I've stayed multiple times is this one, and it is in that range also IF you can find a vacancy.
https://www.hotelraspailmontparnasse.com
The staff is very nice, my only quibble is that once I had a real hard mattress so while I like them a lot and the location, the hotel isn't quite as comfortable bed-wise as the Aiglon (for me). I thikn the last time I was there, the room I got was a little better.

https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-hotels-left-bank-thread-447122/https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-hotels-left-bank-thread-447122/


Happy Travels!

Really depends upon what neighborhood you want to stay in. Apts are harder to come by since the crackdown. We stay in apts these days and many are no longer renting. One hotel I always loved that we stayed in a few times is Hotel De La Bretonnerie https://www.hotelparismaraisbretonne...tel-marais/fr/ . Their rooms vary in price and when you are there. Its right in the heart of the Marais. have fun -- it's my favorite city as I love all the museums and the great food & wine.

If you don't mind the "vanilla" branded hotel look and want some kitchen facilities you could also stay in an apartment/hotel chain like Citadines or Adagio. That way you can at least avoid all the hassles of knowing the legality of an airbnb situation. For Citadine in that price range I like Republique or the Bastille property but also Montmartre and Trocadero although not as central as the Marais or Latin Quarter. But I would avoid the one at Forum Les Halles-I stayed 2 months there for a corporate transition and it not a fun area IMO-bunches of MacDonalds and KFC type fast food etc. That would be the one I would never stay in again. Adagio also has a nice property near the Bastille.

Is that for next month or September 2020?

September and October are probably the busiest hotel months of the year and finding availability this close to a September stay date is going to be challenging. I could give you a complete list of fabulous hotels, but those I have already checked for someone else were already full.

At this point, be very aggressive and start with search engines, to find any availability. You'll have more options at the 250€ to 300€ range. You may also want to expand your search area to include hotels in the 14th and 15th arrondissements.

I havent' stayed in Citadines Bastille but that's a good area. I almost always stay in the 11th (corporate apartment for work) so I'm biased. But I do have a choice and I stay in the 11th because it's central enough and has many quiet corners. Just feels comfortable to me.

Yes I agree with walkinaround-I like the 11th too. And since you haven't been to Paris for 20 years you may not know that although the very central neighborhoods like the Marais and the Latin Quarter were really the place to be 20 years ago (and still are for many visitors), the less well known neighborhoods in places like the11th, 17th 13th 14th 15th have all become much more interesting places to stay than they might have been before.

Totally agree with the last two posts. We almost always stay in the 11th now, often in a hotel that many here on Fodors might think quirky (even very quirky), but we love it, it's comfortable, it has a lovely garden area to work in or enjoy a picnic, the staff are delightful, we love the neighborhood, and the price is great (well under US$250 - I wouldn't pay that to stay in Paris, unless ir were a special occasion, so I'm probably operating from a different perspective).

We're going in October 28 thru Nov 1st, 2019. I found this hotel its called Hotel Les 123 Elysees-Astotel. For my dates the charge is 201euros/night and that includes breakfast. They also serve free snacks in the afternoon. If you book directly with them you get 5% discount. This hotel is located along 8th arr.

Astotel is really branching out, even on Bvd Sebastopol now! Quite a good chain, I think. Stayed in three of their hotels: all good.

This past April we spent six nights in the Citadines Bastille Marais. It is a very nice, well run apartment hotel and we were quite happy there. During the past ten years, we have only stayed in apartments including three in the 11th. This last trip we had to put together very last minute and found no legal apartments available on VRBO, etc., that met our criteria for location and price. This Citadines offered a special rate on Expedia and we booked it. We are very familiar with that location and the public transportation options nearby. The rate was under €200 and more than we usually pay, but it served our needs. If you're looking for luxury or "French charm", you won't find them here. Once inside the front door, you could be in any modern hotel in any major city.

I like the 11th alot. But if I hadn't been to Paris for a long time, staying closer to the center makes it less time consuming to see the major sites. I like the double-digit arrondissements, but whenever we stay in one, I feel we spend more time traveling around. So it depends upon what you plan to do.

Sure, outwest: Hotel Alhambra
We were there last time in August, when prices in Paris are always low.

Thanks StCirq. Actually I believe I've come across the Alhambra on my internet travels so I'll take a closer look at it. We're going to be in Paris again next June--a fairly pricey time of year.

The problem with your question is that many desirable hotels may not have 7 nights available a month out. Best to use a booking website with your exact dates, narrow down your choices, and then ask.

I'm surprised Parisperfect is offering discounts during that period, but the calendar shows to some extent the issue -- it is only available the first week and then the last couple of days (first week doesn't surprise me, last couple of days does). But I agree that is a good rate for them, and it is close to $250, anyway.

The first week in Sept is kind of dull, but on the other hand, you can combine it with the Labor Day holiday if time off is an issue. It's a Murphy bed, though and you have to move the sofa every night to use it, which wouldn't be my idea of a funtime, but others might not mind.

It's worth pointing out that the 11th (similar in many other arrs) is a pretty big area. I favour the southern end and regularly stay just northeast of Ledru-Rollin. That's extremely convenient to big sights both by foot and metro. it's also a great area to use as a base as it's bustling and has restaurants and bars for everyone. After sightseeing or instead of it, you can explore your neighbourhood and eat/drink/shop there. Paris has many large scale areas - grand boulevards, massive buildings, big parks and huge squares so walking can be tiring and less interesting. That's part of the reason that I like the southern part of the 11th - it has some larger scale areas (Bastille itself) but it feels more dense and more pleasurable to walk for me.

St Cirq's hotel is up closer to Republic which is a very different area but also convenient (for slightly different things). I just prefer the environment of Ledru-Rollin and what it's convenient to.

I don't like a general rule that the single digit Arrs are more convenient and more central. For example, 7-8 feel way out there for me (and parts of 7-8, very much so) as they are not convenient to the areas and things that I like. Also, aligned with my comment above, the 7e has many huge scale open areas that are beautiful but feel treacherous to walk. But, as always, there are preferences in play here.

"I don't like a general rule that the single digit Arrs are more convenient and more central. For example, 7-8 feel way out there for me (and parts of 7-8, very much so) as they are not convenient to the areas and things that I like. Also, aligned with my comment above, the 7e has many huge scale open areas that are beautiful but feel treacherous to walk. But, as always, there are preferences in play here."
I agree I don't care for the 7th or 8th as a place to stay. I know the area you like and its fine as is the area where St.Cirq's hotel is in. As you said preferences play in. And yes, the 11th is big. I also know that since we tend to go in the winter, and one trip a couple February's ago it was very cold. We were staying in the 11th near the Richard Lenoir metro and as we would trek home esp at night, and pass thru the 3rd & 4th, I'd say, if we lived here, we'd be home by now. So yes, it really depends upon where you plan to visit.

Paperfist asks "What about AirBnb?"

Most apartments listed on AirBnB are not legal rentals. If you want to look at AirBNB, examine the listings carefully to make sure a registration number is listed.

Definitely check for the registration number. Although I understand that some apts don't list it publicly because people steal the numbers and use them on their ads. That said, in my recent search for an apt I was pleasantly surprised how many AirBnB and others had registration numbers. Much different than when I looked a year ago. While far fewer apts than there used to be, you can still find legal ones on Airbnb and elsewhere.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the number in the ad is legitimately connected to the apartment on offer.

<<I also know that since we tend to go in the winter, and one trip a couple February's ago it was very cold. We were staying in the 11th near the Richard Lenoir metro and as we would trek home esp at night, and pass thru the 3rd & 4th, I'd say, if we lived here, we'd be home by now. >>

LOL, we said the same thing last August when we were there during an ungodly heat wave and could barely drag our sweaty selves back home from the "center" of the city.

I'm no longer fond of the 7th or 8th, though many years ago we used to stay there pretty often. But I do think lots of people find it easier to be in the single digits because they can see the Tour Eiffel or Notre Dame (or what's left of it) and find it reassuring to be able to walk to the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Latin Quarter, the boat rides, and all the things they associate with Paris. It certainly took me many trips to Paris to branch out into "new and different" neighborhoods.

"t certainly took me many trips to Paris to branch out into "new and different" neighborhoods."
We've done a fair bit of exploring Paris but in the end, the Gros Caillou neighborhood is where we like to base and it's not because we need to feel "reassured".

A tad over your budget, but if you can swing it the Hotel Brittanique in the 1st is wonderful. The location makes it an easy walk to so much, but the metro is just a block away. We stayed for 5 nights and can't think of any negative for it.

If you don't mind being a bit further away, in the 14th there is the Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse which comes in under your budget. We stayed there on our very first trip and it was great. It is kind of generic, just meaning that there really isn't any charm to it, but we loved it. Just a few blocks from the metro and the staff went above and beyond for us, so much so that I sent a small thank you after we returned home.

My perspective is that 'my' neighbourhood in the 11th around Ledru-Rollin is the centre of Paris.* The Eiffel Tower or the Louvre are not the centre of 'my' Paris.* 7-8 are not an appealing base for me at all.* I'm not really a fan of the Latin Quarter to stay, although it's not objectionable.* Montparnasse, Montmartre...no way.* Not home for me.*

Related to London, it's my Marylebone.* I don't care that there are closer neighbourhoods to the London Eye or 'Big Ben'.* In Barcelona, give me El Born.* Not worried that it's not near Las Ramblas. In Boston, I'll take the Back Bay or South End.* I don't care that you can stay closer to Faneuil Hall.* This is not a snobby 'anti-tourist' view.* I'm happy to visit big sights.* I just don't need to stay right on top of them and I don't think that 'central' is synonymous to where the big sights are located.* I think for most people living in the greater Paris metro area, living in the 11th is extreme central Paris living...it's certainly not suburban living!

<<I don't think that 'central' is synonymous to where the big sights are located.* I think for most people living in the greater Paris metro area, living in the 11th is extreme central Paris living...it's certainly not suburban living!>>

I think for most tourists, though, central IS where the big sights are located. We're not offering advice here to "most people living in the greater Paris metro area."

"My perspective is that 'my' neighbourhood in the 11th around Ledru-Rollin is the centre of Paris.* The Eiffel Tower or the Louvre are not the centre of 'my' Paris.* 7-8 are not an appealing base for me at all.* I'm not really a fan of the Latin Quarter to stay, although it's not objectionable.* Montparnasse, Montmartre...no way.* Not home for me.*"

Perhaps, for you, but the OP was coming to see Paris, not visit "your" neighborhood. As a tourist who regularly visits Paris, while I love visiting vrious neighborhoods and finding new sites, the museums and other "famous" sites are still of interest to me.

Fair point but if someone wants to stay near the Eiffel Tower,, fine. say you want to stay near the Eiffel Tower. Or the Louvre. But just because a neighbourhood is not the closest to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, it doesn't mean it's not central. Paris is a huge city so picking one or two sites and considering them as 'the centre' is misleading. Like saying that Georgetown or Dupont Circle is not 'central' in Washington because they are a distance from the Washington Monument or the White House. They are near many sites of interest in those areas and they are in the appealing urban centre - very well catered for with many of the best restaurants and everything else.

An interesting statement to me because I've always thought of Paris, the part within the Peripherique, as quite compact. One visit I'd left my gift shopping until the last day & there was a transit strike. I decided to just walk, from my hotel in the 18th on the back side of Sacre Coeur, shopping my way down to the river & back again uphill with my bags, in my 60s at the time. I think that's about a third of the way across town. I think of London as "huge" & LA & Mexico City but Paris not. It seems to me central Paris could be considered half the town & easily walked by anyone in fair shape.

I stayed at Hotel Original this May and Jules et Jim in June. Without knowing what you're looking for specifically, and considering I was by myself in double rooms and thus they felt plenty big enough, it's hard to recommend them, although I liked them both quite a bit. Hotel Original is less expensive and quite a bit quirkier. Jules et Jim is moire chi-chi and would likely be above your desired price in September, but is worth a look just in case.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f07831764e.jpg
Hotel Original - smallish room, great terrace and view.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...432e19933a.jpg
Shower/sink/desk/closet at Hotel Original. Efficient!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0ee9c3527.jpeg
Hotel Original

There is only one reason not to include a registration number on apartment advertisements - the owner doesn't have one. The law requires it be there.

The dishonest do not need to steal numbers, they make them up. Having a number is only half of what makes an apartment a legal rental, it also must not have been rented more than 120 days during the calendar year.

Is there an easy on line way to check registration number against a list to see if it a real number and matches the advertised apartment?

No. That is something that the city inspectors do. Even if you could, the number alone does not guarantee that any given property has been rented under the 120 day annual limit, making further rentals legal.

What you know for sure is that any listing without a registration number is certainly illegal and should be avoided.

What's wrong with the neighbourhood? A bit of a desert at the weekend, but wonderfully close to Parc Monceau etc. Avenue des Ternes for the shops and I see lots of restaurants etc nearby too.