Paris Hotels Left Bank Thread
May 5th, 2009, 05:12 AM
#82
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Hotel des Marronniers
21 rue Jacob
75006 PARIS
Very charming hotel in the heart of Saint Germain in Paris. Very calm and comfortable
http://www.paris-hotel-marronniers.com
21 rue Jacob
75006 PARIS
Very charming hotel in the heart of Saint Germain in Paris. Very calm and comfortable
http://www.paris-hotel-marronniers.com
May 5th, 2009, 07:04 AM
#83
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Yes, the above hotel is very nice. I had a walkthrough some years ago. I haven't stayed there, since it's out of my budget, but have been there often as the manager was a close friend of mine. Happy Travels!
May 9th, 2009, 06:23 AM
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We stayed in three Left Bank hotels in March. Each was in a different neighborhood, as we wanted to avoid the blind-men-and-elephant syndrome. All were clean, and well-maintained and affordable at around 125 E each for a double.
The first was Hotel Familia about halfway between Notre Dame and the Pantheon. Next door is the slightly more upscale Hotel Minerva, but, for the same price, we chose a room with a balcony at the Familia over one without at the Minerva. The Familia had the most character and the friendliest, most personable staff of the three we stayed at. Their breakfasts were also the best. (Interestingly, Breakfast In America, a throwback to old-time American diners, was a couple of doors down and was a favorite with Sorbonne students.) We liked that it was several blocks east of the heavy tourist traffic of St, Michel Blvd., and I loved the hilly winding streets of the neighborhood, but my wife found the hills a bit tiring.
The second place was the Hotel Beugency in the Rue Clare neighborhood between the Eiffel Tower and the Invalides. Utilitarian on the outside but very modern inside, the hotel was on a quiet street a short block from several good cafes on Rue Clare, but, outside of that street, the area seemed more Right Bank than Left Bank to me. Also I like to be near the center of the historic areas when I visit cities like Paris. Also, the staff was professional but we missed the family atmosphere of the well-named Familia.
We could not get any closer to the center of things than our third hotel, Hotel Dieu or Hotel Hospitel on the Illle de Citi in front and to the side of Notre Dame. It is on the top floor of a working hospital, which maintains some rooms for family members of patients and rents out others to tourists. It was probably the best situated hotel of any I have ever stayed at. We truly felt in the middle of things, and after dark, we felt like we had the islands to ourselves. We also liked being close to the main Metro and rail stop, which proved handy on our last day, when we needed to get to the airport quickly. The only downside was that it lacked the Old Paris family feel of the Familia, but as in real estate, location, location, location.
The first was Hotel Familia about halfway between Notre Dame and the Pantheon. Next door is the slightly more upscale Hotel Minerva, but, for the same price, we chose a room with a balcony at the Familia over one without at the Minerva. The Familia had the most character and the friendliest, most personable staff of the three we stayed at. Their breakfasts were also the best. (Interestingly, Breakfast In America, a throwback to old-time American diners, was a couple of doors down and was a favorite with Sorbonne students.) We liked that it was several blocks east of the heavy tourist traffic of St, Michel Blvd., and I loved the hilly winding streets of the neighborhood, but my wife found the hills a bit tiring.
The second place was the Hotel Beugency in the Rue Clare neighborhood between the Eiffel Tower and the Invalides. Utilitarian on the outside but very modern inside, the hotel was on a quiet street a short block from several good cafes on Rue Clare, but, outside of that street, the area seemed more Right Bank than Left Bank to me. Also I like to be near the center of the historic areas when I visit cities like Paris. Also, the staff was professional but we missed the family atmosphere of the well-named Familia.
We could not get any closer to the center of things than our third hotel, Hotel Dieu or Hotel Hospitel on the Illle de Citi in front and to the side of Notre Dame. It is on the top floor of a working hospital, which maintains some rooms for family members of patients and rents out others to tourists. It was probably the best situated hotel of any I have ever stayed at. We truly felt in the middle of things, and after dark, we felt like we had the islands to ourselves. We also liked being close to the main Metro and rail stop, which proved handy on our last day, when we needed to get to the airport quickly. The only downside was that it lacked the Old Paris family feel of the Familia, but as in real estate, location, location, location.
May 9th, 2009, 08:37 AM
#89
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Good idea, Guenmai.
It might be helpful to know what each traveler uses as his hotel priorities in Paris. We try to stay in different neighborhoods. Our preference is for three-star hotels close to metro lines with good beds/linens with ultra clean bathrooms. Decorating and the size of the front lobby are low on our list.
Here's where we stayed:
1)In the 7th a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, Le Relais Bosquet (twice)
http://www.paris-paris.com/hotel_relais_bosquet.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
Nice neighborhood. Not the best metro connections but good bus connections. I don't recommend it to first-time visitors because I think staying closer to Notre Dame, etc. works better. For repeat Paris visitors, I think this is a good hotel and great area. We've had a Superior room and we've enjoyed our stay here.
2)In the 5th, right across from the Pantheon is the Hotel du Pantheon
http://www.paris-paris.com/hotels/qu...eon/visite.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
This is another one I tend to recommend for veteran visitors. It's not far from RER Line B, which means travelling from CDG via rail is very feasible, but otherwise, I don't consider its access to the Seine close enough to the for a "first-timer" recommendation. For a repeat visitor, it's an interesting area. Behind the Pantheon is the area where Hemingway, Orwell, and Joyce once lived. I enjoyed our room (one of the larger ones) there--it was very prettily decorated with a view of the Pantheon. The hotel's “sister” hotel next door is Hotel des Grand Hommes
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
at which I’ve never stayed.
3)In the 6th but close to the 15th is the Best Western Hotel Aramis Saint-Germaine
http://www.paris-paris.com/hotel_ara...nt-germain.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
We accidentally ended up here one time because of a last-minute travel change. It’s on a trafficky street and therefore doesn't have the charm of others I've listed. That said, it’s close to two metro lines and is a spit from Bon Marche, the department store with a food area that’s to die for. Its proximity to the Montparnasse station means you can conveniently use the Air France bus to and from CDG. This would not be my first choice of hotels but at the time we stayed, it certainly offered good value.
4)In the 7th, but really close to the 6th is the Hotel de L’Universitie
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
It was OK. One thing in its favor was its proximity to Musee d’Orsay, but there are so many other hotel options and this would not be my choice again.
5)This is not quite Left Bank, but I'll put it in here: On the Ile de St. Louis is the Hotel des Deux Iles. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
This hotel isn’t the most upscale (there’s a sister hotel, “Lutece”, down the street, by the way) and can be overpriced, but if you have never been to Paris, the Ile de St. Louis gives you the feel you thought Paris would be. No metro stop on the island, but there many major line options close by. This is the place from which walking everywhere is a delight.
6)In the 6th is the Hotel Le Regent or sometimes just known as “Le Regent”
http://www.regent-paris-hotel.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
Trip Advisor is listing this as a two-star, and it is not. We have stayed there three times, but I have not stayed there in the past five years. It has an excellent location for a first-time visitor. You can walk to several Metro lines, you are a spit from Notre Dame and the Seine, and you are just around the corner from the Market de Bac, one of the most famous outdoor markets in Paris. My first time there I had a tiny single that was absolutely cute. If you were to book here, though, I’d get a superior room, something we had at our next visit. In-hotel breakfasts are usually a rip-off, but their room-service breakfast that we ordered the day of departure our first time was so good that we repeated the practice for subsequent stays. Again, it could have changed greatly since our last stay.
7)When we stayed at the Hotel Colbert (now the Melia Colbert)in 1999, it was listed as a 3-Star. Trip Advisor is still listing it as such, but I think it is now, post renovation, a 4-Star. Remember: star ratings are based on what services are offered rather than how good a hotel is.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hotel...digoHotel=6708
At the time we stayed there, our superior room was large but a little dingy—this was pre renovation. The location was wonderful. It was tucked into a side street just across from Notre Dame with easy access to Metro. We felt as though we had a secret hotel.
It might be helpful to know what each traveler uses as his hotel priorities in Paris. We try to stay in different neighborhoods. Our preference is for three-star hotels close to metro lines with good beds/linens with ultra clean bathrooms. Decorating and the size of the front lobby are low on our list.
Here's where we stayed:
1)In the 7th a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, Le Relais Bosquet (twice)
http://www.paris-paris.com/hotel_relais_bosquet.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
Nice neighborhood. Not the best metro connections but good bus connections. I don't recommend it to first-time visitors because I think staying closer to Notre Dame, etc. works better. For repeat Paris visitors, I think this is a good hotel and great area. We've had a Superior room and we've enjoyed our stay here.
2)In the 5th, right across from the Pantheon is the Hotel du Pantheon
http://www.paris-paris.com/hotels/qu...eon/visite.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
This is another one I tend to recommend for veteran visitors. It's not far from RER Line B, which means travelling from CDG via rail is very feasible, but otherwise, I don't consider its access to the Seine close enough to the for a "first-timer" recommendation. For a repeat visitor, it's an interesting area. Behind the Pantheon is the area where Hemingway, Orwell, and Joyce once lived. I enjoyed our room (one of the larger ones) there--it was very prettily decorated with a view of the Pantheon. The hotel's “sister” hotel next door is Hotel des Grand Hommes
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
at which I’ve never stayed.
3)In the 6th but close to the 15th is the Best Western Hotel Aramis Saint-Germaine
http://www.paris-paris.com/hotel_ara...nt-germain.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
We accidentally ended up here one time because of a last-minute travel change. It’s on a trafficky street and therefore doesn't have the charm of others I've listed. That said, it’s close to two metro lines and is a spit from Bon Marche, the department store with a food area that’s to die for. Its proximity to the Montparnasse station means you can conveniently use the Air France bus to and from CDG. This would not be my first choice of hotels but at the time we stayed, it certainly offered good value.
4)In the 7th, but really close to the 6th is the Hotel de L’Universitie
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
It was OK. One thing in its favor was its proximity to Musee d’Orsay, but there are so many other hotel options and this would not be my choice again.
5)This is not quite Left Bank, but I'll put it in here: On the Ile de St. Louis is the Hotel des Deux Iles. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
This hotel isn’t the most upscale (there’s a sister hotel, “Lutece”, down the street, by the way) and can be overpriced, but if you have never been to Paris, the Ile de St. Louis gives you the feel you thought Paris would be. No metro stop on the island, but there many major line options close by. This is the place from which walking everywhere is a delight.
6)In the 6th is the Hotel Le Regent or sometimes just known as “Le Regent”
http://www.regent-paris-hotel.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
Trip Advisor is listing this as a two-star, and it is not. We have stayed there three times, but I have not stayed there in the past five years. It has an excellent location for a first-time visitor. You can walk to several Metro lines, you are a spit from Notre Dame and the Seine, and you are just around the corner from the Market de Bac, one of the most famous outdoor markets in Paris. My first time there I had a tiny single that was absolutely cute. If you were to book here, though, I’d get a superior room, something we had at our next visit. In-hotel breakfasts are usually a rip-off, but their room-service breakfast that we ordered the day of departure our first time was so good that we repeated the practice for subsequent stays. Again, it could have changed greatly since our last stay.
7)When we stayed at the Hotel Colbert (now the Melia Colbert)in 1999, it was listed as a 3-Star. Trip Advisor is still listing it as such, but I think it is now, post renovation, a 4-Star. Remember: star ratings are based on what services are offered rather than how good a hotel is.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hotel...digoHotel=6708
At the time we stayed there, our superior room was large but a little dingy—this was pre renovation. The location was wonderful. It was tucked into a side street just across from Notre Dame with easy access to Metro. We felt as though we had a secret hotel.
May 20th, 2009, 08:49 AM
#91
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Check out the Hotel D'Orsay. When we stayed there a few years back we paid about $185 Euros. The rooms are huge- not what you expect for Paris. Its got a fabulous location- right across from the Museum Orsay, one block to the hop on hop off bus, one block to the metro and walking distance to many other sights. The bathroom is modern- although it did not have an electrical outlet (bring an extensiion cord). Separate toliet room. It has a charming old elevator- the cage type where you can fit only 2 people as well as a modern elevator. Staff is very friendly and speaks English.
May 30th, 2009, 06:11 AM
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I have stayed at the Grandes Ecoles several times, but not in the last five years. I loved it. My experience was entirely different. It was family run with the same people at the desk always. The rooms are large and beautiful, but granted without TV (because the clients did not want it). It is important to ask for a room that is not in the main building. I have never stayed in these but I understand they are small and noisy. It is also necessary to book six months in advance. I am interested in hearing other opinions of this hotel. Perhaps there have been changes since I was there
Jun 5th, 2009, 10:46 AM
#96
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In April we stayed at the HOtel D'Aubusson on Rue Dauphine. I believe it was $260EU per night for a superior room including breakfast. Not bad. It was the first time we had stayed on the left bank---something I'd always wanted to do! To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with the room we had. We were on the top floor and although the room was huge and very quiet, it was nothing special esthetically. On the plus side, the staff/service is supurb, the public areas of the hotel were beautiful and the location can't be beat! I felt like we could literally walk everywhere! I think we only rode the metro twice in 4 days.
http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/home-en.php
http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/home-en.php
Jun 5th, 2009, 11:11 AM
#97
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tuscanlifeedit - thanks for your comments on <b>K&K Cayre</b> ( http://www.kkhotels.com/en/hotels/pa...k-hotel-cayre/ ). We ended up staying there for $130/night and were quite happy. The staff was indeed very nice, except for one who was just more reserved. The others went out of their way for us.
The hotel is located 1 minute walk to a metro stop (Rue De Bac), 10 minutes from Blvd St Germain and 10 minutes from The Seine. Blvd Raspail is pretty busy so if the windows are open, it can be noisy at night. A lovely bakery is just around the corner.
The room and bathroom was smallish but had all we needed, including a safe and a closet. There is no air-conditioning but the bathroom floor has radiant heating.
The is a restaurant downstairs that offers a very $$$ breakfast. A "gym" is also on the premises..with a rowing machine and a elliptical rider.
The hotel is located 1 minute walk to a metro stop (Rue De Bac), 10 minutes from Blvd St Germain and 10 minutes from The Seine. Blvd Raspail is pretty busy so if the windows are open, it can be noisy at night. A lovely bakery is just around the corner.
The room and bathroom was smallish but had all we needed, including a safe and a closet. There is no air-conditioning but the bathroom floor has radiant heating.
The is a restaurant downstairs that offers a very $$$ breakfast. A "gym" is also on the premises..with a rowing machine and a elliptical rider.
Jun 10th, 2009, 07:54 PM
#98
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A really beautiful (and expensive) hotel that hasn't been mentioned here so far is the Relais Christine on Rue Christine in the 6th near the Seine (and close to Rue Buci market street). It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. It is perfect for a honeymoon, anniversary, or special occasion. The decor is lovely and the area just can't be beat--very romantic and centrally located. A second hotel that I would stay at again in a heartbeat if I could afford it is the Hotel Relais Saint-Germain on Carrefour de l'Odeon. I haven't stayed there since they added the Comptoir restaurant, but it is easier to get reservations at the restaurant if one is a guest of the hotel. The rooms are large and the family suite I was in even had a private balcony--big enough to sit on and enjoy a meal. I have stayed at the Artus (on Rue Buci) several times and will commend it on its excellent front desk staff. Extremely helpful. I love staying on Rue Buci--full of action and great location.
Jun 15th, 2009, 04:07 AM
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I have stayed at the Hotel Fleurie in the St Germain area and was very happy. The rooms can be small but they are clean and have nice bathrooms for a 3 star hotel. It is very well located although taxis sometimes have a hard time finding it.
