Paris ? Where to stay ?
 

What area is the best to stay in Paris to be close to everything ?

First, get a map of Paris.
Next, look at a guidebook or use "Destinations" on this website.
Determine which sights/sites you are interested in seeing. If you see a 'cluster' of those you could use that as your indicator of where to base.

In fact, most first-time visitors enjoy a hotel in the center arrondissements, espec. 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th. The bus and metro systems are excellent, and the core of Paris is really only a couple of miles in length/breadth.

Here is the Paris "Superthread" with links to many great ideas and frequently-asked questions.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

On my first trip to Paris, I stayed in the 1st arr. - thinking it was the "heart" of Paris, close to the Louvre. I really enjoyed the location, and thought it was perfect.

On my next trip, I stayed in the 7th arr., and really enjoyed the location and thought it was perfect.

I've also stayed in the 8th arr. at a hotel just off the Champs-Elysees, which was a great location.

So now, I don't really care where I stay as long as the hotel is decent and the metro is still operating. If I were forced to chose, I would say the 1st arr. - but only because that was my first trip and so has a special place in my heart.

The center, or heart of Paris, would be the 5th, 6th and 7th, on the left bank. The right bank is fine, but I would pick the 8th over the 1st or 2nd, 3rd or 4th.

Someone recommended Hotel Bleu Marine Montparnasse. It will be my first visit to Paris. Its in the Latin Quarter, I think 14th arrondissement.

Has anyone stayed there? And would you recommend it on my first visit?

There have been numerous posts on this, if you put in "Paris hotels" in the search option, it should pull up a lot of information and tips.

I was there in March and stayed at the Hotel Kensington, Ave de la Bourdonnais, 79 (in the 7th Arr) with a terrific view of the Eiffel Tower across the street. It is close to the much-touted Rue Cler area that Rick Steves raves about, yet did not feel over-crowded or too touristy when I was there. I liked the fact that I was in the 7th Arr and in the middle of everything, within walking distance to Luxembourg Gardens, Ste Germain, etc. My double room was under 80 euros. The hotel is near Rue St. Dominique, the closest Metro is "Ecole Militaire" and the RER "Alma" stop.

I agree with Huitres, the area near Rue Clerc is really good...In this area, I've stayed in Hotel Saint Dominique, a 2 star hotel really nice and clean. The hotel have a little patio and it was great to stay there...
You can see this hotel on http://www.saintdominique.com
Have a good trip!

Hi choc,

That is a very large, International-style hotel at 30-40 Rue du Commandant Mouchotte in the 14th.

You can find it on a map at www.mappy.com.

Website is http://www.webtravel.fr/en/hotel_ble...sse_223359.htm

It might or might not be what you are looking for.

((I))

Hi JS,

There is no "best" area. One either walks or takes public transportation.

What are you looking for in the way of a hotel?

((I))

PS, the Paris Superthread is quite helpful

http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....99&start=0

You will probably get as many opinions as there are Arrondisements. We like the 6th; it is central and, if you are a walker, within walking distance of almost all of the major attractions. Good advice to search the forum for discussions of why people prefer one area or another.

You can't be "close to everything" in any city, Paris included. But Paris is a very compact city in some ways, and it has excellent public transportation. I prefer the 7th arrondissement, but that's primarily out of habit at this point. As others have pointed out, there are a number of arrondissements that could be considered "central" and from which you could easiy get around the city to the major attractions.
Do get yourself a map.

>Do get yourself a map.<

Excellent advice.

Try www.mappy.com, www.viamichelin.com and www.multimap.com

The arrondisements in Paris spiral outwards from the center by number (as you will see on that map you're gonna get real soon!). Personally I would pick something in the 4th thru 7th.

Obviously no place puts you close to everything, but the 7th you'll be near the Eiffle Tower, in the 5th near Luxembourg Gardens and Notre Dame, etc. etc.

Our last trip to Paris we stayed at the Andrea Rivoli a little two star on the edge of the Maurais that we really liked because of the loaction. It is 4 blocks from Notre Dame, 1 block from Hotel De Ville, 2 blocks from the Pompidou and just a few blocks from the Louvre. It has an elevator, it was clean and not too cramped. The price was right too, it was E84 for a double.

A friend sent over about these hotels.

http://www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/index.html

Has anyone stayed there? Would you recommend it on your first time to Paris?

I saw it on one of the threads too. But, I didn't see any comment on how it was.

Anyone???

No, I wouldn't recommend it for a first trip to Paris, because none of the Etap locations in or near Paris are in a convenient area for first-time tourists.

Thank you Willtravel.

What about the ibis hotels?

Or any recommendations???

I've stayed in Ibis hotels many times in Paris -- at the Porte d'Italie, the Porte d'Orleans, and at the airport at Roissy -- and they have been fine. But you need to find one in the middle of the city (if there is one) unless you already know Paris very well or have a car (I live in France and have a car).

Most visitors would prefer to be in the center of the city in a locally run hotel rather than in a big chain hotel on the edge of Paris.

I've found Ibis kinda depressing. Unlike the French chains, Best Westerns are locally owned and run, not cookie-cutter. You might try their website.

A site I use a lot is www.france.com. You can put in your area (St. Germain, Invalides, etc.) and price range and even check availability for a number of hotels. Good descriptions and lots of client comments. I've booked through them several times and always been quite satisfied.

There are a lot of IBIS hotels in the city-center, not just out at the periphique. They're known to be basic rooms but consistently acceptable for a budget hotel.
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/index.html
Ibis Bastille Opera 75-94€
15, rue Breguet 75011
Tel. : (+33)1/49292020 Fax : (+33)1/49292030

Ibis Paris République 10e 72-84€
9, rue Leon Jouhaux 75010
Tel. : (+33)1/42404050 Fax : (+33)1/42401112

Ibis Grands Boulevards Opera 89-95€
38 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre 75009
Tel. : (+33)1/45230127 Fax : (+33)1/48000446

Ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne 75-90€
2, rue Cambronne 75015
Tel. : (+33)1/40612121 Fax : (+33)1/40612299

When I'm in Paris, the hotel is a place to sleep and take a bath. Period. As long as the bed is comfortable, the room is clean, and the water is hot, I'm fine. That's my perspective.

Ibis hotels are relatively comfortable, but not very charming. The one at the Porte d'Italie in Paris is a particularly good value.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It's just that the hotels are a little different than North Amerrica. I'll do more research and make a decision soon. Since I'll be in Paris in 2 weeks.

I welcome good budget hotel recommendations (3*) for a first time visit.

Thanks.

A 3-star hotel, if that's what you meant, doesn't really qualify as budget accommodations in France.

What does a 3* accommodation mean in Paris?

I saw 2 travel agents:

one recommended the Hotel Bleu Marine Montparnasse. She stayed there.

The other recommended the Abaca Messidor on 330 rue de vaugirard. Because she had stayed there one time.

Thoughts please....

Here's what a French web site says about the hotel rating system in France:

**** Hôtel de très grand confort

*** Hôtel de grand tourisme, grand confort

** Hôtel de tourisme, bon confort

* Hôtel de moyen tourisme

Popular Paris hotels like the Muguet in the 7th arrondissement have two stars (**). Ibis and Kyriad (generic) hotel are also **. In a ** hotel you would expect to have an elevator, a private bathroom with tub or shower, a private-line phone in the room, and a TV. You can expect to pay from 80 to 120 € a night.

Three-star establishments have rooms starting in the 150 € range, I believe. That's close to $200 a night.

This is the hotel I often stay at in the 7th - www.hoteldefrance.com - 72 euros a night for a very comfortable mattress, modicum of charm, very convenient to the tourist attractions, lots of wonderful cafés and restaurants nearby, friendly helpful staff.

On your recommendation, I stayed at the Hotel de France once, in early 2003, and thought it was very nice. I can recommend it too.

Hi JerseySue,

in central Paris (arrondissements 1-20) you are close to everything, if you use the metro underground system. So you will find other criteria to choose your hotel, maybe prize or luxury you want not to miss.

I prefer the 9th arrondissement, the faubourg montmartre (this is not the montmartre hill but rue lafayette/rue du faubourg montmartre area, metro station cadet or poissoniere). There you find a range of prizeworthy 2-star and 3-star hotels, in addition on rue lafayette and rue du faubourg montmartre shops for your covenience. on rue cadet you will find an outdoor market.

as a highlight, there are two passages linking rue du faubourg montmartre (passage verdeau and passage jouffroy) with the grands boulevards, and when you cross boulevard, you find the passage aux panoramas. if you like to walk, you can stroll to opera garnier and galeries lafayette. you can walk on rue montmartre from the grands boulevards to st. eustache church besides the former halles.

in my opinion, faubourg montmartre is as parisian as quartier latin or st. germain des pres, maybe even more.

enjoy your stay in Paris.

St Cirq, where on La Tour Maubourg is Hotel de France (cross street?)? I'm assuming it's near avenue de Tourville since it lists its Metro as Ecole Militaire.

The Hotel de France is just a few steps off either the Ave. de Tourville or the Ave. Duquesne, on Bd. de la Tour-Maubourg.

Web site is www.hoteldefrance.com

I'm going next saturday. And with all these recommendations I can't seem to make a decision.

Go ahead and try booking at Hotel de France. Several people have stayed there with favorable results, and it is central enough.
If you can't get in there, then try "AisleSeat" 's rec of Hotel Andrea Rivoli, then Huitres' Hotel Kensington and so on...
You have some recommendations here, and your Paris arrival is around the corner - just book something <i>now</i>.

Travelnut, just wanted to confirm that it is this one.

H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides

102, boulevard de La-Tour-Maubourg 75007 Paris
Subway: Ecole Militaire
Tel: +33 1 47 05 40 49 - Fax: +33 1 45 56 96 78

yep, that's the inexpensive one St Cirq recommends (often)...

I could swear I'd seen a website for them, but evidently they book thru this one:
http://www.hoteldefrance.com/

Thanks Travelnut, I got confirmation from the hotel for my stay this morning.

I would like to take the metro to the hotel. If so, can someone give me directions to the H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides from CDG. Thx.

Or should I take the shuttle? If so, does anyone has the number I should call?

Hi JS,

&gt;can someone give me directions to the H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides from CDG.&lt;

Go to can someone give me directions to the H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides from CDG.

Enter &quot;aeroport cdg&quot; and &quot;hotel address, Paris&quot;. You will directions.

For shuttles, see www.beeshuttle.com and www.parishuttle.com.

I will be going back to Paris in April, for the third time in the past 13 months. I love the 7th and the Hotel Grand Leveque is GREAT! It is on Rue Cler which is a pedistrian only street. There are lovely little shops and it is just charming. It is within walking distance of the Tower, has excellent restaurants and is sure to give you a true Parisian experince. I love that hotel!!!! Make sure you go to the Cafe Du Marche, excellent food at very reasonable prices!!!

CDG-Terminal 1: take the green shuttle to the RER station
CDG-Terminal 2: walk to the RER station
Buy a ticket (about 8&euro;) and take RER-B into Paris. Get off RER at Gare du Nord, take Metro line 4 (Direction Porte d'Orleans) and get off at Strasbourg St Denis. Change to Metro line 8 (Direction Balard) and get off at Ecole Militaire.
For twice as much $, use a shuttle...

Merci, everyone.

I think I will take the shuttle. All that tranferring with the metro will be a hassle with luggage.

Should I reserve now for the shuttle. Or a few days before I leave?