Paris...anyone ever stay in the 17th?
Nov 26th, 2005, 08:05 AM
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Paris...anyone ever stay in the 17th?
My family and I will be in Paris in June 2006. I'm looking at the usual suspects of hotels (College de France in the 5th looks promising) but I'm considering a B&B. I think it would offer my family a more authentic 'French experience' to stay with a family than at a tourist hotel.
We're five, so that narrows our options. There's a B&B in the 17th that looks promising. Anyone ever stay there? Is there much going on in the evenings? My children are teenagers and would probably like to see a bit of nightlife...under the careful eye of Dad, of course. I'd rather be within walking distance of my accomodations than worry about catching the last metro should we stay out late.
We're five, so that narrows our options. There's a B&B in the 17th that looks promising. Anyone ever stay there? Is there much going on in the evenings? My children are teenagers and would probably like to see a bit of nightlife...under the careful eye of Dad, of course. I'd rather be within walking distance of my accomodations than worry about catching the last metro should we stay out late.
Nov 26th, 2005, 08:11 AM
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What B & B are you referring to? Can you provide the address?
I prefer the 5th to the 17th as you can explore more on foot.
To me a hotel stay is pretty good and I don't need to stay with a local family to experience a 'French experience'.
I prefer the 5th to the 17th as you can explore more on foot.
To me a hotel stay is pretty good and I don't need to stay with a local family to experience a 'French experience'.
Nov 26th, 2005, 08:40 AM
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The only time I stayed in the 17th was when the organizers for a conference at which I was speaking housed me there. At frst I was a bit put off but it turned out OK - not as convenient as being closer in but no big deal with the Metro. My personal favorite is the Bastille/Marais area, especially with teens.
Nov 26th, 2005, 09:03 AM
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If you put 17th arrondisement (or something similar) in the text search, you'll find many previous threads on the subject. Here's one
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34674763
in which BTilke mentions having stayed in the 17th among many others and perferring the 16th.
Here's another on the 17th
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34546111
and another in which I mention a website jack-travel.com which has some information by arrondisement.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34508491
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34674763
in which BTilke mentions having stayed in the 17th among many others and perferring the 16th.
Here's another on the 17th
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34546111
and another in which I mention a website jack-travel.com which has some information by arrondisement.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34508491
Nov 26th, 2005, 02:05 PM
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The Seventeenth varies a lot in character from one part of the district to another. Too close to Pigalle and it's a bit seedy, close to the Champs and it's very chichi. It all depends on exactly where you'd be.
Nov 28th, 2005, 11:46 AM
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Where in the 17th, and what is the name and address of this B&B? Is it regulated and inspected? As with almost any arrondisement of Paris, it is not homogenous and experience will vary widely depending exactly where in the 17th it is. Things around the location will also vary widely. Now I have a subscription to Zurban and it claims the 17th is one of the new trendy areas, but I dunno about that -- I guess I missed that part. I like parts of it a lot, and it is pleasant, but I don't know about trendy.
If this place is a real B&B, and there are a few now, do not expect the owners to be your buddies or family -- they are just running a business and letting rooms. I read somewhere that the govt. is doing a little more about B&Bs than they used to, such as actually regulating them and having standards (maybe more people need some extra money). I don't know if they have yet, though. They are rare in the city.
If this place is a real B&B, and there are a few now, do not expect the owners to be your buddies or family -- they are just running a business and letting rooms. I read somewhere that the govt. is doing a little more about B&Bs than they used to, such as actually regulating them and having standards (maybe more people need some extra money). I don't know if they have yet, though. They are rare in the city.
Nov 28th, 2005, 02:10 PM
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There are a number of bed and breakfasts in Paris. Alexander Sawday publishes a French bed and breakfast guide with several Paris addresses. I don't know about regulation, I rather doubt it, and no doubt the quality and helpfulness of the hosts varies.
Dec 1st, 2005, 10:28 AM
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Clichy is indeed at the west end of Pigalle. The Brochant Métro stop is halfway up the avenue de Clichy to the northwest. It's a lively neighborhood, but a bit seedy in places, and not exactly a totally French experience, since there are so many non-French ethnicities in that area—although it's also well off the tourist track, and in many ways it is a typical Parisian neighborhood. I would not recommend it for a family with younger kids, but teenagers or older people would be okay, although they might get bored after walking around the area for a while.
However, being in the Latin Quarter would be far better. There's not much to see around the place Clichy <i>except</i> Pigalle (and Montmartre+Sacré-Cœur if you walk to the east). Everything else requires a Métro ride. The Latin Quarter is more lively, more central, and more interesting (but it is also clogged with tourists in many spots).
However, being in the Latin Quarter would be far better. There's not much to see around the place Clichy <i>except</i> Pigalle (and Montmartre+Sacré-Cœur if you walk to the east). Everything else requires a Métro ride. The Latin Quarter is more lively, more central, and more interesting (but it is also clogged with tourists in many spots).
Dec 1st, 2005, 10:29 AM
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There is a B&B association that is a member of the Paris Tourist Office, and is mentioned on their website. They do have ratings and are inspected, so I would feel more comfortable with them than some other way of finding a B&B. I'm not really a B&B person, anyway, though, but at least if you had problems, you could report them to the Tourist Office or association (I don't think it's an official govt. assn, but more like Logis de France or some consortium like that).
That organization is at www.bedbreak.com
As for Brochant metro stop, yes, I've been in that area, it is a nice neighborhood. There is nothing wrong with it, and Square des Batignolles, a lovely park, is only a couple blocks away. There are lots of nice small shops around there, it's just a nice moderate residential area, diverse population. Rue des Moines is a good market street -- there is a good cheese shop on it (Fromagerie des Moines at 47), and an excellent bakery is Laurent Conant on rue des Batignolles. Rue Brochant is also a good street for shops.
There is nightlife around there. I don't know it well, but Le Zinc Cafe is one place (32 rue des Moines) and it has jazz, plus I think maybe some other kind of music sometimes. you can try the URL, I can't get it to work right now www.lezinc.fr
I don't know that I'd want to stay there as a tourist, though. I'm not sure about metro connections, I think they can be more scarce in the evening on that line, you just might wait longer. I'm not sure of that, it's just kind of far out. Of course, you say you don't want to be out at night, anyway.
In short, if the goal is a "real" middle class Parisian neighborhood that is pleasant and has shops and some places to go, this would fit the bill. I think it would be a good choice for that. It's just a little far out for some.
That organization is at www.bedbreak.com
As for Brochant metro stop, yes, I've been in that area, it is a nice neighborhood. There is nothing wrong with it, and Square des Batignolles, a lovely park, is only a couple blocks away. There are lots of nice small shops around there, it's just a nice moderate residential area, diverse population. Rue des Moines is a good market street -- there is a good cheese shop on it (Fromagerie des Moines at 47), and an excellent bakery is Laurent Conant on rue des Batignolles. Rue Brochant is also a good street for shops.
There is nightlife around there. I don't know it well, but Le Zinc Cafe is one place (32 rue des Moines) and it has jazz, plus I think maybe some other kind of music sometimes. you can try the URL, I can't get it to work right now www.lezinc.fr
I don't know that I'd want to stay there as a tourist, though. I'm not sure about metro connections, I think they can be more scarce in the evening on that line, you just might wait longer. I'm not sure of that, it's just kind of far out. Of course, you say you don't want to be out at night, anyway.
In short, if the goal is a "real" middle class Parisian neighborhood that is pleasant and has shops and some places to go, this would fit the bill. I think it would be a good choice for that. It's just a little far out for some.
Dec 2nd, 2005, 06:59 PM
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We stayed in the 17th in October and loved it. It was much more quieter than the 6th or Marais. we actually stayed closer in, near the Wagram metro stop. there are many cafes, bakeies, and shops in the area, close walk to the Arc de Triomph, (sp?) and withing walking distance to the Opera district and its nearby shopping stores such at Printempts. Easy meto access. The sidewalks are wide, the noise level much more tolerable, mom's and kids everywhere instead of tourists. We are looking forward to a return visit to the 17th. We love the Hotel Ampere, but there are many places to stay in the area not so well known to tourists. Everything in Paris is within easy reach via the metro. But in the 17th, you can walk the streets at any time without worry. Something to consider on your way back to your room at the end of the night. Also-easy to find the perfect breakfast spot.
Dec 3rd, 2005, 03:01 AM
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Have you considered renting an apartment? We went with a family of 5 and just the two of us and have stayed 3 visits in apartments, each time a different one. We wouldn't want to visit any other way now. We like the marais and so did our grown kids (20's). We go again this spring and are staying in yet another apartment, but still in the marais. I am not a B&B person and like the comfort and privacy of an apartment.
Dec 3rd, 2005, 07:11 AM
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I live near the Brochant metro, and I confirm Christina's comments. The Batignolles area is a pleasant neighborhood, and it's not part of Pigalle. For nightlife, there are a few trendy bars within wallking distance, but no clubs or discos.
The disadvantage is the transport connections: this metro line is a little slow and can be crowded. You can connect to the line 14 at St. Lazare and be at Chatelet very quickly, and with other transfers I get can pretty much anywhere in the city in 45 minutes. There are also buses that go direct to Opera, Hotel de Ville, and Etoile.
The disadvantage is the transport connections: this metro line is a little slow and can be crowded. You can connect to the line 14 at St. Lazare and be at Chatelet very quickly, and with other transfers I get can pretty much anywhere in the city in 45 minutes. There are also buses that go direct to Opera, Hotel de Ville, and Etoile.
