quiet Paris hotel for around $300-400?
 

We're in our 70's and relish peace and quiet at night. Would like hotel to be in safe, handsome area, with pleasant streets to stroll (not interested in shopping at all). Don't need "elegant," but do appreciate decent-sized rooms (with good sound-proofing and good bed), and not-tiny bathrooms.
Would welcome suggestions in our price range. (Haven't been to Paris since my early 20's, so not even sure which arrondissement would be best for us.)
Thanks very much.

poss,
We love the classy and very quiet Hotel de Varenne on an elegant, quite handsome street in a posh area of the 7th. The entrance is via a lovely courtyard where breakfast and drinks are served in warm weather. It feels secluded from the moment you walk in and exudes tranquility. And it's family-run with a loyal, repeat clientele.

Their deluxe doubles, which are *quite* spacious by Paris (or even American) standards, start at €207(=€318) and go up to €227(=€345).
The updated marble baths are also spacious by Parisian standards and have separate WC. Classic decor, flat screen TV, great continental breakfasts served on fine china. It's a refined little place. But very popular, so must book well in advance.

Winter and summer special breaks bring the rate down to €187.

www.hotel-de-varenne.com

My parents, my 16 yr old son and my husband and I stayed at Hotel Henri IV on rue de Saint Jacques in the 5th. My parents had a double in the front of the hotel and had no issues with noise. We had a triple in the interior of the hotel and it was very quiet. The hotel itself was very nice (without being over the top) and it's about a block from the Seine. The price was very affordable, I thought. You can put in the hotel name in the search field above and find lots of positive reviews. Check it out:

http://www.henri-paris-hotel.com/

We have dear friends (in their 60s-70s) who always stay at the Henri IV. They love it and just don't want to stay anywhere else.

Unfortunately, at that price, you will not see "American" size rooms or large bathrooms. However, a charming hotel is Hotel de l'Abbaye, located in the 6th not far from Place St. Sulpice. See their website.

www.hotelabbayeparis.com

The Hotel Henri IV's rooms are quite large, as well as the bathroom. There is a closet on wither side of the bed. If you get a triple room you will even have a daybed against the wall as you enter, then up a few steps to the bedroom.

I should be a far better proofreader. Make that $318 and $345.

Other friends love the suites and duplex apartments at the Hotel de l'Abbaye, but they are well beyond your budget, I think. They tell us that the standard doubles there are a bit compact in size.

Please take a look at the Hotel Luxembourg Parc, a 4 star hotel located across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens. It is a wonderful boutique hotel with lovely rooms and bathrooms. Small bar and salon as well. I have stayed there and you cannot beat it for ambiance as well as location. www.luxembourg-paris-hotel.com

Thanks so much for such prompt and detailed information. I will absolutely check these hotels. I forgot to mention, by the way, that since we sleep in a king at home, and are very restless (and poor) sleepers, we'd need to find accommodations either that have king bed (a rarity in Europe no doubt, at least in our price range) or we'd need separate beds (which is do-able, but way less pleasant).
Thank you!

I would say, in case it helps, that king size beds are not such a rarity in business-oriented hotels.
I understand this is not the kind of hotels you are looking for, but it doesn't hurt to check them if nothing better is available, I think you can find something good in your price range.

I think the rooms look very nice at this new hotel (in article from Feb08 Paris Notes)...

http://www.hotel-st-vincent.com/

Many "king" beds in Europe are actually two twin beds on the same frame, with separate sheets but one bedspread. The poster Rex B. once went on a quest to get a Paris hotel with "real" king beds, and had limited success.

Poss:

... after our stay a year ago, we are quite partial to the Hotel Duo on the corner of Verrarie and Rue du Temple, one block from the City Hall (Hotel de Ville), two blocks from the Pompidou, and on the fringe of the popular Marais. Rue de Rivoli is one block away, and its an easy walk to Notre Dame and to Ile St. Louis. Rooms are good sized, as are the bathrooms.

Modern, recently re-designed decor, lift and on site breakfast.

Rates today are about 250€.

stu t.

I also suggest Henri IV. The location can't be beat. Room 403 will be quiet (no street noise)and will meet your needs. Nice to hear the bells of Notre Dame when you open the windows.

Sebina

Also note that a queen size in us terms is a king in europe terms while a king is either unknown or has a name like "super king"

wow...a king in the States is bigger than 2 metres ? I think there is no room in Europe which could have such a bed inside :))

Thanks so much for the further input. I am making notes, checking and cross-checking.
Question: What about the sounds from nearby churches? I imagine that many travelers would enjoy the sound of bells or chimes-- part of the ambience, etc. But we were across from a wonderful church once in Barcelona and despite the superb views, we were miserable during our stay: just didn't appreciate the "noise." Can such sounds be heard inside the rooms of the mentioned hotels?
Thanks again.

poss:

at the Hotel Duo we did not notice any unusual sounds..no churches in the vicinty..no street noise either.

Stu T.

Try the Hotel Le Madison, in the 6th and opposite the church of St-Germain-des-Près. The windows are double-glazed; so rooms are very quiet, especially the ones on the inside. Twin-bedded rooms are the largest.

I'm not sure whether you can book it within the $300-$400 range, but Hotel Villa D'Estrees has king sized beds in the rooms, and we found it to be very quiet. I believe we paid approximately $350/nt when we went in October 2005, booking the room as a package with our plane ticket through expedia. The hotel website shows rates at 350 Euros now, which would be above your range. My husband and I loved the hotel; much more space than we had in the hotel we tried on our first trip to Paris. Wed would stay there on our next trip to Paris (May) but we're renting an apartment this time to save $.

It is in the left bank, just a few blocks from the Seine.

http://www.hotelvilladestreesparis.com/

Correction--I just scrolled down on the villa d'estrees website, and their 'best internet rates' start at 185E, so this may be within your preferred budget.

Hi Maribel, You cannot imagine how happy I am with your positive report on the Varenne hotel.
I have made reservations only yesterday for my daughter and her family ( 3 children),a double standard and a superior double plus and extra bed for 30 resulted in 404 euros. THis is for Sep. I did not dare to ask for a better price because I know Sep is high season there...
I am so glad you approve, where did you have breakfast , where did you eat nearby. Any suggestions will be highly appreciate , their children are 12,9 and 6 but eat everything and are bien eleves...

We stayed at the Victoria Palace Hotel.
http://www.victoriapalace.com/

The rooms are quite large and very quiet. The hotel is on a side street off Rue de Rennes in the 7th. We love the hotel and the people who run it. It is two blocks to the bus stop and 3 blocks to the metro. But we walked everywhere, One of the young women at the front desk recommended that we walk on the Cherche-Midi all the way to the Seine. It was delightful!

Hi Graziella,
We just love the Varenne. We sometimes eat breakfast in the hotel (when during the winter it's been included in the room rate). At other times, we walk to the end of rue de Borgongne, turn right, pass the Musée Rodin, then left down the Boulevard des Invalides to the café across the street from les Invalides.

Our favorite rooms at the Varenne are the interior 38 (dormer) with *very* large double bed and 42, street-side, both quite large by Paris standards.

For dinner, these are our favorite haunts in the 7th:

L'Affriolé on 17, rue Malar

Le Clos des Gourmets: 17 avenue Rapp

Le Florimond: 19 la Motte Picquet

Au Bon Accueil: 14 rue de Monttessuy

Bellota-Bellota: 18 rue Jean-Nicot

Chez l'Ami Jean: 27 rue Malar

Le Vin de Bellechasse: 20 Bellechasse

Café Constant: 139 rue St. Dominque

La Fontaine de Mars: 129 St. Dominque

Le Maupertu: 94, la Tour-Maubourg

Tante Marguerite, 8 rue de Bourgogne

and we pick up picnic items at the La Grande Épicerie of the Bon Marché.


For anyone considering the
Hotel d l'Abbaye, the ground floor room 4 is more spacious, with twin brass beds, and has a private, courtyard garden.

I've also seen the Victoria Palace-very quiet. The marketing director proudly showed us (jokingly) his "worst room" because he wanted us to see how spacious it was compared to the normal Parisian "closet size"
hotel room. V.P. is also very nice.
Doubles there begin at €332.

May I suggest renting an apartment? They come in different sizes and prices, have most of the creature comforts of home (washer, kitchen for cooking, internet, private bath, etc.) and cost far less than a hotel. We rented from vacationinparis.com -- paid for the room prior to leaving, company is in America, paid in dollars vs euros, key was mailed to us prior to our departure for Europe. There are many prices and locations to chose from. We stayed in the 7th arrondissment, in the Rue Cler area. 6th is nice as well. We wanted to stay away from some of the rowdy areas

One tip: first floor apartments are actually second floor. Not sure what they call the ground floor there, but it isn't what we Americans call them!

Ground floor is street level.

Hello Poss:

May I suggest the Hotel Pont Royal at 7 rue de Montalembert in the 7th:

http://www.hotel-pont-royal.com/

The hotel is about one block from Blvd. St. Germain and a few blocks from the Louvre; in other words, a great location.

We stayed there about a year and a half ago; the room was luxurious and the staff was terrific. Nice bar in the lobby and adjacent to Joel Robuchon's L'Atelier restaurant if you like that sort of thing. We found the food to be great but the setting a bit unconventional.

The hotel is right on the crossroads of about 3 bus lines so public transport is convenient. A great stay. Oh yes, it's denominated a 4 star.
Good luck. Gradyghost

Yes but the Pont Royal's rooms begin at about 400 Euro and, therefore, are too expensive for the OP.

Maribel,

Thank you for the tip on the Hotel Varenne; I will file this away for a future trip. I don't remember ever staying in the 7th so perhaps that should be the base on the next trip.

You're right eks. How could I confuse a dollar with a euro? Anyway, it's a great hotel and meets the OP's description. Next time. Gradyghost

And a good restaurant in the hotel!!

http://www.paris-hotel-saintgregoire...s/rooms_1.html

This is a gorgeous hotel in St Germain des Pres and very reasonably priced!

Eks: Indeed, although the setup is a little offbeat. Gradyghost

You mean the setup at L'Atelier, right? One thing to keep in mind, besides the great food, is that the counter setup makes it is an excellent place for a single diner..

That hotel has a great location, too!

You might consider staying in an apartment that my husband and I just adore--monogrammed linens, great art etc. for about $300pernight.The location near the Musee d'Orsay is a special one. The owner is delightful and helpful and can be reached at www.wewillalwayshaveparis.net
Good Luck!

If you want the "Eiffel Tower" view look at Hotel Duquesne Eiffel and ask for the top floor room on the corner....both windows have a great view of the tower! That's were I'm going (again) in a couple years. So worth money we spent. You're right down the street from Rue Cler where you can get all kinds of great foods!

http://www.duquesneeiffel.com/