As someone who has never been to Paris I really appreciate your discussions about ARR's, the details of why you like them and where you stayed. Just can't get this in a travel book.

jody, I forget, where did you stay this last time? ((F)) S~

Keren, was it the Riviera that you left b/c it was in a noisy area?...

Other than our first trip to Paris when we stayed just off Champs Elysees, because we thought you were "supposed" to, we've always stayed in the 6th, or just into the 5th from the 6th. Next summer we're looking at an apartment on Rue du Bourg Tibourg, on the edge of the Marais. We have been finding ourselves venturing more and more into the Bastille, Republic, and Marais areas although we still love the 6th. But we rarely go much south of where we stay. Since we tend to walk almost everywhere, this "new" location would actually be much more central to our favorite haunts -- walking distance not only to our favorites in the 6th, but to our newer favorites in those other more northern locations as well. We'll see.

I vote for variety too!

What I do dislike about different locations is the "learning curve" that must be overcome. By the time it is time to leave, I always know the location of the closest grocery store, best bakery, short cut to the metro, etc. I wish I could have that knowledge instantly for any hotel.

I have never stayed at the same place in Paris twice, although I am considering an apartment in the same building I rented this year for next year's stay. I have stayed twice in the Latin Quarter, once in an apartment and once at the Familia Hotel. So far that is my favorite area. Great metro connections, lots and lots of restaurants of all varieties and price ranges, young and informal student atmosphere, interesting book and record shops, bars, music.

I stayed once at the Grand Hotel des Balcons in the 6th arrondissement several years ago and really liked the area there also. When I took my husband around St. Germain on our last trip to visit some favorite shops, though, he didn't like the area as much as the Latin Quarter. Too upscale, less fun, I think was his opinion.

We stayed at an apartment in the 3rd arrondissement two years ago and had a great time there too, really enjoyed the Marais.

And I stayed once at the Hotel Waldorf Montparnasse for a weekend with my daughter and enjoyed the great variety of entertainment and shopping and fantastic metro connections.

Haven't had a bad time yet. There are other neighborhoods that sound intriguing, but this time I am feeling a real pull to go back to the Latin Quarter, especially since I am going with my husband and he liked it so much.

Apartments work best for my husband and me when we have more than a couple days because of the extra space and privacy. It's not so much the kitchen, although that is nice, as the furniture to relax on besides the bed, and the room to retreat to when one is awake and the other asleep, as seems to happen to us often. If I'm just traveling with my daughter, we will use a hotel room. We seem to be more on the same sleep schedule.

Mingtsainy, as for how we keep going to Paris, I discovered a few years ago, after yearning for European trips for years, well for decades, that such trips were no more expensive than the family vacations we had been taking to Florida over the winter vacation. So once the kids got old enough to be more interested in Europe than Florida also (with more than a little urging on my part) we gave up the Florida trip and replaced it with Europe, sometimes just Paris, sometimes other places, sometimes a little of each.

Scarlett..the last 6 trips we've stayed at the du Danube! We have a favorite room and we are welcomed by name and have a great time with the staff! One of them lived here for several years, we have mutual friends and correspond frequently!We do love some of the other places we've stayed in the neighborhood but for now ..we are returnees to the danube, mainly because the price is right for us!

We like to hop around a bit, although I think that there may come a day when we find "our" quartier and "our" hotel. In the meantime, checking everything out is enlightening and lots of fun.

In my first trip to Paris with my husband (he had never been; I hadn't been there since I was a student, when I stayed in the 9th), we stayed in the 18th (Montmartre) at my husband's request. Although we liked it a lot, we had never returned, either to visit or to stay. Just too many other places to see, I guess.

So when we were planning this year's trip, I asked DH where he'd like to stay and he said, "Let's go back to Montmartre--that was my favorite neighborhood in Paris".

Our favorite hotels have not necessarily been in our favorite neighborhoods and vice versa. Our favorites to date are Hotel de Banville in the 17th and Hotel le Ste Beuve in the bottom of the 6th (feels more like Montparnasse than St. Germain down there).

We've also stayed at two hotels in the 5th, one in the 7th, one in the 4th, and one in the 14th. We've not stayed in the 16th yet, but will probaly do so on one of our next trips. Someday I'd like to stay in the heart of St. Germain too--maybe at Ira's beloved Bonaparte.

Oh--I'd also like to stay on the Ile St. Louis. One of my dream locations to stay is the Place Dauphine, but as long as the Henri IV is the only hotel there, it's probably not going to happen .

jody, I thought you stayed at the Danube but then when you said large rooms, I thought perhaps you had tried somewhere else. Our room in the Danube was nice sized as well, with the candelabra over the bed :D and big armoir and two windows. It is a charming hotel.
moldy- that was sort of a problem for us this past trip. We were learning our way around the 7th and then it was time to leave, the day we spent in the 6th was familiar and felt like coming home..
Patrick, how long are your stays in Paris? I would consider an apt again only if we get to go for 2 or more weeks. :D

We have only been to Paris 2 times and I am currently planning a trip for this September to include Paris. But I can say that with a few trips under our globe trotting belt, we are creatures of habit.
The first trip to Paris in 2002 we (myself & husband) stayed in a hostel in the 11th ARR, very clean , safe, accommodating staff and great price. This was the best choice for this time as it was an 18 day trip, this saved us money for other days in B&B’s in Alsace and the Loire Valley.
Last year, our second time to Paris, we took out 13 year old and chose an apartment which was in the 5th ARR. Great bargain and perfect location for all sightseeing.
This year, we chose to return to our apartment but it will not be available for 1 of the nights we will be there, so we are going to return to that hostel for 1 night, our son will get a kick out of it, and stay the remaining 4 nights in the apartment.
I find it easier to return as you will know the area for things such as Markets, laundry mats and cyber cafes. Also that perfect place for espresso in the mornings!

"checking everything out is enlightening and lots of fun."
I agree, Elle. I'll let you know how the Hôtel Henri IV goes but my expectations are NOT high. :) But it'll make this upcoming trip affordable. Who knows, I may even be able to swing dinner at Le Jules Verne.

Nikki, I think you come up as one of the winners for staying in more arrondissements than anyone so far! Good for you!

<i>By the time it is time to leave, I always know the location of the closest grocery store, best bakery, short cut to the metro, etc. I wish I could have that knowledge instantly for any hotel.</i>
Moldy, I get obsessive &amp; check everything out via Pages Jaunes before I go - it does help with the learning curve - ALTHOUGH, it is always much more fun discovering the shortcuts once I'm there. Pages Jaunes can't really give you the ambience of a place. :)

Scarlett..what was &quot;Moldy&quot;..your apartment? I have a serious mold and pollen and airborne anything allergy!I've never had a problem with Verneuil, Danube, Millesime.d'Angleterre ...We found a great apt. in the 7th but I don't know if I want to do housekeeping!

jody, I think Scarlett was addressing the poster &quot;moldyhotelsaregross&quot; (can't argue there!).

Great thread, by the way.

lol, thanks Joc, yes, Jody, I meant Moldy the poster.
The Paris Perfect Apt was spotless, smelled good and sparkled..no mold :D

I've stayed in a half dozen different places from Montmartre to Montparnasse and points in between. We've used a number of hotels more than once. I tend most toward the areas around Nation and Republique because they provide great value and they don't seem quite so dominated by tourism.

&lt;&lt;Author: jody
Date: 05/08/2005, 09:07 pm
Scarlett..what was &quot;Moldy&quot;..your apartment? &gt;&gt;

The moldy hotel was in Texas and my commentary about it was my first here at Fodor's. Thus my silly name. :)

As long as everyone refers to you as Moldy and not Gross LOL

Author: Scarlett
Date: 05/08/2005, 10:32 pm
As long as everyone refers to you as Moldy and not Gross LOL

It has made it easy to do a &quot;vanity search&quot; around here! No confusion with the names of others!!

Scarlet asked how long are our stays in Paris. Well, a week does always seem short. We've stayed two weeks a couple times. Last summer we stayed 12 nights (because the owner of the apartment gives a discount when it is for 12 or more nights). Our tentative schedule for next summer allows for 12 nights in Paris also.

Thanks Patrick.
I realized today that pretty soon, it will be a much more expensive and long trip for us to go to Europe. Now I am thinking more along the lines of Asia :)