Peg

A friend once said "Never underestimate the satisfaction of flogging a dead horse" I'm down to two hotels. One is on Rue Bonaparte at the corner of Place Saint Sulpice and the other is in the Latin Quarter on a quieter cul-de-sac. I am not a club hopper, but am looking for something a little more active than the 7th (stayed there my last two visits)The room rates and amenities are about equal, I just can't decide!! I realise that it is personal preference, but I'd love your comments on these two areas. Many thanks!

Ken

You're right that it's ultimately a personal decision, and you can't go too far wrong with either locale. That said, I'd opt for Saint Germain. It's a bit more upscale and elegant, while retaining the less pretentious Left Bank charm. The perfect place to stroll tree-lined streets and sit in cafes watching the world go by. The Latin Quarter always has a college feel to me, which makes sense given the Sorbonne, but I graduated a while back. But if you do go for Saint Germain, try for a room off the street. Have fun!

Josh

I second Saint Germain. Rue Bonaparte is not too loud, but in close proximity to the bustling Blvd. St. Germain. (I also love Place St. Sulpice...when we stumbled across it for the first time a wedding party had just exited onto the square at twilight & it was sort of "magical". Like Ken said, this area is a bit more upscale than the Latin. Both have lots to do and you will not need to walk far for cafes, bars, and restaurants.

If I was still in my 20s I would say Latin, but since turning 30 I prefer the St. Germain des Pres area. Also, both are an easy walk to each other. Have a great trip.

Caitlin

If the quieter cul-de-sac is Impasse Royer-Collard and the hotel is Jardins du Luxembourg, I recommend both the hotel and the location, which is two blocks from the gardens and right next to the 6e arr.

Sara

I love the Latin Quarter. So many inexpensive restaurants and lots to see and do. Saint Germain is nice, just a little more pricey.

Christina

I think it makes a big difference where the hotel in the Latin Qtr is, as that is a big arrondisement and parts of it are rather inconvenient, although I don't think of any part of St-Germain as being inconvenient. I would choose St-Germain for that reason, generally, it seems to have better metro connections to me and has more restaurants and shops I am interested in, and more going on for adults (too many young kids and riffraff in the Latin Qtr in many places for my taste, not to mention the aggressive touting to tourists and tourists themselves, etc around St-Michel stop). If your hotel pick is by any chance the Agora St-Germain in the 5th, I would def. choose the 6th instead.

Peg

Thanks to all for your input. I'm leaning towards St. Germain. (Christina, My two choices were Hotel Bonaparte and Residence Henri IV. If you have any specific info, I'd love to hear it. You are always a wealth of information! Merci!)

Ben

I vote Latin Quarter for the jazz clubs and restaurants. Plenty to do and easy walk to all places.

anh

We stayed at the Hotel Bonaparte last April 2000 and would recommend it very much, a short walk to metro, a bakery right across the street, place St Sulpice just a few step away and very good place for a snack and a book, jardin de Luxembourg is not too far either.