JBQ

I have stayed at Hotel Francois 1ER off Champs Elysees and I loved it. However, after doing some research I came across Kand K Hotel in Latin Quarter/St. Germain des Pres for $1,000 less for the package - so we considering it.

How does the Latin Quater differ from Champs Elysees? As I have previously posted we will be travelling in early August to celebrate our one year anniverary. Any pros and cons to each would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jenn

Travelnut

Is it the "K and K Cayre" at 4, Boulevard Raspai, in the 7th?

That is listed as a 4-star on Parisby.com (lots of photos).

Most posters here would prefer Left Bank to Right Bank, and don't care for Champs Elysees, so you should be getting encouragement.

Also, good reviews of above hotel on Tripadvisor.com

Christina

I presume that is the hotel, it is just about right next to the Hotel Lutetia, and very near Bon Marche.

I think it's a great area, of course, a real good choice. It isn't really the Latin Quarter IMO.

ira

Hi jb,

If that's the hotel, it is in a good location at the border of the 6th and 7th, about 1 blk from a metro stop.

I would rather stay there than in the Champs Elysee area.

francophile03

Include me in the group that favors staying at the K & K Cayre instead of at the Champs Elysees area.

JBQ

How does the Champs Elysees differ from Latin Quarter/St. Germain? We are both 30, active, enjoy some nightlife, and prefer to stay away from extremely (tacky) tourist areas. So we are trying to find an area and hotel that best suits us. If there are any other suggestions for hotels in the price category as the K and K please let me know.

Any further comments would be useful.
Thanks,Jenn

JBQ

I doubled checked hotel's address and it is the K and K Hotel Cayre at 4 Boulevard Raspil. Thanks, Jenn

francophile03

I'd say the Champs Elysees is considered a 'tacky tourist area'. I won't say that parts of the left bank would not be considered just as tacky (e.g. the streets with Greek restaurants-rue de la Huchette & rue St. Severin). However, the left bank has (in my opinion only) more of what you would call 'sights': Notre Dame, St. Germain, Montparnasse, Ile St. Louis, Marais, etc...There is just so much to do and see on this side of the river. I revisited the Champs Elysees a few months ago and it was not appealing at all--to me that is.

Underhill

The Champs-Elysée is basically the "rich" quarter of Paris, where most of the name stores are located along with the priciest hotels and restaurants. If you look in the red Michelin Guide to Paris you'll see what I mean.

The Latin Quarter is near the Sorbonne, and it is filled with smaller shops (just one big dept. store, Le Bon March&eacute, smaller hotels, and lots and lots of moderately priced restaurants. There are also quite a few clubs, jazz and otherwise, and a plethora of cafés. So IMO, the Latin Quarter is much livlier. It's also close to a number of Paris's major sights and is adjacent to the 7th arrondissement, which is where you find the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides. The area of St-Germain-des-Prés is one of the best parts of the Latin Quarter (which is technically the 5th arrondissement).

Many European board Fodorites think the Latin Quarter and the Left Bank in general are just more interesting than the area around the Champs-Elysée. If you're interested in staying on the Right Bank, the 1st arrondissement has much more to offer than the 8th, which is where the Champs-Elysée is located.

JBQ

After further research I am sold on the 5th. Can anyone recommend a hotel in this specific area for around $200 - $250? I was considering the K+K but I believe its located in the 7th. Thanks, Jenn

Travelnut

K&K Cayre is at the 'head' of blvd Raspail, still considered to be St Germain, arr. not withstanding. It's a very good location, in the area of Musee Rodin, Bon Marche dept store, Musee d'Orsay, Eglise St Germain des Pres, Jardin de Luxembourg, and the Louvre across the Seine. Many excellent restaurants and nice shops/boutiques. Probably a nicer (and slightly more 'upscale' area) than deep Latin Quarter.

elle

JBQ, you'll probably get more responses from people who have favorites in the fifth if you repost and use a very specific header such as "Looking for Latin Quarter hotel, $200-$250 range".

One of the hotels you might like in the 5th is Hotel du Pantheon. Several posters have stayed there (not me), so you could do a search to see their comments.

If you want to be on the Left Bank but are not absolutely wedded to the 5th, you might consider the Hotel le Sainte-Beuve, which is technically in the 6th, but actually closer to the sights and cafes of Montparnasse than St. Germain (although the heart of St. Germain is an easy walk). It's also close to Luxembourg Gardens. Lovely hotel, fits in your price range.

Guenmai

I wouldn't stay near the Champs Elysees.How boring. Have been vacationing in Paris almost annually since the mid 70s and...having tried lots of different areas...have ended up staying in the 6th since around 1981. As far as I'm concerned, comparing the area around the Champs Elysees to the left bank locations is about like comparing apples to (rotten) oranges. I'm a big fan of the left bank! Happy Travels!

Christina

There aren't very many high-end hotels in the 5th, so that does narrow it down considerably. Of course, US$200 isn't as much as it used to be in euro, so some of the 3*s should be in that range. I think the Hotel du Pantheon is a good idea, and perhaps La Tour Notre Dame www.la-tour-notre-dame.com.

There is always the Select Hotel, also, and the Rives de Notre Dame www.rivesdenotredame.com is a 4* right on the Seine that might have some rooms in that range. The Relais Saint-Jacques is another 4* in that area and price range, but I think someone complained on here about that hotel not too long ago. I could be wrong (this is NOT the 2* St Jacques).
www.relais-saint-jacques.com

Lexma90

You'll really enjoy your stay in the 5th arrondisement. We've stayed several times at Hotel le Regent, which is a 3-star; current rates for a deluxe double are 200 Euros, for a small double are 149 Euros. I would say it's nice rather than luxurious, but it works for us. A nearby 4-star hotel is Hotel d'Aubusson; my parents stayed there the last time we visited Paris; their doubles are 270 Euros. It was a fancy hotel, but I felt like I could have been anywhere in the world, not necessarily Paris.

Interestingly enough, while many tourists (or at least the Fodorites) seem to stay in Saint Germain, the last time we were there, we spent a long time at a cafe in Saint Germain on a Friday evening, and didn't hear any English - all the people around us were French. (Maybe all the Americans were having drinks at the inside courtyard at Hotel d'Aubusson.)

Travelnut

Just to clarify the above post, both the d'Aubusson and le Regent are in the <b>6th</b>, not the 5th.

Underhill

A very good hotel in the 5th is Les Rives de Notre-Dame.

polyglot

I stayed in the 8th for a week in November on a quiet street just south of the Champs Elysee (George V Four Seasons) and was very happy with the quiet grace of the neighborhood. But luxury there has its price. Once you get off the touristy Champs Elysee itself, the 8th can be very pleasant. But in general the 8th is more commercial than the charming St Germain (6th and 7th).
On a much smaller budget on previous trips, I've stayed at the Hotel Fleurie in the 6th. Deluxe rooms there are about E250, and are remarkably large for the neighborhood, and luxurious for the price. Friendly and highly recommended.
I think most adults would prefer the more-refined St Germain areas (6th and 7th) over the Latin Quarter 5th, which, while certainly having its charming areas, can also feel rather Animal-House-like.
Just for clarification, the Marais, being north of the river, is on the right bank, not the left, and the islands, being in mid-stream, are neither right bank nor left. But all three are most delightful and should be visited. The Ile St Louis in particular also offers several small hotel possibilities; the exquisite little Hotel de Lutece sits in a quiet corner of paradise.

Guenmai

I totally agree with the above about the 5th/6th/and 7th. And the Hotel de Fleurie, in the 6th, is an excellent choice. Happy Travels!

wanderer

We loved the little hotel we stayed at in Paris - link is below. Right near Luxembourg Gardens, walking distance to everything. 175E for a Classic Double, 215 for a Deluxe Queen. In Saint-Germain-des-Pres. We would definitely go back there.

http://www.closmedicis.com

I'm in the camp that would never stay in Champs Elysees area.