Since I want to use Marriott points for a category 5 hotel, I have to choose among Courtyard St. Denis and Renaissance La Defense.

Which one is a better neighborhood? I am traveling solo.

I have stayed in La Defense on business a few times. Its like staying in Canary Wharf London - a souless business town full of high rises. It was fine and had good links to Paris central. I'd have no problems staying there if it was for free.

St. Denis: I have only visited the Cathedral (this year) and the area around it was rather skanky. I would definitely not stay THERE, but I don't know the area where the Courtyard is located. I am sure the Parisians will and can advise.

Personally, as a single female traveler, I would probably choose La Defense. There is some interesting 1970s arcitecture.

Better neighborhood for what?
If you are going to see soccer games, St. Denis location is a "better location."
The La Defense is very convenient transport hub to all kinds of directions.
Just look around using google map. The St. Denis location is a blah modern location without much of anything else. La Defense is a modern business district.

Depending on when you are traveling, you might also consider saving your points and find pleasant and surprisingly affordable accommodations smack in the middle of Paris surrounded by more interesting restaurants, cafes, patisseries, etc. This, of course, depends on what you are looking for in Paris and how many times you have been there before or will be after.

Not sure courtyard Saint Denis means Saint Denis in the 93.
Check the full address. If zip code starts with 93 drop it.
I've stayed numerous times in La defense and remember one- two nights when I didn't want to hang myself.

Why not save the points for another city some other time and pay for a hotel in a neighborhood you'll enjoy. I'm not one who thinks a hotel is just a place to sleep and want to enjoy it as my home while I'm there, including liking what I see when I step out the door. Paris isn't a horribly expensive city, all things relative.

For a category 5 stay - head to
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...esort-and-spa/

Now THAT's a sure hotel deal!!


I'd pay to stay in Paris proper, especially if this is your first trip.

Also, if you think you might want to go back to hotel mid day for a rest and then back out, that gets to be a PITA very fast if you aren't IN Paris.

>I've stayed numerous times in La defense and remember one- two nights when I didn't want to hang myself.<

Its NOT that bad Whathello! I stayed numerous nights in similar places on business, all over the bloody world, even in Belgium (Antwerp every two weeks for 6 months)! as long as you are within a taxi or train ride of somewhere wonderful, you are OK!


But point taken. Susan, are there any other options?

If not, still think La Defence is acceptable. And u will not want to hang yourslef.

La Defense is an interesting place to visit if you are interested in modern architecture. But staying there wouldn't be that great. For free -- sure . . . IF it is a case where the trip doesn't happen unless you get the free accommodation. Paris based in La Defense is better than no Paris at all. But if you can afford to stay elsewhere and save the points for another trip/another time - that is what I'd do.

But as mentioned - the transport links are decent, so if it is La Defense or nothing, take La Defense.

La Defense is fairly convenient as it isn't really that far by metro/RER into city center. But it would be just a place to sleep, that's all (actually, it's a convenient point to go west, say to visit Malmaison for the day). It's not a "neighborhood", it's a business complex. They do have a nice mall, though, I thought, for shopping.

If it's just to get a cheap hotel and you don't care about doing anything around it, it would be okay.

No way would I stay in St Denis. Lots of crummy neighborhoods (the area around the cathedral is hardly the skankiest part of St Denis) and it's pretty far out anyway, even if it weren't, it's a lot more inconvenient. I wouldn't even consider it.

Wouldn't stay in St Denis, that's for sure. Been out for photoshoots that way a couple of times during the last few months. La Defense: if it's free and there's no other option and I'm strapped for cash and have no other viable way of getting to Paris: why not.

I would not stay in St. Denis or La Defense unless I absolutely could not afford to stay anywhere else in Paris. I have admonished my husband that even if the hotel is "5-star" if it is not in a convenient location, I'm not interested! I think it is much more important to stay in a neighborhood that will give you the "flavor" of the city. It is nice to be able to walk from your hotel to restaurants and sights. Sure the metro is available, but going back and forth into the city where you really want to be is no way to spend a vacation.

You might consider if it might not be better to stay in a less luxurious hotel in a more central location rather than a luxury hotel in an out of the way place.

St Denis is a "nice" place to visit (daytime) but I wouldn't want to live there.

What category is the Marriott Montparnasse (or they may call it Marriott Left Bank)?

It's a medium-size business class hotel, not much charm but the location beats your other choices hands down.

I just checked courtyard st Denis.
It is close to Carrefour Pleyel.
Slept there several times. Correct area.
I am as enthusiasmed as with La Défense.

I also think you should save your points and stay at a more convenient location.

What about the Meridien Etoile at Porte Maillot - better located and still part of the Marriot group I think. I've stayed there (and Le Jardin de Neuilly a little further on) so agree you dont have to be dead central as long as thr transport links are good, but honestly, I think La Defense is too far.

I would go for La Défense, if only because it has excellent transportation links to everywhere else, even Versailles.

If you have Marriott points can't they be transferred to Starwood. Now that they've merged? That might give you more options.