Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip Report Six Nights (and days) in the Marais

My husband and I recently spent six nights at the Hotel Jeanne d'Arc on rue de Jarente in the Marais, which is situated between rue de Sevigny and rue de Turenne. Overall, we had a very good experience, and I would consider staying there again.

This tasteful, attractive, and snug, little hotel offers a number of pluses--especially for travelers wishing for ready access to all of the delights of the Marais and nearby sites. The visual appeal begins with exterior holiday decorations, which are festive and beautiful, but not the least bit overdone.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: The HJd'A cannot be beat if you are interested in spending time in the Marais, Place Vosges, the Ile de la Cite, etc. The weather was very nice--although a bit chilly, we dressed warmly--and we walked along the Seine to the Louvre, to the Musee de l'Orangerie, and to the Musee d'Orsay, as well as to the Christmas Market and other destinations, most of which were over two miles. We love taking long walks, and these strolls along the Seine were as memorable as our visits to museums, cathedrals, and outdoor markets.

COMFORT: Beds are very, very comfortable, and the room was immaculate. The windows are double-paned, and block out most exterior noise. We slept VERY well, which is essential for us. (We stay very active during the day, and rely on a good night's sleep to recharge) The dimensions of the room are pretty snug, however, and the bed fills most of the room. If you require space to spread out or if you like to spend a lot of time in your room, this is probably NOT the hotel for you. We found the armoir to be large enough to accommodate almost all of our belongings, and the small desk in the room and bedside tables offered convenient surfaces for writing and distributing the stacks of books that we inevitably manage to accumulate. There's a lovely, big window that let in a lot of daylight, however, after dark, in-room lighting could have been a bit better. The bathroom was nicely appointed with high-end fixtures (e.g. Grohe), but the shower stall was small. Towel bars were needed as well.

STAFF: To a person, they were all extremely accommodating and cordial. We found them to be very welcoming, and helpful. They gladly answered questions and offered suggestions for restaurants upon request, arranged for taxis, held baggage for a couple of hours after checkout, and made a phone call for me to try to help track down a book I'd lost. Front desk staff were all knowledgeable professionals.

LANGUAGE: The staff spoke English, which was very helpful for me, and they were also happy to converse with my husband, who was keen to practice his French.

RESTAURANTS: There are lots of restaurants nearby, and we didn't have a bad meal while we were staying in the Marais. We truly enjoyed what we ate and/or drank at Les Bougresse (right across the rue from HJd'A), Robert et Louise (on rue Vielle du Temple), Mariage Freres Tea Shop (on rue du Bourgeois Tibourg), Le Petit Bofinger (on rue de la Bastille), and Le Sevigny (near the Musee Picasso at Parc Royal), among other spots.

HINT: HJd'A is currently undergoing rennovation. It might be wise to request a recently renovated room. We had room #35, and we peeked into room #32, which was being cleaned, and that looked quite lovely. Our breakfast of coffee, croissant, baguette, fresh orange juice, and yogurt was provided without charge since their breakfast room was being renovated while we were there. (Expected completion date of the breakfast room is, I believe, by the third week of December.)

NOTE: For solo travelers who are on a budget, minuscule rooms are available offering a single bed and a sliver of a shower. Were I travelling alone and spending my daytime hours out and about, I could be very comfy in one of the singles.

http://hoteljeannedarc.com