Small Romantic Paris Hotel
 

I am looking for a small romantic hotel or Inn in Paris, possibly overlooking the Seine or Eiffel tower? I am really not looking for a hotel with all the flowered wallpaper and traditional French looks. Something more simple, soft contemporary, peaceful, quaint. Any suggestions?

There have been many posts about the type of hotel you are looking for. You can first do a search in the box above. Other than the info. you provided one of the missing criteria is how much you intend to pay for the hotel room per night. This is probably the most important factor so that others can help you better here.

I am not looking for a budget hotel. Something more luxury...thanks!

You need to be specific. In other words what does 'something more luxury' mean to you in terms of euro??

In general, few Paris hotels overlook the Seine. You may have more luck with an Eiffel Tower view, however, but hotels often won't guarantee a room with a view.

I think the Rives de Notre Dame in the Latin Qtr could fit your criteria. A lot of Parisian hotels that probably consider themselves "quaint" (or that others do) will have traditional looks and maybe flowered something. I don't think of contemporary decor and quaint together, but maybe the Rives de Notre Dame Provencal style would be okay. The Jardins du Luxembourg hotel near Luxembourg Gardens is also a style I might call that, but it's nowhere near having any particular view.

There might be some nice hotels like that over in the 16th with a view of the Tower or in the 7th. Maybe the Hotel du Rond Point de Longchamp could work.

Hi! I can not offer a first hand experience but what about the Montalembert Hotel? Here is a website with some photos & descriptions. The reviews on tripadvisor.com were favorable, and it's not overlooking the Seine, but it's just a few blocks from it. The decor looked sophisticated - no frou-frou to be seen! It's in the 7th and the address is 3 Rue de Montalembert. Here is a website for the hotel:
http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/pa...lembert/l/en/#

The Voltaire overlooks the Seine, but is not that wonderful a hotel..with the view comes the noise.
Wallpaper and traditional French decorating are what you will get in most hotels, The Montalenbert and L'Hotel are the two examples I know of where the rooms/hotels are super modern but not what I would call soft or quaint.
Most Paris hotels are on the small side *Unless you want to stay at the Ritz, Plaza Athenee or Crillon *
Luxury hotels in Paris come with a price of approx. 400 E and up.
I would recommend looking through a few guidebooks with photos of hotels, to get an idea of what appeals to you, Frommers Hotels of Charm and Character is an excellent way to read up on hotels and see photos..

www.mrandmrssmith.com

This website recommends stylish and romantic hotels in Europe.

Julia - great website, I hadn't heard of it. Thanks!

A bit off on a tangent...Hotel Le Notre Dame is overlooking Seine and Notre Dame Cathedral. Had some very nice views of sunsets over cathedral, noise factor was not high. We rented the top floor triplex. Location is A++, but I don't know if I would call it romantic or flowery.
Mike

thanks for the recommendations! I am going to check out all of them.

Please return and let us know how things worked out.

Has anyone stayed at the Relais Christine? Looks lovely...

Yes, someone actually mentioned the Relais Christine earlier this week. It's known to be very nice but it's also very expensive and you may end up with a very small room upon arrival.

I have been checking out the websites of all the recommendations. Some are to frilly for me and some are way to contemporary. I have narrowed it down to some.....Park Hyatt Vendome, Hotel Montalemburt, Hotel Bel Ami, Hotel de Sers, Relais Christine, Hotel Pont Royal, Hotel Cambon. We will probably go with a suite, I want a decent size room. I would really like a balcony or terrace as well. Any feedback on these hotels would be appreciated....thanks!

The most romantic hotel in Paris is Pavillon de la Reine. Not the location you want, it's in the Marais, but very worth considering

Another vote for the Pavillion de la Reine in Le Marais. 31 rooms located on the Place des Vosges. Understated elegance and charm (at least from the lobby!).

The pictures seem to frilly with the rooms....?????

Just the one with the red tapestry on their website. What makes this hotel romantic to you? The location?

Isnt this the sister hotel to Relais Christine?

Yes, the Pavillon de la Reine is related to the Relais Christine. If I could afford either hotel, I'd pick the Pavillon de la Reine over the Relais Christine. I never read anything negative about the Pavillon. It looks alot nicer than the RC in my opinion.

We stayed in the suite on the top floor of Hotel Cambon; you can sit outside when the weather is nice. Privately owned, this place has great amenities like a reading room, bar and freshly squeezed OJ in the morning. Chez Flottes (aligot!) & metro are just across the street and a taxi stand a block away; as are several excellent restaurants like Le Souffle & Ardoise.

Hi Tuleppy,

Since your original post indicated that you wanted a room with a view, have you considered possibly renting an apartment? I know there are many posts on this forum giving high praise to www.parisperfect.com. Many of their apartments offer lovely views of the Eiffel Tower. I haven't personally stayed at one of these apartments but if you do a search under "ParisPerfect" I'm sure you'll find lots of posts!

Just another option to consider.
Good luck!

I am lucky enough to have stayed a couple of times at the Relais Christine and would recommend it. I don't know that it offers any views other than the charming streets below. I believe that it was formerly an abbey (or something akin to that) and the floor plan is resultingly a bit quirky, but I tend to appreciate its charm. Both times, when I've emerged from the tiny elevator to get to our room, I've had to walk around a bit, and then descend some stairs to get to the actual landing where the room is located. A bit labyrinthine! The first time I ended up doing it without the benefit of a porter, and it was kind of a nuisance with all the bags! But the hotel is otherwise well-appointed with a comfortable sitting room for drinks and board games and the breakfast room in the basement is a bit troglodite (sp) (stony) in appearance. The service is generally good and it puts you on a quiet street in proximity to walking to the Seine and the boutiques of that arrondissement.

For the price, there are undoubtedly fancier, frillier hotels, but to quote your query, I think that it offers the "more simple, contemporary peaceful, quaint" atmosphere that you're seeking. The third partner in this triad of hotels is the St. James Club, which is much more like a British men's club, but is in a very different part of Paris.

It seems from the responses that Relais Christine is not the "perfect" place in Paris. I am sure as everyone wants "the perfect stay in Paris". I am probably being way to picky, but I just want something that will be memorable and fits our needs. Romantic, Balcony or terrace, great location, large room. I need to research more. Any recommendations are still welcomed! Thanks!

Romance is what you make of it. Don't turn yourself inside out over getting the perfect hotel room. It's what you DO and how you FEEL once there that makes it romantic. There are hundreds of hotels that fit your criteria -- pick one and relax and enjoy it. It is highly likely you will be back again and understand what people have been advising you here.

There is a Latin Quarter hotel named the Parc St. Severin. Their largest room is #70 and it has a huge terrace. I haven't had the luck to afford this room but I have read very nice things about it. It appears they have other terrace rooms but this one is their best.

Tuleppy, looks like you'll have to compromise something..

However, these are a few more ideas of rooms with a view, or balconies, or, in the case of Hotel Napoleon, both, but then, from my point of view, the location, Champs Elysées, is not ideal,it's not exactly a boutique hotel and the decor, again, to my view, is too stuffy.

http://www.hotelnapoleonparis.com/pa...rooms_lux.html

Another idea:

http://www.espritsaintgermain.com/fl...ish/index.html

I love the Esprit's location, but the rates for the suites are outrageous!!! However, the suites have a a balcony and a view of the Eglise de Saint Sulpice.

Or, as wisely advised Francophile03, you can compromise some of the luxury, and go for the Parc Saint Severin's adorable room with terrace with a view to the Notre Dame.

http://www.specialplacestostay.com/s...?FileID=ph1374

Or, once more compromising the luxury, you can book one of the terraced rooms with a view to the Pantheon at the Hotel de Grands Hommes:

http://www.parisby.com/hommes/pages/gallery.htm

I 've found (purely by accident) a hotel that might satisfy your wishes.

Have a look at these photos:

http://www.hotel-pont-royal.com/hote...s-suites.html#

And check the reviews here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

Their suite with two balconies is what you want, I think. It's not cheap, but then, the fullfilment of a dream is priceless.

We recently stayed in a small Latin Quarter hotel that we found just perfect! It's the HENRI IV RIVE GAUCHE on Rue St. Jacques, just one block south of the Seine and Notre Dame. It's very convenient for sightseeing. The St. Michel/Notre Dame RER is a block away and the St. Michel metro just a little farther. Plenty of places to eat.

It's a new hotel in an older building, completely redone in a soft, traditional style...no flowered wallpaper here! Lovely decor, spotlessly clean, nice woodburning fireplace in lobby, extremely nice English-speaking staff.

www.hotel-henri4.com

We found the Grand Hotel de Champaigne to be not only small and romantic but in a superb location in the 1st arr. Of course, the decor varies by floor so some floors do have the flowered wallpaper. The best rooms are the exterior rooms with the little balconies.

Well, flowered wallpaper IS very French!

Haha...I know the florals are very French, but when I get in a room that is so busily decorated I feel claustaphopic(sp?) I have some strange anxieties.....I am still researching and I am leaning a bit towards Pavillon de la Reine. Still not sure yet.....possibly renting an apartment....Being it is our first time in Paris I am leaning towards a hotel. Hopefully to get some guidence from the staff. I am trying to talk my husband into leaving end of June, nothing is booked yet. We were originally looking at September. I really want to see the lavender fields in bloom so I think June would be a good month, July and August sound too busy with Tourists for me! Still working on the itinerary for the perfect trip!

I understand that Pavillon de la Reine has two room types: traditional and contemporary. This hotel doesn't overlook the Seine or Eiffel Tower. Some people liked Hotel Sainte Beuve and Hotel Le Saint Gregoire, both in the 6th district. The rooms look romantic and not too floral.