Sheryl

I have traveled alot, but unbelievably, this will be my first trip to Paris and am looking for a wonderful hotel in a great location for walking around to the major sites. Price is not really an object if the hotel is really wonderful. Also, do not want a stuffy, really formal hotel, because I hate to dress up when I travel. Thanks in advance for any advice!

helen

There is a ton of information on this forum--do a search on "Paris hotels." Also look into which areas you'd be interested in staying in, specifically (Right Bank v. Left, or even more specifically, Marais, Latin Quarter, etc). Then, if you still have questions about specific hotels, add them to your post. Re price not being an object--there are plenty of posts about great 2 and 3 star hotels, as well a recent thread on the Ritz and other swanky places. Both can be wonderful. I think it depends on what level of luxury, service etc you're looking for.

Caitlin

Sheryl, you have left this really open--perhaps you just don't know what part of town you want to be in? It depends partly on which sites you want to be quite near; some people want to stay near the Eiffel tower in the 7th arr., but I think the Marais (right bank) or the Latin Quarter (left bank) are best for walking to many places. <BR> <BR>We recently stayed at the Hotel des Jardin du Luxembourg, and I think it may fit your wants. (Also, there's been plenty of discussion about it on this forum, though I didn't see any of this before I reserved there). It is a 3* hotel in the Latin Quarter, almost right around the corner from the Jardin du Luxembourg and just a couple of blocks from the Sorbonne and the Pantheon. It is on a little cul-de-sac (impasse Royer Collard), and this, combined with double-glazed windows, makes it very quiet. It is small, only 27 rooms, and very charming. The rooms tend to be quite small, but are very nicely decorated and are not "cookie cutter" in design. They also struck us as very "French," with colorful wallpaper and linens, wrought-iron bedframes, etc. The bathrooms are large by small-European-hotel standards, are decorated in colorful moasaic tiling, and ours had a beautiful porcelain basin and a seven-nozzle shower(!). They have the amenities, i.e., minibar, AC, etc. We stayed in one of the two rooms with private entrances from the street, and it seemed to be a little larger than the norm there. The lobby and breakfast room are also veey charming, and the reception staff is friendly and speaks English. (You can also have breakfast brought to your room; either way, it's 50FF extra.) The rate is 810FF for a single or double. You can get info and see some photos on www.hotelboulevard.com; also use www.pagesjaunes.fr to view the exterior by entering the address, 5, impasse Royer Collard. <BR> <BR>As for its location, we walked just about everywhere. It's not adjacent to everything, but is a fine walk from the Louvre, the Marais, Centre George Pompidou, and Notre Dame, Ste-Chapelle and the Ile St. Louis. It's farther, but an easy metro or RER ride, to the Musee d'Orsay, Tour Eifel, etc., and we walked back from the Musee d'Orsay one evening along the Seine. We felt safe in the neighborhood even late at night, and there is a branch of Credit Lyonnais right around the corner with ATMs (but they don't change foreign currency). Higher foloor rooms have a pleasant view.

s.fowler

If I didn't have $$ constraints I'd give Pavillon de la Reine on Place de Vosges a try ... <BR>My best-hotel-for-the-franc is, as this forum knows, Hotel Bersoly's at 24 rue de Lille, in the &eme, but *almost* in the 6eme. Museums, food, shops, sites are all within an easy walk. It was $120 a night last December. Here is a website: http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75007bersolys2.htm <BR>The hotel is charming, well run and well located. You could spend a week and never get on the metro!

s.fowler

Oooops. 28 rue de Lille.

steve

We just stayed at the (Hotel Minerve 13, rue des Ecoles; 75005 Paris <BR>33 1 43 26 26 ) <BR>The rooms are tiny buy very nice. It was 550FF per night ($80 USD) and we had coffee, juice and pasteries for 35FF extra. We were very close to Metro station Maubert Mutualite (spelling?) and the staff was great. They all spoke very good english and were very helpful. It's a 2-star that has small but cute balconies with a little table and chairs for those who are not afraid of heights. It's right next door to (Hotel Familia 11, rue des Écoles 75005 Paris Tél.: 33 1 43 54 55 27)which also come highly recommended on Fodor's Forum. I only stayed there one night because they messed up our request for two bed. So they sent us next door to Hotel Minerve. <BR>

Sheryl

Hi! <BR> <BR>I can't help with your hotel question ... just couldn't resist emailing someone else who knew how to spell Sheryl!!!

Kathleen

The hotel Champ de Mars. www.hotel-du-champ-de-mars.com <BR>Near the Eiffel Tower and the prices are very good about 68.00 US. The room was kind of small but not bad at all and the location was great. Near Rue Cler so lots of places to eat.

Marty

I always recommend the Regent's Hotel in the 5th. It is lovely and about $90 per night. We stumbled across it when our reservation was lost at another hotel. It is very close to two Metro stops and right at the edge of the Luxembourg Gardens. The rooms we had on the 4th floor were very large for Paris. Everything was newly done in yellow and blue with very nice bathrooms. It is on a very quiet street a short walk over from St. Germaine.

Robin

Hi Sheryl, <BR> <BR>My husband and I went to Paris for the first time last September. I, like yourself, wanted to stay someplace wonderful. We stayed at the only Chateau in Paris called the Saint James. It was WONDERFUL and the staff is exceptional. The hotel is part of a chain called "Small Luxury Hotels of the World". You can view the hotel on their website called "www.slh.com". The hotel is located in the 18th arrondisment and was within walking distance to the Arc de Triumph. <BR> <BR>We spent two weeks in France, 5 days in Paris, and the staff at this hotel was by far the friendliest people we ran into in our whole trip. I was stay there again if I ever went back. <BR> <BR>I hope you have a wonderful time, it's a fabulous city! <BR> <BR>Robin

Carol

You sound like a Left Bank kinda gal to me--or maybe the Marais or Ile St. Louis. Among the hotels you might think about are the Relais Christine, the Hotel D'Aubusson, the Duc St. Simon, the Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais, the Buci Latin, the Hotel de L'Abbaye. There are many lovely Left Bank hotels that fit your criteria. Try these websites which have pictures: hotelboulevard.com, france-hotel-guide.com, and paris-touristoffice.com.

andy

We just returned from Paris yesterday and I would suggest that you try where <BR>we stayed? Check &lt;www.hotel-sainte-beuve.fr&gt;