I have tickets booked for a July trip to Paris. The trip is split into two parts (with some travel to other regions in the middle) so I am thinking about staying in two different areas of Paris- 3 nights and again 3 nights. Which neighborhood should we stay in (traveling with my husband). I have done some research and I think I have narrowed it down: Champs-Elysees, Louvre area, Le Marais, or St. Germain? St. Germain and Le Marais sound very beautiful and picturesque while the Louvre area seems convenient for seeing museums. We will be staying in a budget hotel or boutique hotel (<175-200 euro/night if possible). BTW our plan is to focus on 1 big attraction per day and spend the rest of our time exploring (on foot if possible), eating, and enjoying life in Paris. Any suggestions?
Avoid the Champs Elysées. You may want to wander up the street towards the Arch of Triumph, but otherwise it is not a place to stay. Nothing but big shops, cafés for tourists and crowds wandering up and down.
If you are planning on visiting one attraction per day, then you don't need to stay near it. Take the metro or a bus. If you want picturesque neighbourhoods, then the Marais is one (although it is full of tourists), the 5th arrondissement once you get away from Boulevard St Michel, St Germain des Prés if you like to look in expensive shop windows and sit in overpriced cafés.
BJd is right
Stay around St Germain and Sorbonne
Do the small better museums like
Cluny and Sainte Chapelle, Louvre a big time waste and crowded,
Sit in gardens and parks w baguettes
take day trip to Chartres, fab medieval town and cathedral
With cheap train from gare Montparnasse
I have stayed at the Hotel Residence Monge, now called Act V, in the Latin Quarter a couple times and found it a great location and good price. There are two metro's within a block. http://www.travelpod.com/hotel/Hotel_Residence_Monge-Paris.html
175 to 200 euro is not what I would consider budget. You can get hotels in Paris for considerably less.
I don't consider 175-200E budget, either. But anyway, I'd steer clear of the Champs Elysées area, too. The other choices you've made are standard expensive tourist meccas, so if that's what you want go for it. On a first visit to Paris, that makes some sense.
Thanks everyone for the advice! I agree, typically 175-200 is not budget but it seems budget in comparison to most of the hotels I found which were upwards of 250/night. I've found a few cute spots that I think would work for us in the 120-150/night range!
I agree with the comments of staying away from the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe area, also the area just around the Eiffel Tower. But most of the rest of the Left Bank is great, not only St. Germain and the Latin Quarter, but also south of this area, Montparnasse and Gobelins area.
I don't know about the Marais district, although I've heard it's good. The 9th, or Opera District, is great, and really everything around it. So if you are looking at a district map, I would gladly stay in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, plus the northern halves of 13 and 14, plus Montmatre. I was going to stay in the south part of the 16th one time but didn't; it's supposed to be a very affluent area. Paris has lots of great places to stay.
Whenever I travel in Europe I always check out the Accor hotels web page. They have tons of hotels, and the Ibis and other cheap hotels are very nice and often reasonably priced. Some of the Ibis hotels actually have triple and quad rooms at reasonable rates, which is a rarity. I got a triple at the Ibis Grand Boulevards a few weeks ago for 80 euros a night, which I found to be quite reasonable for Paris. The hotel is near Chartier, one of my favorite places to eat.
I agree with #6 that the Ibis chain is great if you're looking for inexpensive accommodations - no charm but clean and always reliable. We belong to their fidélité program and often get rooms from between 39 and 59 euros a night at their Ibis Budget properties. Absolutely no frills, but clean and comfortable beds, great showers, and good breakfasts if you want them for a few euros more. Plus you get points for every stay usable toward a future stay - useful for those of us who live in Europe and travel.
Can't say as I'm a big fan of Chartier. Cheap, for sure, and the ambience is unique, but it's barely decent food and you have to share tables with whoever else is there. No big deal but there's lots better food in Paris.
Hello Cvaden,
I'm Parisian so I could help you ;)
If you are looking for nice acomodation not so expensive I can recommand you 2 good places Iti s youth hostel but really don't like youth hostel
Les Piaules it is in Belleville area. Really Parisian area and with the metro you can go everywhere very fast
Generator it is in Colonel Fabien area
The Zazie hotel is a 2 stars located in Gare de Lyon area close to bercy village
If you choose St Germain or le Marais it's great because very central.
Chartier is an institution of former restaurants in Paris but could be wired and rude when don't use to it. if you wanna try take it like a special experience but there is so many nice, not expensive and really good restaurants in Paris
And If you need good tips from Parisians and even if you wanna meet Parisians to make you discover our city there is a new association called CIWY (for Can I Welcome You) that put in relation Parisians and visitors we have a facebook page called ciwy (and it is in english also ;) I am a member and we just want to show that Paris is a welcoming town ;) so don't hesitate to ask us. We organize parties in bar (free), picinic when it is sunny, walks etc. usually it is free you just have to pay your drinks or sandwich...
Hope you will enjoy your first trip in Paris !!! So many things to do and to see ! buy your tickets on Internet for big monuments or museums usually you don't have to queue.
**Hi peggy
My name is Bernie , I am an older traveller a youthful, young at heart 62 year old! would you be able to recommend budget accomodation in Paris for a stay of about one month?
I'm also a football fanatic ! and want to use Paris as my base for euro 2016 as I know Paris has two stadiums and there are also games in nearby cities, even if I cannot get tickets for the games I love to be in the country where they are being played to soak up the atmosphere!
Plus , its about 18 years since my last visit to Paris and I also want to do the cultural tours of the museums and grand buildings etc and learn some French , live as a parisian ! that way I learn the language, culture & get a real feel for La Belle Francais! (Think thats right isn't it!)
Back in 1997 I tried to learn some french at the local institute francais but now I've forgotten!
anyway if you could give me any advice please I'd really appreciate it and look forward to your next post,
regards
bernie**
trusted partner
