Paris Hotels

[sjf911]

Looks like I am going to take my wife to Paris with our youngest for her birthday next week. Anybody have recommendations for hotels friendly to non-French speakers and located conveniently to touristy places (first trip to Paris)?

[look 171]

When we go to Europe, we always try and stay near the central train stations in major cities. One, it makes it easy to find if we ever get lost. Tell the taxi driver central station, they all know hoe to get there even if language is an issue. Walking distance to the train which is pretty important.

[stomachmonkey]

Had a chance to stay in Paris Hilton one night but the carpet was kinda nasty so I checked out early.

[imcarthur]

Look at a map of Paris. Use the Place St Michel as a center point & find a hotel that is close. The Place St Michel is south of the Seine where Boul St Michel meets the river. There are a bunch of Best Westerns in that area that are all decent. Expect tiny rooms however. In Paris you do not want to stay at any of the 4 train stations.

Ian

Edit: Barring that stick to the Left Bank as far as the Eiffel Tower. That will keep you within walking distance of everything. You will not have a language problem at any decent hotel in Paris. Learn bonjour, s'il vous plait, merci, toilettes and you will be fine. Parisians are like French speaking New Yorkers.

[Hydrocket]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Had a chance to stay in Paris Hilton one night but the carpet was kinda nasty so I checked out early.

I thought it was hardwood floor?

[edgemar]

Just got back last week. Stayed at the Westin Vendome. That was nice...did cash and points with Starwood which made it reasonable.

My Dad loves Paris and his favorite place to stay is Victoria Palace in Montparnasse.

Have a Great Trip!

[D911SC]

There are so many districts to stay in. I was there in June and stayed at Littre Hotel in St Germain. It was walking distance from a major train station (Montparnasse) - we walked and had luggage.

If you are so inclined you can use the Velip bikes and get around very easily from there. We rode to The Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, The Louvre and more.

The room at the Littre was very nice, quite spacious clean and reasonably priced. The staff were good with English, in fact we noticed that most guests seemed to be from USA.

One very 'touristy' but memorable thing for us was walking to the Eiffel Tower at night and watching the lights while we scoffed on Nutella, strawberry, banana and cream filled crepes. The crepes are ridiculously priced but well worth it!

For the more distinguished traveller Paris has so many places to visit. You'll love it.

Also, allow some time to walk both sides of the Champs Elsyees. Car enthusiasts love the Mercedes, Renault, etc stores. Your wife might like the LV store amongst others. The restaurant called Fouquets is pretty special, but like the crepes is pretty expensive. Some of the back streets surrounding Champs Elsyees are worth the walk. Endless high end shopping (I kept my credit card firmly in my pocket).

Another spot for a nice meal is at one of the brasseries around the Trocadero, which is across the river from the tower (up past the stairs).

Enjoy the trip!

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by D911SC

Another spot for a nice meal is at one of the brasseries around the Trocadero, which is across the river from the tower (up past the stairs).

That's the best place to view the Eiffel Tower and particularly at night. Though it gets pretty crowded and with tons of trinket peddlers. The restaurants on the other side offer great people watching.

There are two LV stores there, one on the Champs Elysee just down the hill from the Arc and another in the Lafayette Galleries. Be prepared to wait in a long line of aggressive Chinese women.

If you go to the Louvre, plan to queue up well before opening time. It can be a long wait. Might be able to buy tix online. I saw a brochure in our hotel about a walking tour of WWII resistance and Gestapo hotspots, which I need to do next time.

Oh, and I saw several places that charged 30 Euros ($40) for a one litre stein of Stella.

[slodave]

I stayed here many years ago. I don't really remember the rooms, but the restaurant/bar at the top was nice. Great nighttime views of the city.

Hotel Concorde La Fayette
Eiffel Tower view hotel

[RWebb]

stay in the 18th Arrondissement - very colorful

[Dottore]

If it's not too late for a personal recommendation, we have been going back to the same hotel in Paris for many years because of it's great charm, location and value.

This is Le Pavillion De La Reine, and it is in the Marais — which IMO is one of the most charming quarters in Paris. The hotel is right on the Place des Vosges — and if there is a prettier square in Paris, I haven't found it. You are north of the Seine, but IMO that is where you should be for access to the best parts of Paris.

The hotel is located just steps from the Place Bastille, and some of the best "real" French shopping in Paris. Great bars and nightlife abound just behind the P.Bastille, and the Rue Turenne is full of lovely old grocery shops and delicatessen etc if you just want to have some fresh food in your room.

I can't recommend this hotel highly enough. It's a small to mid-sized place and you do have to book. They do a great breakfast, and also have a large sitting lounge with one of these huge fireplaces — so you always have a nice place to regroup between sightseeing etc

I've been keeping pretty quiet about this hotel...but for a Pelican....

[PorscheGAL]

Grand Hotel Leveque Paris - Official Website - Tour Eiffel

We stayed here on our honeymoon. It is only 4-5 blocks from the Eiffel Tower. Metro at the end of the street which is walking traffic only. I liked the fact that there is a wine store, cheese store, bakery and butcher right there surrounding the hotel. As we left in the morning the butcher would be unloading the meat for the day and in the afternoon as we went back to the room we would stop by the baker and buy pastries for snacks. It has been 15 years but I still remember this place like it was yesterday.

[unclebilly]

If you can afford it, Hotel Concorde La Fayette.

We have stayed there for a week and then returned before we flew home. It is on the Champs d'Elises, close to L'Acr de Triumph, Le Porte Nouvelle, walking distance to Le Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

If you have never been to Paris, you need to know that the restaurants are open for lunch from 11:30 to 1:30 and then CLOSE. There is no late lunch.

A boulangerie is a bakery and any baker will make you an awesome baguette sandwich.

The 100 centiliter beers are awesome (centi centilitre).

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Had a chance to stay in Paris Hilton one night but the carpet was kinda nasty so I checked out early.

Did you keep the video?

[red-beard]

If you want to be near the Louve, The Saint James and Albany is very nice. They serve an American style buffet in the morning as well.

[stuartj]

SJF, the lst couple of times Ive stayed in Paris, the SO has organised apartments via website called AIRBnB. Its quite a different experience to hotels, you deal direct with owners- it works really well. Weve hd nothing but good experiences, met some great people and stayed in great places.

Locationally- Paris needs to be walked to be appreciated. Stick a pin on Notre Dame Cathedral, and stay within 1km, you will be very central. Enjoy the most fabulous city in the world.

[techweenie]

I second Dottore's recommendation of the Marais as an underlooked but ideal location from which to walk -- south, past Notre Dame, through the art gallery district to Blvd St. Germain where your female companion will be in shopping shock...

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I second Dottore's recommendation of the Marais as an underlooked but ideal location from which to walk -- south, past Notre Dame, through the art gallery district to Blvd St. Germain where your female companion will be in shopping shock...

Actually we think the better shopping is on the right bank (i.e.. north of the Seine). At least it is less touristy than the immediate left bank. EG Rue de Rivoli, Boulevard Beaumarchais etc. you find some serious un-touristy shopping. Also you are not far from the Pomipdou, the Louvre and the Opera, The Ritz....and all the glamour of that end of Paris. It's a perfect location IMO. But this is probably better saved for another thread.

[sjf911]

You guys are great. A lot of food for thought, now I have to see whats available. Thank you all.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

If you go to the Louvre, plan to queue up well before opening time. It can be a long wait. Might be able to buy tix online.

This time of year, the lines are much shorter. Or you can skip the pyramid entrance & use the Carrousel entrance off of the rue de Rivoli which is always much shorter. You can also buy museum passes if you plan to visit a bunch of them. My stepson was there last week & he said even the pyramid line wasn't long. Louvre

Another tip: if you want to visit Versailles to see the true decadence of the various Louis, you can catch the RER (local regional train) from the Saint Michel -Notre Dame RER station. C line (yellow)

Ian