Paris hotel for older, nervous first-time travelers in March

Two of my go-to hotels are Beaugency and Muguet.

I'm staying at Beaugency soon and will post information on it in my Trip Report. Last time I stayed there (2022) it was in need of cosmetic reno. I understand it's changed hands so will see what I think with this next stay. It has a pretty small elevator. 1 person with luggage or 2 people at a time.

I am also staying at Muguet in a couple of weeks. It has always been nicer cosmetically than Beaugency and the sheets and towels are really nice, lol. The elevator here is bigger than Beaugency - can fit 3 or 4 people in it.

Staff in both locations are very nice. I love the neighborhood. There are lots of restaurants so it's easy for me to have wine with dinner and make my way home, lol. Both hotels also have a few rooms with a view of the Eiffel Tower although one of the rooms at Beaugency I had to stand in the bathtub to be able to see it, lol!

I've not stayed at any of the others on your list as I really like the neighborhood of these 2. I'm an senior solo female traveler.

That's a tough one. Honestly my choice would be the Hotel Saint-Louis off your list. I stayed in an apartment near there and it looked like a very nice hotel.

I love the Rue Cler area and it's where I always stay. But it's not quite as well located for transportation as some places. However, it's not bad for buses if you think they can learn that system. However, the Beaugency does not really give me a "comfort and ease" sense on my last stay it was more "budget" . If you can go up a little in budget in the Rue Cler area I'd suggest the Hotel Realis Bosquet I have not tried the Muget that Pam loves but it looks good.

Carol, I'd say Muguet and Relais Bosquet are about equal in "niceness". Muguet has better linens. Relais Bosquet has the better breakfast, lol. Muguet is usually a little cheaper than the Relais Bosquet. Beaugency is the least expensive of the 3.

Thanks Carol and Pam! As I said, they are not picky in terms of the luxury factor (though of course everyone enjoys nice places) and are easygoing about things like small elevators and such.

The biggest issue after location is how welcoming and comfortable they are getting advice and help with directions, restaurants etc. Pam, you sound like a very experienced traveler so maybe it hasn't come up, but in your stays at Beaugency and Mueget have you found the concierge/desk help to be equally friendly and helpful to non-French speakers?

Just to allay your fears, I haven't stayed in the range of hotels that Pam has, but we have yet to stay in one where the staff was not helpful and welcoming to non-English speakers.

I do speak (some) French, but my husband doesn't. And I've always paid attention to the way the staff treat their guests. We've never been disappointed.

Of the hotels you list, the only one we've stayed at is the Beaugency. We love the neighborhood; it's on a quiet street, but just a block from Rue Cler, which is a tourist treat all on its own.

Not having traveled a ton, with limited mobility; there will be a lot of learning curves. There can be lots of stairs in the metros. How are they at apps? If they get overwhelmed or exhausted at any point with metro/bus transportation; it would be of great benefit for them to have the G7 Paris taxi app to get a taxi no matter where they are standing. It's similar to the Uber app; and quite user friendly. I'd have them download and practice with it now to become familiar. Also, make sure they have an international plan on their cell phones.

I'd chose a hotel with a metro stop very close to their hotel. I know a lot of people on the forum recommend the citymapper app.

The good news is Notre Dame will be open by then. And a Seine River cruise is a must!

We didn't encounter a hotel front desk or restaurant employee who didn't speak English throughout our trip this past spring.

The only hotel in Paris I’ve ever stayed at that was not welcoming and good with responding to questions, etc. was one of Rick’s recommendations the Champ du Mars. I think the man working the front desk that week was one of the owners and he is in the wrong profession and I will never stay there again. He was literally screaming at people who were staying in his hotel for sitting in his lobby. Apparently you weren’t allowed to sit on the furniture.

I stayed at the Hotel St Louis en L’Isle in May of 2023 for three nights. At the time, I was 72 and my husband 73. The staff was gracious, the room small but lovely, and the island has a lot of charm. This hotel would work for “older, nervous travelers,” but I chose the location because it allowed me to walk everywhere I wanted to go. So is it right for those with mobility limits? I can’t answer that question because I don’t know your in-laws’ strengths and weaknesses. Do you think, for example, they’d be able to walk to Notre Dame from the hotel? Sainte Chapelle? Could they handle the steps leading down to the Seine from the Isle St. Louis? That reminds me, the hotel has curving stone steps leading to its basement breakfast room with vaulted ceilings. In terms of tours, my husband and I did Paris by Mouth’s South Marais Food Tour, and the walking was minimal (but I’m a walker) once we reached the starting point at 10 Rue des Hospitalieres Saint Gervais, a walk of about 10 minutes from the hotel. On the island we liked the restaurant Les Fous en Ile and, of course, Bertillon ice cream.

Make sure they know to say Bonjour whenever they enter an establishment. That goes a long way toward encouraging people to speak English to you.

Many thanks to all who responded! I know there are always countless other variables and questions to answer, but appreciate those weighing in on the hotels and suggesting any tours. My in-laws are definitely able to walk and go up and down stairs, but would not want (for instance) very steep stairs with bad railings, or a fourth floor room with no elevator! @PatR@lv, I'm glad you had a good experience at the Hotel de L'Isle -- I couldn't find many recent mentions of it, but it looks lovely.

I think a key benefit will be to have a great neighborhood and/or good nearby dinner options and/or a sense that even on a quiet "take it easy" type of day they are somewhere delightful. Rue Cler area (Mueget or Beaugancy) or Isle St Louis (Hotel de L'Isle St Louis) would each offer some delights and some compromises. Some of it may come down to availability, flexibility -- ideally we want something refundable if health or life challenges come up -- and cost.

"but in your stays at Beaugency and Mueget have you found the concierge/desk help to be equally friendly and helpful to non-French speakers?"

Neither hotel has a concierge BUT the front desk staff are very helpful at both locations. The Beaugency is a hotel regularly used by Rick Steves tours - the 21 day Best of Europe stays there often. The Muguet was used in the past and again last summer for RS tours (not sure about this last tour season but I will ask when I get there, lol). Both desk staff are used to Americans and are quite helpful.

Definitely Bonjour them when you enter, lol. I forgot to mention at Beaugency there also is a short flight of stairs from street level down to the desk and then from the desk down to the breakfast room and elevator.

Check out the Hotel des Deux-Iles. It is located as centrally can be on Ile St. Louis. There are a couple of other hotels on the same street, and one of them is a sister hotel. Cross the river one way and there is the Marais -- cross it the other way and there is the Latin Quarter. Walk to the end of the island, cross the bridge, and there is the back of Notre Dame which is still being reconstructed. The Metro is nearby and getting anywhere is not a problem. There are several restaurants on the island. If staying on the island, we can steer them to a great little place for breakfast as hotel breakfasts seem to be over priced for what one gets. We can also tell them about several places for lunch and / or dinner on the island as well.

Thank you! @TC, I looked at Hotel des Deux-Isles -- it is a bit pricier than the others, which are at the high end of the range for us. But I would love to hear your suggestions for restaurants on the island generally, as I am leaning toward booking them there at Hotel St Louis en L'Isle!

Nbpt: I've been following the responses you've had to your question with interest. My husband and I are in the age range of your in-laws and just returned from our 5th trip to Paris, having stayed in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th districts. My favorite is the 7th, where 2 of your choices are located, for the following reasons:

• There are many cafes and restaurants and ice cream shops along the length of the (car-free) Rue Cler street. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating so great to just sit and people watch. We enjoyed eating at Le Roussillon, facing the street. It would be great for your in-laws not to have to walk far to and from dinner from their hotel.
• The 7th feels like a cozy neighborhood, with parents and children walking by on their way to and from school; residents doing their daily shopping at the food stalls along Rue Cler.
• On our first visit to Paris, #1 on my list was seeing the Eiffel Tower. You can walk to the Eiffel Tower from the 7th. Also, RS has a "walking tour of Rue Cler" in his guidebook.

If they'll be on their own in Paris, with no one to help them with the Metro the first couple of times, I would recommend them taking a Taxi to desired museums. Consider it part of the budget for the trip.
We were in Paris the last few days of August and the last few days of September. In August, prices were sky-high because of the Olympics. The Hotel Beaugency, recommended by Pam, was the least expensive of the Rue Cler hotels so we stayed there 3 nights. We found it on par with other hotels we stayed at on our 5- week trip; with 2 weeks on a Rick Steves tour. In the RS France guidebook, the Beaugency's breakfast is "free" to RS Readers (You must mention it and book direct).

When we returned to Paris the end of September, we stayed in another district....and I wished we were back in Rue Cler. In fact, we went back to Rue Cler for dinner our last night in Paris.

Thank you @Carol! That is really helpful to hear! By everything you are describing they would really love the Rue Cler area. I think it sounds great for dining in the area, a sense of daily life, and proximity to a few of the "greatest hits" (and yes, I think they will take taxis and consider them a sunk cost to see the city). Thank you for weighing in!

For a great dinner, they might want to consider L'Orangerie & Auberge de la Reine Blanche which is on the main street of the island. Reservations are a good idea.

If they are in the area for breakfast or lunch, there is a place named St. Regis. Great for breakfast. Coffee, croissant, and juice for very little money. The place also offers light fare in the evening. We had a small plate of cold cuts and wine one evening. On the same main street is Café Med which is good for lunch but also serves dinner.

For the sweet tooth, they have to check out Berthillon (also on the same street) for ice cream. Sinful, but delicious.

If they can fool around with google maps, they might be able to use street view and "walk" to them before ever leaving home. Hope this helps!

Have your in-laws considered signing up for the RS' Best of Paris Tour? You wrote, "They have not traveled a ton."
I think at their age, not having traveled a lot, being on a RS' tour would help them have a more enjoyable time because they would not have to worry or figure out scheduling their time in the city. Transportation will be taken care of, as well as admission tickets, and other logistics. They will be taught how to navigate the metro. On a RS Tour you are taught to be an independent traveler.
The price for the tour may seem high, but it includes admissions to many museums as well as transportation, and half of meals (dinner). Breakfast is always included in the tour hotels. And I think the tour stays in the Rue Cler district.
If they sign up for a tour, it would be great if they could arrive a couple of nights before, and even extend their time after the tour if possible.

Thanks again for all suggestions! @Carol, I would have loved to book them on an RS Paris tour...they already booked their dates based on some time with friends in Nimes before their Paris excursion, and as it happens there is a tour before and right after but not while they're there. Oh well...this forum is helping ensure it's still wonderful!

Stay near a BUS stop. The metro stairs are NO joke! I did stay near Chatelet les Halles this last time and knew specifically which exits/entrances had escalators. But the bus? One step, easy peasy. Takes a little longer, sure, but I would use the bus just to go 3 stops on Rue di Rivoli (i had the weekly Navigo pass too, so it was included).

As a single, senior, female, I think feeling safe and comfortable is key for older visitors. This means having hotel desk staff who are knowledgeable and speak English WELL. I also think it is important, for convenience, and to save time, to have breakfast included at the hotel. I spent a week last month (October 2024), staying in the 5th. I would highly recommend a hotel on L'ile St. Louis because of the location and numerous dining options. I visited the Cluny museum (in the 5th) that has been renovated and "guides" visitors chronologically through the displays. From my hotel in the 5th I crossed over daily to L'ile de la Cité and L'ile St. Louis on my way to the Marais. There are so many tourist destinations that are walkable from L'ile St. Louis... Notre Dame, Ste. Chapelle, La Conciergerie, Le Louvre, Le Cluny. If staying on L'ile St. Louis, I would recommend G7 taxi or the métro to visit the Luxembourg Gardens, Les Invalides, Eiffel Tower or the Rodin & Orsay museums. I hope to return soon and will be researching hotels on L'ile St. Louis.

Since this bumped back up, I thought I'd post again, lol. I just returned a week and a half-ish ago from my month in France. I had 5 nights at Beaugency to begin with, then went out to meet up with a tour group and after the tour returned to another 7 nights at Hotel Muguet.

IF you/your inlaws haven't made a decision, from these 2 I'd go with Muguet over Beaugency.

I had wondered about recommending the Beaugency as it was pretty "tired" looking when I last stayed there in 2022. In my opinion it needs a cosmetic reno top to bottom. It is clean, just tired and a bit worn in places. The Beaugency was sold in the last year so I was interested to see if the same staff was there. About half the desk staff are still there and most of the housekeeping/breakfast room staff are the same. The new front desk staff I interacted with were very nice, spoke good English and would definitely be helpful. I think this is still a reasonable choice for perhaps a repeat visitor who would not be put off by scuffed flooring and some bleach spots on the hall carpeting but maybe not a good impression for a first-timer.

Muguet is in much better shape cosmetically. The front desk staff member from Monday to Thursday is the same person who has worked there for years and is very engaging (and yes, it makes me happy when he remembers me!). While I was checking in a guest returned to the hotel and had clearly fallen and hurt herself. He got her organized with an ice pack and even pulled out a cane to offer her the use of. The weekend staff members were very nice and I'm sure they would be helpful as well, I just did not spend much time with them.