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Paris suburb - Clichy

Does anyone have any experience staying in the Paris suburb of Clichy, more specifically the Porte Pouchet area in Clichy. We are tentatively booked for February at a new hotel, a Hampton Inn (7 Boulevard du General Leclerc) that isn't opening until late January. Our understanding is there is a new T3b tram extension that now operational, enabling you to take the tram to the net station where you can take the metro into Paris, making this area much more desirable as a place to stay. We would appreciate anything anyone can share about the area around this new hotel at Porte Pouchet, if you have stayed in that area before or if know of the area. How safe is it? Anything about the new Tram line extension that goes to Porte Pouchet in Clichy? Basically anything you know or have experienced in this area. Thanks in advance.

Posted by
1936 posts

Is there a reason you don't stay in Paris proper? Usually, I've found the savings staying out in the suburbs are eaten up by having to commute daily into the city.

Posted by
3 posts

We have hotel points that I can use at this hotel for a free stay and because it is new, the points used are minimal. We have an alternate place booked in the city too just in case, but would prefer to stay at this hotel in Clichy provided the area is safe and the new tram is operational. From what I've been able to gather, that area of Clichy is in transition for the better and the opening of the new tram extension makes it more tourist friendly. Hoping to hear from someone that knows the area or has been there recently.

Posted by
19653 posts

Hope your room is not on the side of the hotel facing the Peripherique. Could be a tad noisy. The T3b Tram station at Epinettes-Pouchet is about 1/2 mile away. Recent Google images show no evidence of any new tram tracks getting laid, just that new hotel under construction. Looks like you'll be riding the 66 bus to Opera.

I'd give this place a pass.

Posted by
9462 posts

The tramway extension was indeed inaugurated just a couple of weekends ago. Still, I don't know that I'd pick Clichy as a place to stay, points or no points. And especially not for a first visit to Paris.

Posted by
10120 posts

It’s quite a hike with traffic walking the streets and under the freeway to get to the blvd exterior where the tram runs. On top of it, a police station, vehicle towyard and car inspection station are on the same block behind 7 blvd de General Leclerc. There are also a lot of mechanics shops. My google maps is set up in both French and English, so that’s the info I got. The English version showed car inspection and a small restaurant, but the French version had the car impound, police station and the vehicle repair shops.

These exterior hotels along the peripherique freeway typically are for large bus tour groups. I don’t know if the tram, a hike away, is really making this particular spot much more desirable; I can only compare it to the Paris suburbs I lived in for seven years. Unless the budget dictates that you have to stay here, I’d try to get to the center of Paris.

Posted by
1329 posts

Oh heavens, stay in Clichy. If you have the points, use them. Clichy isn't bad at all and it isn't that far from Paris proper. All is easily accessible via the airport. fasciating that Hampton Inn is making its mark in Europe now.

You will have metro line 13 at your disposal and you will become quite used to it.

I will be staying in a different part of Clichy during the holiday season. Why? Accord points. It is safe. You'll just have more ethnic restaurants to choose from!

Posted by
19653 posts

The Hampton is quite a long way from any Metro 13 station, about 3/4 of a mile, and you get to the Honore de Balzac T3b stop after 1/2 mile, so you can ride the last 1/4 mile. The 66 bus goes into Paris to Opera and runs right past the Hampton, but the stop is on the other side of the Peripherique.

Posted by
10120 posts

I don’t think Alexander staying in Clichy compares to a first-time traveler staying in Clichy. Alexander has lived, studied and spent many of his vacations in several cities in France over the last few years. It’s not a big deal for him to stay on the outskirts.

What concerns me in the case of this particular hotel is the image they are spreading of the tram being at its doorstep, the neighborhood changing, and the idea that the Porte Pouchet is a compact area allowing you to be within the Paris boundaries easily. You can check the validity of the above on the Hampton Clichy website under Maps and Directions. Among the choices are aerial and street views of the neighborhood. It shows the freeway, the garages. And that you walk underneath the freeway, past a cemetery, and then some to get to the tram.

Posted by
9404 posts

meadow, I would heed Bets’ advice. She knows Paris better than anyone and she has your best interest at heart. For a first visit to Paris, I shudder at the description of this area and how much time it will take you round-trip to be in the charming areas of Paris where you will want to be and I think it will severely diminish your enjoyment of Paris.
Penny wise, pound foolish comes to mind.

Posted by
19653 posts

And you can always use those Hampton points somewhere else.

Posted by
10120 posts

That’s kind of you Susan.

rmeadows has the tools to look at the area via the Hampton Clichy website and decide.
Also the RATP website will allow them to see the total travel time to and from places https://www.ratp.fr/en. Since the only budgets we know are our own, we can only give others tools with which to make their decisions—along with opinions.

However, what bugs me is the misleading first sentence from the hotel’s site ”Enjoy an ideal location close to the city center of Paris.” We really have to wade through a bunch of hyperbole to find the exact situation.

Posted by
1329 posts

I am sorry, I didn't read where this would be your first trip to Paris. Sometimes I assume people on here are all seasoned France travelers! Please, listen to Bets. On a first time trip you will want to spend every moment in Paris that you can.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you all. Great advice. Although this is not our first trip to Paris, we have decided to change hotels and stay in town. Found a great deal at one of the hotels Rick Steves suggested, so all is good. Thanks again.

Posted by
9404 posts

That’s great news SC! Thanks for coming back and letting us know.

Posted by
32519 posts

I think that you will happy with that decision. Enjoy Paris.

Posted by
126 posts

Although not Clichy, our frist trip we stayed in Port Doree (opposite side of Paris). It was easy because the metro was literally under the hotel, so there was no walk and we were in the city within 15 minutes every morning.

Saying all that, our 2nd time we stayed in the city. I wouldn't have stayed in Port Doree was it not for the metro stop being right outside the front door.