I'll be coming back from Amsterdam since my return city is where I started in Paris.
Initially I will spend 4 full days in Paris in the 6th arrnd. near Luxemburg Garden.. Coming back I wish to explore other areas.
I found this Best Western a few blocks north of the Madeline in the 8th. however I notice in maps noted this area as good for shopping and I'm not a shopper. Rick's book does not say much about the 8th either.
I see some pedestrian areas in the 6th and the Marais that could be fun to walk at night. (I've stayed in the Marais on a previous trip) Or stay in the Latin Quarter but I have also stayed there before.
During the day I don't worry much since I can take the metro wherever I decide to go, at night I like walking around and have a nice outside dinner in a nice environment. (not fancy restaurants)
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6486 posts
I suggest you use Google Earth's "street view" feature to "eyeball" the neighborhood around any hotel you're considering. Look for cafes and whatever else interests you.
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1134 posts
I've stayed in the 8th and the 2nd many times—including a couple of times right near la Madeleine. I find them very pleasant areas, and slightly less touristy than the 5th or 6th. A "few blocks north of the Madeline" puts you very near Gare Saint-Lazare. And it gets a little rougher just North of there, but not unpleasant. Personally, I would look closer to Madeleine, which also puts you slightly closer to many of the typical tourist sights. From that general area, I choose to walk to most sights near the Seine, and took buses to places to visit further out (much preferable to going underground in the Metro IMHO). In my experience, you can find "a nice outside dinner in a nice environment" in most neighborhoods in Paris.