We've got a short side trip to Paris in May (3 nights), but can't decide on a hotel. This will be our first time in the city. Two hotels I'm looking at are La Masion Favart (2nd) and the Goralska Residences (4th I believe). Both are considered the center of the city I guess, but the Favart is further from the river. Any thoughts? Given the short time we have to work with we aren't overly concerned with trying to do everything, mainly just some Cathedrals/religious sites and getting a feel for the city. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I personally wouldn't choose either of those hotels just because of location. The Latin Quarter around Pantheon, Sorbonne is my preferred location. Lots of nice restaurants, shops, sites and good connections. Hotel Excelsior Latin, Hotel Agora, Hotel du College de France are all located in that area...and I've stayed in each of those.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3703 posts
I own an apartment about 10 minutes west on foot from the location of the Goralska Residences and I would not choose that location. It really is sort of in the middle on nowhere for a visitor even though it is in the 4th arrondissement. I'd pick La Maison Favart if my choice were only between the two that you mention. Which religious sites are you planning to see?
Posted by
3122 posts
We loved Hotel des Grandes Ecoles in the Latin Quarter. It is about 10-15 min walk to Notre Dame and Ile St. Louis (faster going down to the river, slower coming back). In another direction it's walking distance to the Pantheon.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10230 posts
I can't recommend a specific hotel, but for location I always suggest the 4th, 5th or 6th as close to the river as you can get. Especially for a first time visit or short visit, that is the most central location.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for the input! As for the sites we're thinking about, we'd definitely like to see Notre Dame, St. Chapelle and maybe the Shrine of Saint Vincent de Paul, Shrine of the Miraculous Medal and some others if we have the time. I'd really like to find the Shrine for the September Martyrs. I hear its somewhere on the Left Bank but that it is only open on Saturdays. Unfortunately we're only going to be around from Monday to Thursday. We'll work in museums when we can, but most of all we just want to find some places to relax with our friends that will be with us and enjoy being in Paris for the first time. As for other hotel recommendations, I'm open to anything, trying to stay around $300/night. Thanks again.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3703 posts
Two of my favorite hotels in Paris are near two of the sites you mention. One is the Signature Saint Germain on Rue Chomel. It is a 10-minute walk from the Shrine of Saint Vincent DePaul and less than 5 minutes from the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. Another of my favorites is Hotel & Spa La Belle Juliette which is about 5 minutes from both. Both of these hotels are a bit out of tourist ground zero but are really well-located with a lot of good restaurants nearby. I stayed at the Signature Saint Germain in April 2016 and liked the owners so much that since then I have stayed at both of their other properties in Paris. This past August I returned to La Belle Juliette and it was as good as ever.
Posted by
Point Richmond, CA
19 posts
We very much like the Hotel Bonaparte j(especially top floor room with large windows and long private corridor) and its location close to the Luxumbourg Gardens and Place St -Sulpice and Boulevard St Germain. The garden is magical, we walked almost everywhere.
Posted by
Paris
2466 posts
JHK said it best - the Hotel Chomel is not too far away - around Le Bon Marche.
You have excellent transportation options for the Metro and Bus...
The correct name of the chapel is the Chapelle of the Miraculous Medal, 140 rue du Bac.