Hotels near Gare Montparnasse

Are you staying in Paris for more than just one night? If you're staying longer, I'd recommend something a little further north in the Latin Quarter or St Germain des Pres area; close to a metro stop. Much easier for exploring the city, and you'd have the metro to get to the train station when you leave. Or a taxi for around €15.

I had a good stay at Hotel de la Paix Montparnasse. It's on Blvd Raspail and it's walkable to the station if you're in okay shape and do not have tons of luggage. Otherwise it's a quick taxi ride.

Are you looking for a hotel for your entire stay or for just one night before heading to Chartres? I l have stayed many times near Gare Montparnasse but if this is a first trip to Paris, I would be inclined to stay north of that area. I wouldn't let the tail wag the dog by choosing accommodations near the bus stop but would pick a spot more central to sights. On the other hand, this could be your umpteenth trip to Paris and you only need information on this particular area so on to your question: Right across from the stop for Le Bus Direct (new name for the Air France bus) is Pullman Gare Montparnasse. It's a big modern hotel with zero old-style Parisian charm but it's good for a night if the budget works. We have stayed there twice for about 8 days in total and we like it for the AC (probably not a big deal in May) and the big US-size elevators. Just about on top of the station, is the Concorde Montparnasse, another big chain-like place. Within a 10 minute walk of the station is Hotel Apollon Montparnasse, a sister hotel of a Rick Steves fave, Hotel Londres et Eiffel. Apollon Montparnasse is a a great deal. Another decent, well priced place within a "less than 10 minute" walk of the station is Hotel Lenox Montparnasse -- I have not stayed at that one but have heard good things about it.

Villa Montparnasse is right across from the Montparnasse cemetery and is very close to rue Daguerre - a commercial market street.
If you really want to stay around the train station, these hotels are very close:
Mercure, Hotel Waldorf, TimHotel, or Ibis.

How long are you staying in Paris? My suggestion is to perhaps go straight from the airport to the Gare Montparnasse and stay the night in Chartres. It's only about a 1-2 hour train trip and Chartres is a very easy city to navigate. This way you stay active enough visiting the city to combat the jetlag and you get to visit a new city. That way when you come back to Paris you can stay somwhere else other than near the train station.

We have been to Paris before, and are planning to spend a few nights there. We are open to the idea of staying someplace in Paris other than near Montparnasse. I guess I was just wondering if the hotels and neighborhood near Gare Montparnasse are decent.

Yes, quite decent. We are one Metro stop away right now and stay here twice a year. It doesn't have well-known tourist sites-- just a couple smaller specialized museums, but it was the center of the 1920s art and music scene. The Montparnasse Cemetery has some famous burials too. It's well-known for its crêperies, but really you can find everything here. No problem at all. You've been to Paris before and staying in this neighborhood certainly simplifies logistics. Good plan.

I agree that this area is quite decent. Actually, lots of good restaurants and hotels within a 15-20 minute walk and it is a good area for a person who has been to Paris before.

We spent nine nights in an apartment a few blocks from the Gare, on Rue du Chateau. Around the corner was a Metro station (Pernety) on a street full of restaurants and stores. I don't know about hotels, and I don't mean to recommend that street over others nearby, but I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for in that neighborhood. And I second the recommendations for the cemetery and the Rue Daguerre market.

Also consider the idea of that first night in Chartres, if your flight gets in early enough. It's a short train ride, the town is lovely, and RS and other guidebooks recommend places to stay and eat (as no doubt would others on this forum if you ask).

Pernety is quite far from Gare Montparnasse, just so the OP knows about it.

Indeed, five metro lines run through Montparnasse, so the easiest is to stay at a hotel near the station, not a nearby stop. That way when you leave for Chartres, you go into the station at street level instead of negotiating the endless underground tunnels and stairs if you enter via the Metro.

Also, generally the train for Chartres leaves on one of the tracks near the far right. Hop a train that has either Chartres, Nogent-le-Rotrou, or Le Mans as the terminus and you will get there! If you find you have extra time, stop in Maintenon and visit the beautiful castle there (about a 15-20 minute walk from the train station and it's about 3 or 4 stops before Chartres) or go to Nogent-le-Rotrou (20 min from the gare and about 4 or 5 stops after Chartres) and visit a totally different type of castle. If you need any hotel or restaurant recommendations, I would be glad to help

Just one additional comment--I wouldn't book on one street in the interesting Montparnasse neighborhood, rue de la Gaîté. It does have well-known theaters, a hotel where tour groups are housed, including RS in the past, but 3/4 of the street is seedy from porn shops mixed into the neighborhood shops, so it's not the best example of Paris. Unlike the wide boulevards near Pigalle, this is a narrow street.

Take a look at www.parisbytrain.com to orient yourself to this big train station. You can also check Google maps, which includes a function to show hotels in the neighbourhood. Here are photos from Paris by Train including access from the Metro station which is a bit of a trudge from the centre of the train station: https://parisbytrain.com/gare-montparnasse-photo-tour/
The big cemetery is worth a stroll although it can't boast of playing host to as many notables as Pere Lachaise on the east side.

Thanks to all who have posted.

We now have a direct flight from our home airport (Hartford - Bradley) to Dublin on Aer Lingus. On our last trip to Europe, we flew to Dublin, stayed awhile in Dun Laoghaire to recover from the overnight flight, and then proceeded to the main part of the journey. We may do the same for the upcoming trip to France. The May 2018 trip will end in Nice, so we will probably fly back to Dublin in the afternoon, stay in Dun Laoghaire overnight, then fly home. I will post another message regarding day trips from Nice.