We - 3 seniors in great physical shape - are ending our 3-week trip to France with an afternoon, night and morning in Paris. One has a 2 p.m. flight and the other 2 have a 5 pm flight, so we are thinking of staying in the city. We will be coming into Paris via train from Caen. At first I thought of staying somewhere near the Eiffel Tower (It's one thing my wife wants to see), but I am thinking that might be too touristy. We are thinking of a smaller, boutique-style hotel with a budget of as much as 600-700 euros for a room to accommodate the 3 of us. We'd like to be able to walk to great local restaurants and take in some of the architectural features of a neighborhood. Any help would be much appreciated.
Posted by
Chicago
8814 posts
The ET is on the western edge of the city and not near anything else. I'd get a hotel that is very central. The Henri IV Rive Gauche is well located and has a triple room -- small but nice. It is near Notre Dame, around the corner from Shakespeare and Co and near good public transport. It is also an easy walk to Pont Neuf where you could take a cruise on the Seine which if you time it right would take you by the Eiffel Tower when it sparkles. There are dozens of other central hotels -- perhaps see what is available on Ile St. louis right in the heart of the city and the Seine.
Make a decision about dinner and book something ahead. Maybe eat early -- 7 pm or so and then do a Seine cruise after. There are plenty of good restaurants. for an elegant multi course tasting menu try l'Initial which is in the 5th not far from Notre Dame.
With so little time I would not plan to go up the ET unless that is a huge wish. If so get ticket 7 days out at 1 pm Paris time on line. It is easy to take the metro to the ET, yuou don't have to be in a hotel there.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15172 posts
I usually stay in the neighborhood around the Eiffel Tower and don't find it too touristy. I like Hotel Muguet or Hotel Relais Bosquet. There are lots of places to eat that would be nice on your final night in Paris.
There are some cool Art Nouveau facades in the area by Jules Lavirotte:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Lavirotte
https://www.parisperfect.com/blog/2011/03/art-nouveau-7th-arrondissement/
And a video walk from Corey Frye starting at one of the Lavirotte buildings:
Posted by
1144 posts
Rick Steves tours stay at Hôtel de Londres Eiffel, in the 7th, which has a triple room. It is a <10 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. You don't have much time and your wife wants to see the ET. I would try to get tickets for either your afternoon or evening. I don't think you would have much time in the morning if one has a flight at 2:00. A boat ride down the Seine, such as Vedettes Seine Cruise, which starts right at the foot of the ET is about an hour long and always fun.
Some restaurants near the EF that I've enjoyed are Le P'tit Troquet and La Terrasse du 7ᵉ. I have heard very good things about Les Cocottes but haven't been able to squeeze it in.
Posted by
Chicago
8814 posts
If people actually want to go up the Tower then absolutely don't go on the day of the flight. You never want to be stuck on a boat or tower where getting out is not something you control. I'd still stay centrally where I could easily hop on the RER B to the airport, but others have given good advice if you want to stay near the ET. If you stay there plan to take cabs to the airport.
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1304 posts
You don't say what time of the year you will be visiting, but that makes a large difference in when the tower sparkles (if that is what you want to see), and hence when you may want to go to dinner or for a cruise the evening before departure. I wouldn't try to go up the tower itself on the day of departure. Your 2:00pm person will need to exit the city by early/mid morning. Regardless, with the metro and bus, you won't need to stay anywhere near the tower. I would prioritize staying somewhere convenient to getting in to Paris, and out to CDG. On my trips in and out of Normandy, I try to stay near Gare Saint-Lazare. it is the station from which you will arrive from Caen, and you can tale the convenient RoissyBus from the Opera Garnier to CDG for around 13€ per person.
Posted by
OP
Cocoa Beach, FL
14 posts
Thank you all for your input. I forgot to say we arrive in Paris May 6 and depart May 28, All raised some great points.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
892 posts
Yes, that area by the Eiffel Tower is very touristy. That’s how the butcher and the cheese shops and the fishmonger all stay in business- tourists
But the truth is you’re going to one of the most visited cities in the world. You’re not going to find some cute hidden centrally located area where they’re not tourists. sorry I spend a lot of time there. I love it, but it’s definitely got a lot of tourists