2 people traveling to Paris in September. We are looking for a place to stay that has some character in a neighborhood with character. Think "Quintessential Paris"I think we would like to stay in arrondisements 3, 4, 5, but are open to ANY recommendations Somewhere we can make some locals our friends.
Any help is extremement aprecie!
Merci
Sam
I might add that air conditioning is a must.
Sam
I'm not sure the "Quintessential Paris" hotel would have air conditioning! But here is a link to my favorite hotel in Paris:
There is good news and bad news: “quintessential Paris” and air conditioning are oxymorons. However, you won’t need air conditioning. So all good.
I stayed here once and would consider the hotel itself “quintessential” Paris. It’s charming :-) Also very central location. The rooms have AC.
I would disagree that you don't need air conditioning. You might not need air conditioning, but early September in Paris last year was absolutely miserable, with temperatures at 97 and 98 degrees F (and the city is a heat pump as the buildings were built to retain heat during long wet cool winters, and it's one of most "mineral" cities in the world).
You could also get lucky and be here when days are in the 70s, there is no way to know. We don't have a/c in our apartment and it is tough to sleep those hot nights -- but then I go to my air-conditioned office during the day, I am not out trying to tour around. As someone from Oklahoma, I can attest that 97 degrees in Paris is a lot more unpleasant than 97 degrees at home.
People's tolerance for heat varies, of course, and maybe the OP will do fine without air conditioning. But to dismiss it out of hand seems to me to betray a lack of knowledge of Paris in September these past few years.
Sam, be aware that September is the most expensive month of the year in Paris for hôtels, so be prepared for sticker shock !
Back in my young and cheap roaming days, I learned that "character" in Paris hotels meant a lumpy mattress and plumbing with a mind of its own. Ditto "colourful and "authentic".
Having successfully reached my dotage, I am willing to pay for "convenience" and "efficiency".
And for air conditioning, even in September. Opening a window to catch a breath of fresh air can also invited all the street noise to share your slumber.
A little more to the point, I now stay around Place de la Republique, served by five Metro lines, speeding up my commutes.
my memories of hotels in Paris with "Quintessential Paris" include 3 steps up from the lobby to the micro-lift (elevator) with room for a skinny person and one suitcase on edge - just. Then up to the top floor, walk around the corner and a staircase up again to the real top floor - where the lift did not reach - to a tiny bedroom (what's air-conditioning?) overlooking the street through a tiny window with a toilet down the hall.
These days I pay for creature comforts and keep "character" in my memory.
I have no idea what a quintessentail Paris hotel is and I don't think that I have been to any hotel in Paris where I would plan on being able to make friends with locals and I have stayed in a lot of hotels in Paris. Hotel Monge in the 5th is lovely spot and last time I stayed there the front desk person who checked us in remembered my family from our a stay a month before at the sister property (Hotel Fabric) in the 11th. Hotel Bachaumont in the 2nd arrondissement is a great place and the hotel that I stayed at in Paris where I met the most locals and that is because they have a bar in the lobby that had a lot of local patrons during the time that I stayed there. The hotels that I have stayed at where I felt the most like I was in a Parisian neighborhood and the hotels themselves were interesting are not in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th. In fact they are in the 11th and the 18th they are Hotel Fabric, Hotel Paris Bastille Boutet and Hotel Terrass.
I just stayed at the Hotel Signature on rue Chomel, just a short distance from Sevres-Babylone metro stop. It was very compact, charming, and the staff was super helpful and friendly (and English speaking). I needed an envelope & sheet of paper to mail something, and they happily gave me one & directed me to the post office. (incidentally, the self service machines at the post office are easy to use & take credit cards.)
The hotel gave us a complimentary upgrade to a balcony room. While space was tight, it was managable and thoughfully laid out, with a decent sized bathroom (good shower too). If you're not looking for huge public spaces or an onsite bar/restaurant, it might work for you. We enjoyed being steps from Grand Epicerie & Bon Marche, and a short walk from Poilane, an outpost of La Maison du Chocolate, and Jacques Genin.
The Hotel Signature Saint Germain is great. I liked it so much that I stayed at Hotel de Londres Eiffel, their sister property in the 7th near Rue Cler. Both hotels are excellent and their staff goes above and beyond.
Check the RS Paris book for some ideas…
