Hi all,
I am trying to choose between Rue Cler and Ile St. Louis areas? Please help. Both look great leaning towards Rue Cler looks like very quaint Parisian area, leaning towards Ile St. Louis very walkable to Rick's walk and especially Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle, St. Sulpice for concerts.
Which do you guys like best?
Thanks
Dot
If you want to see 'Americans in Paris' choose Rue Cler, which ceased to be a quaint Parisian area long ago. Ile St. Louis, though also heavily touristed, maintains its quaint charm and is a much more central to the locations you mentioned. Cross the river in either direction, wander and discover your own favorite quaint area.
@dot
While both neighborhood are nice. I prefer Rue Cler. It's a bit more touristy, not as central. But you are within walking distance of some of the top sites like Napoleon's Tomb, military museum, Rodin Museum, and the Eiffel.
Best of all you can walk over to the Eiffel every evening before you go to bed and see this:
For me, Ile St. Louis. It is in central Paris and you can walk to many places from there. It's also very charming. I have stayed in Rue Cler (Ist trip) and although it is nice enough, it is also far from most places tourists go to.
If I lean towards Ile St. Louis area I'm thinking Hotel du Jeu de Paume.
Has anyone stayed there?
Dot
Dot, there was this thread a few weeks back, too:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/stay-in-rue-cler-area-or-on-ile-st-louis-in-paris
The Paris-Walks "Two Islands" walk is a great way to see the area as well, whether you stay on the island or not:
http://www.paris-walks.com/summer-walks.html
Hotel du Jeu de Paume is one of Rick's more expensive hotel listings in Paris. Although the location is super, I wouldn't pay an extra €100 per night to sleep there versus the also-nice Rue Cler. If the price difference is not that much more than the other hotels you're considering, or the price doesn't bother you, then go for it.
We stayed on Rue Cler many years ago and it is not particularly central and now almost entirely given over to American tourists. There must be half a dozen market streets in Paris with more charm; I totally don't get what is supposed to be so great about this out of the way ordinary place. For a first trip I would opt for the 4th, 5th or 6th near the river -- the Isle St. Louis is very central and has charm although not particularly convenient for metro and of course very touristy.
I believe the Grand Hotel Leveque has been renovated in recent years; it wasn't when we were there. It remains the worst hotel we have ever stayed in in Europe -- and we have spent many months traveling in Europe over the past 30 years. We always travel close to the ground -- but this place was dirty, noisy, dank and had absolutely the worst management we have ever experienced. e.g. they repeatedly told our baby sitter trying to reach us from the states that we were not booked there (we stayed 5 nights). It is long enough ago that I am sure the place has changed -- but we didn't find the location on Rue Cler particularly lovely or convenient.
Maybe look at where the top sites that you want to see are, and pick based on that? If your time is limited, you might want to be close to your tops sights if they are near the Ile. If your schedule is more leisurely, you might be more inclined to save a little and stay farther out. I've only got one full day in Paris, and originally wanted to stay on Ile St Louis because that is where all the sights I want to see are concentrated, but the affordable options are already booked for when I want to go. So, I am planning to stay in Saint Germain de Pres area, still very close, and while definitely not cheap, there are some less expensive hotels. I booked a room at Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche (now, hopefully I won't find out any horror stories from anyone about their stay there!).
The Ile would definitely be my choice as between these two areas. Much more central to more sights, the river is beautiful too. But it will cost more. I've been to Rue Cler several times, nothing wrong with it but not as central. I tend to agree with Janet (but don't know about the hotel she didn't like).
If the Ile is too expensive (as it would be more me), consider the Latin Quarter or Marais, or St-Germain if you want to be nearer St-Sulpice.
Thanks to all. I think I'll go for the Ile St. Louis area. This will probably be my one and only trip to Paris location over cost. So many places to see in Paris - trying to keep a balance between museums and just enjoying.
Now looking into Colmar as a small village and wine region. I'll post as a separate thread.
Again thanks to all.
Dot
