Rue Cler or Ile Saint Louis Hotel

On my first visit to Paris I stayed near Rue Cler, per the guidebook. While it was nice to be near the Eiffel Tower I found it was not central to most other things. For my three visits since then I chose to be able to walk to many things, so more central. I don't think you can go wrong staying on Ile St. Louis.

If you can afford to stay on the Ile Saint Louis, chose it over a Rue Cler hotel, hands down. There's nothing wrong with Rue Cler, but it isn't nearly as central, or as nice.

I've stayed in both areas and much prefer Ile St. Louis. If the place you have near Rue Cler is a better option, I'd consider it because you have the park at the Eiffel Tower as a bonus, but it's pretty quiet otherwise. Have you looked at an apartment too? Much better for a lot of people traveling with kids because of the kitchen and laundry facilities in most. Also a place for everyone to get away from each other. In Paris, renting apartments has gotten a little tricky so you may prefer to go through an agency. It's not a big deal at all.

Check out www.tripadvisor.com, Paris travel forum, and ask for hotel advice near Notre Dame. We always stay on the islands after our first visit when we took Rick's advice and stayed near Rue Cler. Not all hotels, as you probably know, have family rooms so keep the one booking you have and get busy trying to reserve another.

Ile St. Louis hands down. Please read the thread "Hotel or Apt" in the France section.

Of you can afford it , Ile is ideal, very central, walk to many sites etc. Sorry Rue Cler area is not my cuppa, its quieter and more residential, the street itself is nice enough, but you shouldn't choose an area based on one street! There are cafes, shops, and markets all over Paris..so with kids I think it's nice to stay central enough to be able to pop back to hotel to drop off shopping bags, have a rest , etc. Plus you would be in more of a hub area for transportation on the isle, walk one way for left bank stations and the other way for right bank,, you are in the middle!

PS the 5 ( Latin Quarter,) and 6 the( St Germain) are great choices too)

We've stayed on Rue Cler and Ile Saint Louis and prefer the latter by a good margin. There's nothing wrong with Rue Cler, but it isn't nearly as central or as nice. It also seems to have many more tourist carrying the blue and yellow "Bible" than Ile Saint Louis.

The Ile Saint Louis area would be best, but with the Metro you're still in a good area. The Rue Cler to me isn't a top destination considering everything that Paris offers. But, it's close to the Eiffel Tower; your kids may enjoy being close, so you could walk over to the park in the evenings.

I just spent a good portion of my weekend researching and dithering over where to stay in Paris next May--narrowed down to the Marais (3rd and 4th) and St Germain (6th). Each has much to offer that is important to me and the prices, for what I want, were in my budget. Finally decided to go with St Germain, close to Luxembourg Gardens. The metro can get you anywhere you need to be, and with such an enormous city I think that the 3/4th, 6th and 7th are most logical for being in the midst of many sight-seeing options.

Yes, the Métro can get you anywhere, but it takes time. I like stepping out my hotel or apt door and being in the heart of the part of Paris I love (ISL) and close walking distance to all that it offers. For me, the 4th, 5th or 6th are best. I do not care for the 7th or rue Cler. And the above post that mentioned lots of people carrying the RS guidebook on rue Cler is very true.. so many it made us laugh.

Next May I will be staying on the island. We rented an apartment through Cobblestone Paris Rentals, www.cobblestoneparis.com. I am really looking forward to this.

I only became aware of Rue Cler through it's popularity with RS on this forum.
I stayed in an apartment on Ile St Louis for a week during my last visit (2007).
The Latin Quarter is across the Seine one way, Le Marais the other.
Seeing Notre Dame at the beginning and end of every day is a special joy.

First trip I stayed in the Marais but I was too close to a lot of nightlife and didn't enjoy it. This May we rented an apartment near Rue Cler and really enjoyed the food options that we could take up to our apartment or eat nearby. I found it to be as central enough since nowhere in Paris can you easily walk to everything. There are a LOT of Americans in the area so striking up a conversation at a cafe is pretty easy.

There are a lot of school children around and for a family traveling with a child it seems like a pretty easy place to stay.

"Nowhere in Paris can you easily walk to everything."

Of course not, not in any city. But the 4th, 5th and 6th, as close to the river as possible, gives you way more walking options than anywhere else.. especially way more options than rue Cler.

Hear, hear, Susan.

I have stayed in Paris numerous times, the last times being in June and again in July of this year. We have always stayed in the Rue Cler neighborhood and have always enjoyed it. After reading all of these posts however, we will try the Saint Louis neighborhood next time we are in Paris. I tend to be a strict creature of habit, always staying in the same places and eating in the same places.
Time to branch out and see other places.

When traveling with a child I considered her interests when choosing a hotel. I would pick a hotel very near a park in Paris. My daughter was very interested in history as a child, but still needed to look forward to a pool or park, etc. each day. It made my days easier and she looked forward to the next trip as a result. Paris has beautiful parks from which to choose. So I might follow Christa's location if I were you, although I love Parc Monceau...

Ile St Louis is within walking distance to the Luxembourg Gardens, a wonderful park with a great playground, carousel, donkey rides, marionette shows, tennis courts, two cafes, crepe stands, bathrooms, etc.

The response is overwhelming. Thank you for all the input. We have decided to take your advice and stay central instead of in Rue Cler. Merci!!