Struggling Where to Stay in Paris

Hotels in Paris have their peak season in September/October. With this year's Rugby World Cup, surprising you have found as many hotel options as you have. The bulk of what you have listed are big corporate chain hotels, safe but uninspiring. At this point, does it make a huge difference? Generally, the Best Western chain is very nice in France.

Mercure Paris Bercy Bibliothèque is in the 13th.

Hotel Muget in the 7th

D'win Hotel - Paris Marais - This says its in Marais but looks more 2nd district to me(it's on 20 Rue du Temple,)

I'm not famiiar with this particular hotel but it's in the area where I stayed (also on Rue du Temple not far from there). I was staying in an apartment about a block from there. It's on the edge of the Marais district in the 3rd and it's a very convenient area, probably a 5-10 minute walk to Hotel de Ville and the metro stop there which is on the main (no. 1) line that will take you pretty much anywhere. I walked to the Notre Dame area and to the Luxembourg Garden area, also it's close to the Pompidou Center and lots of bakeries and bars. Now, admitedly that was 10 years ago and things might have changed but at that time it was a pretty happening area but not rowdy late at night and I always felt comfortable waking back from the metro at night (if safety is of any concern).

Maybe someone may comment on the current status of this area. I'd be disappointed if it's gone down since I stayed there because I really liked it.

Hopefully you'll get some input on the other places on your list with which I'm not familiar.

Don't get too hung up on which arrondissement you'll be in. Look for a place within a few blocks of a Metro station, preferably one where two lines intersect so you'll have an easier time getting around. I don't know any of the hotels on your list. Every neighborhood has cafes, bakeries, and other services you'll want. I can't help re nightlife, I like mornings better.

Lucky to be having this trip and I hope it goes well for you. Here are our host's suggestions on what to check out in Paris besides the Louvre, Catacombs, and Eiffel Tower. If you can't get up the ET, you might try the Tour Montparnasse, a somewhat comparable overview but much easier to access.

First of all, you guys are awesome, knowledgeable and super helpful. I appreciate you all very much. Just wanted to get that out first :)

Hotels in Paris have their peak season in September/October. With this
year's Rugby World Cup, surprising you have found as many hotel
options as you have. The bulk of what you have listed are big
corporate chain hotels, safe but uninspiring. At this point, does it
make a huge difference? Generally, the Best Western chain is very nice
in France.

I never knew that. I figured it was like elsewhere, where it's mid-shoulder. Good to know. Like I said this was super last minute for us, so it's lots of scrambling! I did NOT know it was the Rugby World Cup :O. This will be interesting to say the least.

I'm not famiiar with this particular hotel but it's in the area where
I stayed (also on Rue du Temple not far from there). I was staying in
an apartment about a block from there. It's on the edge of the Marais
district in the 3rd and it's a very convenient area, probably a 5-10
minute walk to Hotel de Ville and the metro stop there which is on the
main (no. 1) line that will take you pretty much anywhere. I walked to
the Notre Dame area and to the Luxembourg Garden area, also it's close
to the Pompidou Center and lots of bakeries and bars. Now, admitedly
that was 10 years ago and things might have changed but at that time
it was a pretty happening area but not rowdy late at night and I
always felt comfortable waking back from the metro at night (if safety
is of any concern).

From what I'm slowly gathering, it's still a great area. And the hotel is five minutes from Hotel de Ville, so that's awesome it's so connected

I like booking.com. Good for research as well as booking.

I went to booking and did a mock booking for five nights for two in early October, central Paris.

I got. a lot of results with high ratings and I thought that prices were reasonable but I do not know Paris.

It can't hurt to try booking.com even just for research.

Thank you everyone! I settled on the D'win. Goodbye years of points!

Thank you again everyone! This was really putting my anxiety through the roof and you helped me through with your advice :)

The D’win hotel is definitely in Le Marais and not in the second arrondissement. You can tell it is not in the second because it’s postal code ends in 4. Hotel Odyssey is in the first arrondissement. It’s not so much the arrondissement (district) that should drive your choice but the neighborhood, which can sometimes cross arrondissements’ borders. For example portions of Le Marais are in the 3rd an 4th. I think the D’win Hotel followed by the Marais Home, which is in the Haut Marais/Republique area are the better choices for what you appear to want out of your trip. Other than Hotel Josephine, I would probably skip all the hotels you have listed after Hotel Odyssey, based on their locations. Not saying, they are in bad neighborhoods but rather that they are less conveniently located. What water is Mercure on?

Before I ended my vacation in France on Sept 10, one saw a lot of hype over the Rugby World Cup presently going on. France is one country favored. The US is not in this World Cup,

I am familiar with hotels in the 10th Arron. since that's the area I stay and this time did a lot of checking around (for future trips staying in the 10th)) plus the fact that Paris is expensive, even those 2 star hotels in the 10th. Which hotels in the 10th are you referring to?

On one bus line starting in the 10th, I can reach all the train stations except Gare St Lazare., ie Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon, Austerlitz (for that direct shot to Orleans, changing to Blois), are accessible on that bus line....super convenient.

What water is Mercure on?

Next door to the "Sexodrome". Does that count as water??

For some reason, known only to Google, when you google this hotel and look on the the map function, an image of the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, a pedestrian bridge over the Seine pops up, looking across to the buildings of the Francois Mitterand Library.

Personally, I would go with La Manufacture

I know where it is, I haven’t stayed there it’s very close to the metro. It’s not in the heart of the tourist district which I kind of like because they’re actually people that live there and you’ll find reasonable food and stuff like that. There’s you’re not far from Butte-aux-Cailles which has a lot of activity at night, restaurants etc. and you’re not going be sitting next to 50 other Americans.

But regardless, I would book tomorrow I’m going in November, and I already have a hotel booked

I so agree with @Dick not to be too hung up about which arrond. to stay in. Sure, pick a spot that's not terrible and also close to a metro, but otherwise, Paris is so accessible all around with walking and metro. Unless you're really spending a lot of time in your hotel/AirBnB, you might want to regard your chosen spot more as a convenient spot to park your possessions and have a bed to sleep at the end of the day.

Because your research is revealing that so many hotels are full (how often did I the sign on the front in English "Hotel is full" or "Complet" ) and are charging such high prices, exactly as I saw, you may not have much choice.

I agree with Dick's advice that you get a place at a price you can live with near a Metro station or a bus station, be it in the single digital Arron. or the double Arron. If you are focusing on hotels in popular areas, as others are doing, then expect high prices.

Mercure (as a French chain) is expensive.

Good choice picking the D'win Hotel. I think you will really like the central location and the marais is wonderful! Have a great trip!

Can't say for sure about the crowds at that time, but we plan to climb the stairs on the Effiel Tower. Have done it before. You can go to 1st or 2nd etage (not all the way up to 3rd), and it's cheaper with minimal line. We usually just walk up and buy a ticket. Never more than a few minutes to wait. Climb isn't too bad, just go as slowly as needed and enjoy it. My 6 and 8 year old kids did it in 2022.

I hope you have a great trip!
I would love it if you would come back after your trip and review the hotel.

Thanks everyone!

Can't say for sure about the crowds at that time, but we plan to climb
the stairs on the Effiel Tower. Have done it before. You can go to 1st
or 2nd etage (not all the way up to 3rd), and it's cheaper with
minimal line. We usually just walk up and buy a ticket. Never more
than a few minutes to wait. Climb isn't too bad, just go as slowly as
needed and enjoy it. My 6 and 8 year old kids did it in 2022.

Oh I was under the impression I couldn’t go beyond floor 2 since there were no stair tickets for the top either

In the last few years we've booked directly on the hotel website. If it was part of a chain, I made sure I signed up as a member for that particular chain and this has gotten us “preferred rates.”
Additionally, twice in the In the last year, we've used Costco Travel—transfers, trains, hotels.
A bit pricy but also with some benefits.
Last year Costco Travel put a package together for us—Paris and London Your Way. Removed a lot of anxiety.
This year Costco Travel booked trains from Seville, Madrid, Madrid to Barcelona and hotels with incredible breakfasts, and transfers.
I’m sure the AAA/CAA also has similar services.