I'm traveling with a friend to Paris for the first time- looking for a hotel that is in a safe area, close to transporation, and has character and charm. I'd prefer staying in an area that is less "touristy", a real Parisian experience! Any help is welcomed. thanks!
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
I like Hotel Ideal on rue Emile-Zola in the 15th. Definitely not on the tourist trail. A short walk to Metro stop Charles-Michels and the stop for Bus No. 42 which will take you to (and/or past) the Tour Eiffel on its way to Gare du Nord. It is a 2 star, with an elevator.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
We ALWAYS stay at l'Hotel Hameau, 48 rue de Passy. Here's their website: http://www.paris-hotel-hameaudepassy.com/ This hotel features excellent prices (singles start at 53 Euros!) and is cute, safe, and spotlessly clean. The hotel staff are all really, really nice. We were there (again) in December and they'd re-done the bathrooms and upgraded the towels from our visit a scant 6 months prior to that... it seems the management really cares about keeping this hotel nice and pleasant. As for location, I can't say enough nice stuff about the neighborhood. It is within easy walking distance from the Eiffel Tower (you can see if when you walk out of the hotel into the street) and yet remains very UN-touristy. The main street (Passy) does have a number of smaller two-star hotels on it, but we have observed that these places cater to European travelers. The street has a very "locals only, neighborhoody" feel, with folks stopping for a morning coffee before work, buying bread and getting the newspaper, taking their kids to school.... Across from the hotel is a new shopping plaza with a fantastic new Monoprix where you can pick up great take-away food for a picnic, and there are also wonderful bakeries and specialty shops on every block. None of these are "touristy" - they're characteristic, local, and "real Paris." There's also a lively local street market several days a week just a few blocks up the street, closer to the Muette Metro station (easiest landmarks are l"Aero, a hilariously 1970s red pleather bistro, and McDo). In short (and I will quit ranting now) I love this hotel and this neighborhood. Highly recommended.
Posted by
OP
Leawood, ks, USA
2 posts
thank you! Are the rooms quiet? I see that each one faces a courtyard.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9420 posts
My favorite hotel in my favorite neighborhood is Hotel de Lutece on Ile Saint Louis (the island directly east of Notre Dame). It's a wonderful hotel, charming and quiet. Only a very small portion of the island is touristy, the rest is very much like a small village. It's in the heart of Paris and surrounded by the Seine river.