female traveler quest. about eurostar from london to paris

Is that $150 per night or for your whole stay? The Gare du Nord is not in a touristy area and the area it is in is not safe for a lone female foreigner to stay in, as far as I would think. If you want somewhere close to the Eiffel Tower, try looking for Passy, which is a very nice area although the hotels may be a little pricey.

The Gare du Nord area is not safe for a solo female foreigner? I disagree with that 100%. First visit ever to Paris I was solo & I stayed in that area for 2 weeks walking around and taking the metro from Gare du Nord both very early and very late. Never had a single problem. Had strange characters try to approach me closer to the tourist sights like Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower & Sacre Couer where it was more evident I was a tourist. But as far as Gare du Nord, none. Doesn't mean to say there isn't some homeless people loitering in front of the train station (what large city doesn't have the same?), but in 2 weeks of passing by them not one of them even tried to panhandle for money. There are also a few porno shops close to the train station - but the windows are covered up and no one hangs around outside bothering passerby. Get a few blocks from the train station and the 10e is filled with Paris locals going about their daily lives. It's got bakeries, cafes, bistros, & stores offering food & services at much more reasonable prices. It's also got a number of hotels with rates that are more budget friendly for those with $150 or less per night budget. And the multiple metro and bus lines make getting anywhere in Paris quick and simple. People who usually say they think the 10e is dangerous are generally people who have never actually stayed there and only know what they have seen within a 2-3 block radius of the station (and they always say they saw homeless people or sex shops!). So if seeing a homeless guy offends your delicate sensibilities, then stick to Rue Cler where you will see lots of other tourists. If you want to walk to most all of your tourist sights, then stay in the Latin Quarter or Marais; but your budget could handicap you from many choices for hotels in those areas.

$150 a night. homeless people dont bother me but i dont want to stay at a hotel where they love to hang

mel, I don't believe it's necessary to stay close to Gare du Nord, as it's VERY easy to get around Paris via Metro. If you'd prefer to be within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and other attractions, you might consider staying in the Rue Cler area (in the 7th). Some consider the area a bit "touristy", but I don't mind that. Your budget of US$150 is only about €115, so it may be somewhat "challenging" to find something in that range. Two Hotels that you could look at are Hotel Grand Leveque (somewhat "basic" but quite comfortable) or Hotel Muguet (more "comfortable", and they advertise singles from €100). You'll have to check with both Hotels for rates specific to the time you'll be there. I would highly recommend packing along either the Paris 2012 Guidebook or the new Pocket Paris Guide ($12.99). There's an enormous amount of information there to help your trip go smoothly. Be sure to wear a Money Belt and beware of "scams" such as the "friendship bracelet". Depending on what you want to see and when you'll be there, you might consider a Paris Museum Pass, which will get you through the queues a bit quicker. It's possible to pre-book times online for the Eiffel Tower, although I believe one of the Elevators is out of service at the moment so that may not be available. Bon Voyage!

Hi, That accessment of the Gare du Nord area by Ceidleh is accurate and correct...right on target. At Gare du Nord you can find dirt cheap accomodations for 30Euro or those over 200 Euro per night for a single, what ever fits your budget. Mostly 2 and 3 star hotels are in the area. It's the area I always stay in, mainly for its convenience to Euro-Star and Gare de l'Est. As far as reaching the other train stations, such as Gare de Lyon and St. Lazare, not only are the Metro and RER lines available but also the buses, right outside the station....very convenient if you want avoid the Metro with luggage. The hotels at Gare du Nord are the closest to Euro-Star. The Montmarte area is ca. a 20 mins. walk from Nord. As pointed out above, no need to worry about the area's safety.

@ fred, so the other stations listed on the eurostar website, those also take you into other parts of paris? ie. 1-9arr or is only the gare du nord station
thanks

@ ken,
the grand is sold out and the le muget is out of my range 150euro. thank you though

It is not a hotel but a place that I am considering when I book a trip for november. It is called the Canal Apartment. the longer you stay, the more affordable it becomes. I am considering 8 nights and they are offering the apartment at 109 euros for more a weeks stay. It is near st martin's canal, which is a stones throw away from the Gare du nord. Here is the link. they supply linens, towels, coffee tea. It is a 1 bedroom apartment with a washing machine. Here is a link. http://www.canal-apartment-paris.com/ Their other apartment is in the Marais and can be as cheap as 99 euro. It is a studio apartment but looks completely cool. It is around the Pompidou. http://www.great-apartment-paris.com/ Both have excellent tripadvisor reviews.

Dear Mel: You seem a little unclear about EuroStar. Its only Paris stop is Gare du Nord. It essentially is an express train from London although some services have other destinations or intermediate stops. Also it is worth noting that the sooner you buy your ticket, the cheaper it will be.
In general, you can relax about picking a perfect area of Paris to stay. The central part of the city is very compact and all attractions are easily accessible by public transport or even on foot. For transport information, consult www.seat61.com or www.parisbytrain.com

mel,, I wonder when you are travelling, these hotels are in great areas, and cheap,, IF booked well in advance. They will be full or more expensive if you are looking for june now . Hotel Saint Pierre ( on Rue D'ecole De Medicine) Hotel Diana Hotel College Du France

Are you open to staying in a hostel? If so, then I heartily recommend any of the three MIJE hostels in the Marais. Both the Riok Steves and Lonely Planet Paris guidebooks call them "the best budget accommodations in Paris." They are renovated 17-century private mansions and are centrally located and close to metro stations. You could walk from any of them to Notre-Dame in 15 minutes. While school groups often use them, they're open to people of any age, including seniors (like me). You can get a single room for €51.00/night which includes a continental breakfast. You'll need to pay a membership fee of €2.50/year.

Mel, As pointed out already above, the Euro-Star's only stop in Paris is Gare du Nord. It's basically going from St. Pancras station to Gare du Nord. Anywhere you want go after getting off the Euro-Star, you'll have to go by Metro, RER, or the buses outside the station, either on Rue de Dunkerque (parallel to the station) or on Rue de Saint-Quentin. Both these streets have 2 and 3 star hotels. This is the where I stay. The Gare du Nord area has only one hostel...Vintage Hostel on 73 Rue de Dunkerque, ca. 10-15 mins walk after exiting from Gare du Nord, ie. turn right, if you are considering staying at a hostel. I myself haven't stayed there but have checked it out....very satisfactory. Keep going on Rue de Dunkerque and you'll be in the Montmarte area.

HI Mel, I am a frequent lone female travel. I have been to Paris multiple times, and have never felt unsafe. It is a wonderful city, with something for everyone! You just need to take the proper precautions just like you would in any other city. Just use your best judgment. With that said, I would not recommend staying near Garde du Nord, not for safety reasons but simply because it's not particularly close to the main "tourist" things that people like to see. Keep in mind that Paris is a geographically HUGE city. Garde du Nord is in the north-east part of the city. Most of the attractions (L'Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame, the Louvre, etc.) are in the center of the city. (The Eiffel Tour is in the South West part of the city, on the opposite side of the river, and actually a fair distance away from a lot of other attractions.) Although Paris is easy to get around on the metro, going from one end of the city to the other on the metro can still take close to an hour. So to minimize the time you spend on the metro, and maximize you enjoyment time, I recommend trying to find somewhere closer to the center. It's been a few years since I stayed in Paris so I can't give a specific recommendation, but I recommend getting one of Rick's travel book. He usually has alot of budget friendly options. Good luck!

I stayed here in 2010 and loved the location, prices owners etc. 10 minutes walk to Eiffel Tower Great Italian resurant la Taverna down the street as well. Nothing wrong with the Rue Cler area. I liekd it. http://www.hotelduchampdemars.com/

In mel's post of 22/4 she says "I won't be able to stay in Paris" so recommendations for hotels in Paris are redundant.

thanks every1 for the advise. im going to try to stay in paris over night, hopfully i can find a hotel on a wed or thurs night. i was at first going to stay in paris for a couple of days but then i booked a hotel in london for my entire stay because im flying in and out from there and it was very hard getting a hotel there even with 3 wks advance planning. i guess thats not enough time to plan a trip to europe. lol
worst case scenario i will do a day trip in paris if i cant find a hotel for 1 night.

Mel, Hopefully, at the very least, you find the time to do a day trip to Paris by Euro-Star. See what type of cheap fare is still available on Euro Star. When you get to Gare du Nord, look for the Metro lines or the buses on Rue de Saint-Quentin (in front of a restaurant) will take you to the commonly visited sights.

i just emailed hotel du champ de mars and grand hotel leveque, both in the 7 area. thanks! hopefully one of them are vacant, im hoping for the champ de mars. :) now i have to just wait for a return email about the vacancy. eeerrr :(

ugh! no luck! both sold out :(

mel, did you try the hotels I suggested, all are even more central then the 7th, I have stayed at two of them solo, and the third one is well recommended and I am booked there for this summer.

At the budget end of the massive Accor chain of properties, with hundreds of hotels all over Paris, is Etap . I just had a quick peek for the 17th of May (not sure of your dates) and found several with availability for that night in the range of €58- €63 per night. Not the Ritz, but at least they include soap and a towel, and TV. If you want to keep a few €uros in your pocket and don't mind a bit of a Métro ride to your sites they might do the job. trying to find private hotels this close to the day may be a "challenge".

... and have you tried using the hotels feature on the Eurostar site? You can probably get a hotel and the Eurostar fare cheaper than just the Eurostar fare... keep trying...

You can try the Hotel de l'Avre, not far from a metrol stop and not expensive.

@nigel...whhhhaaaattt! i didnt see the hotel combo thing! errrr lol oh well, i have learned a good lesson and an expensive 1. Note to self...Self, dont ever make travel arrangements at a popular destination you have never been to in less than 3 wks! no matter how good the air fare is! lol so i booked Timhotel at the louvre. only thing i could find and i didnt have to wait for an email response for a vacancy. i see a trend going on. im paying good money to sleep at dumps! lol at least i dont have to pay for tv , i think they have soap and a towel there? lol i will have to check. but i know for sure there is a lift.