Gare du Nord and Gare St. Lazare areas

While not the most interesting area, there are plenty of options in every price range. What range or stars are you interest in?

If you want to do some shopping, Gare St Lazare is close to Blvd Haussmann and the classy dept stores of Le Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. Hotel Queen Mary is a good mid-priced hotel in the area. I don't particularly like the Gare du Nord area.

I'll second your comment on the Gare du Nord Tim. One of the more sleazier areas of Paris. We encountered more beggars and husslers there than any other place on our trip to France and Germany last year.

Elan, No problem with staying at Gare du Nord, it's the area I always stay in. There are numerous 2 and 3 star hotels across the street ranging from 60-120 Euro for a single, depending on your price range. At Gare du Nord are American hotel chains, Best Western and Comfort, if you prefer that alternative...I don't. Right across the street from Gare du Nord are restaurants of various cusines, French, Italian, pizzerias, Chinese, North African, chains such as Buffalo Grill, McDonalds, etc. From Gare du Nord it's very convenient to get to Gare de l'Est and Gare de Lyon, EuroStar stops there as does the RER to CDG, and a 25 mins walk to Montmarte. It's hit and miss with the beggars. I've seen the place cleared of them and when they're operating in the summer ...no big deal. Don't fall for some little scammer wanting to help you buy a Metro ticket at Gare du Nord, either be belligerent or just ignore them. It's true that relative to other tourists in the summer Americans are few in numbers at Gare du Nord, even fewer at Gare de l'Est. I can't say anything about the Gare St. Lazare area.

Thank you all for your suggestions.