Hotel choice Paris

Marais, way more convenient to most things.

Marais....and you won't see as many RS guidebooks

I would choose the Marais also.

I vote for the Marais as well.

Thanks for all the opinions. I guess I was more interested in the choice between hotels, but clearly the Marais seems to be favored by all.

david, I'm going to be the dissenting opinion. I've stayed at the Grand Hotel Leveque and would certainly recommend it. It's not luxurious, but very comfortable and I happen to like the Rue Cler area. In my experience it doesn't seem to matter which part of cities one stays, as the RS Guidebooks are EVERYWHERE!

We just returned from Paris and stayed at the Grand Hotel Leveque. We might have had the same room you're describing - updated twin room in the rear. The room was INCREDIBLY small - I felt a bit claustrophobic; however, the hotel was clean, the staff very helpful and friendly plus I liked the air conditioning because it was quite hot when we were there. I was not a total fan of the Rue Cler street but found the location convenient to the train and buses. I would stay there again.

We just returned from Paris and stayed at the Grand Hotel Leveque. We might have had the same room you're describing - updated twin room in the rear. The room was INCREDIBLY small - I felt a bit claustrophobic; however, the hotel was clean, the staff very helpful and friendly plus I liked the air conditioning because it was quite hot when we were there. I was not a total fan of the Rue Cler street but found the location convenient to the train and buses. I would stay there again.

The Marais is just as convenient to the metro (trains) and busses as rue Cler so don't let that be the determining factor...The Marais is more charming, more fun and more quintissential Paris to me, than rue Cler...This is just my opinion, others will disagree.

I would stay in the Marias. Here's a good place to stay Hotel Le Sevigne - Marias http://www.le-sevigne.com/ang_accueil.htm

Thanks to all. Everyone has been most helpful. Luckily, I still have 3 weeks to decide. David

Cynthia,, just so you know for next time,, 13 euros for breakfast is not a "fair price" ,, even if it is "more then rolls and coffee". It may be comparable to other hotel breakfasts,, but everyone should know, hotel breakfasts are usually a rip off. I had a lovely country omelette breakfast ( potatoes , ham , cheese) fresh squeezed oj,and coffee, for breakfast for less then 10 euros at a cafe 1/2 block from my hotel,, and even then I could have probaly paid less if I hadn't been in a touristy area.. Best of all, it was so yummy. I actually plan to go back to that exact place and have it again,, LOL Normally I just have a continental breakfast in Paris, and it runs about 5 -7 euros in most places( still in touristy areas) ,, so basically , leave hotel for breakfast if budget is at all a concern.

David,, I hope you already have reservations at both places and are just waiting to cancel one of them at last minute. Finding a hotel in September and October is not always as easy as people think , they are still very busy months, even more so in some ways because of trade shows and fashion shows etc.

Thank you for your advice. david

We will be in Paris last week in September and first week in October. We have a booking at Grand Hotel Leveque and Hotel Sevigne....I need to cancel one of them asap - can anyone compare the two for me? Sounds like most of you like the Marais area.

We love the rue Cler area...oh! wait, we love ALL of Paris! We have stayed several times at Grand Lévêque and enjoy it and the location. Our only complaint is that they do not allow food and drink in the rooms nor will they let you bring food from the market to their breakfast room. I checked out the Sévigné which looks quite nice...If I had a reservation already at the Sévigné, I'd stay there[INVALID]after checking out on a map how close it is to the Seine. We do enjoy the open-markets on rue Cler but those can be found in many other neighborhoods too.

It is to be expected that when you ask for hotel advice for Paris you will get 18 replys.... make it 19. I love the Grand Hotel Leveque. One important point is that I would request a room STREET SIDE. The rooms are much nicer street side and rue Cler is a pedestrian only street so you don't have the noise of most Parisian streets. I've found the rooms in the back to be small, cramped and with no view to speak of.

Cnythia ,, I said the price was "comparable to other hotel breakfasts",, but not fair. Everyone knows breakfasts can be had cheaper out of hotel. And there is a middle ground , between super budget and more luxurious , I hardly am in the hostelling crowd. Frankly I have only enjoyed eating a hotel breakfast in one hotel( Hotel Brighton) I have stayed at (in Paris) as it had a lovely bright breakfast room ,, but most seem to be in cellars,, not my idea of lovely. I must say, I really like being able to bring snacks up to my room, and would never choose to stay at a place that was strict about not allowing it. Sometimes after a long or busy day, a picnic on the bed while watching some tv. and pouring over the guide books is just the ticket. There are so many good take out food choices in Paris.

I am amazed...I've heard nothing but great things about the Hotel Leveque for years on this board...but today we have someone telling us that they do not allow food and drink in the rooms nor will they let you bring food from the market to their breakfast room. If Darcy is correct, it is not an insignificant issue...having a picnic in your room (or on a balcony if available) as Darcy noted is one of the joys of visiting Paris. Frankly I'm disappointed in all of those who have recommended the Laveque for their failure to identify this shortcoming.

Bill, the "no food in your room rule" for this hotel has been noted many times before in other threads. It kind of reminds one of being in school, don't you think? I have always been puzzled by the crush so many on this board have on rue Cler. It seemed a very ordinary street to me, not nearly as vibrant & interesting as the streets of other hotels where I have stayed, but then I am not stuck on staying in the single digit arrondissements.

These posts have been so helpful to me - We cancelled our reservation at Grand Hotel Leveque and are keeping the one at Hotel Sevigne. After a long hard day of sightseeing, etc., we do want the option of a picnic in our room and the location is perfect!

Le Marais. By a landslide. :o)