We have been to Paris before, but it's been 7 yrs. We like the 7th (district) and was wondering if anyone has stayed there in the last 6-9 months. Where did you stay and what was your experience with the area? We will be there a few nights and don't want to go the expensive route, rather just an economical or moderate route. I know I can look on other sites for advice as well, but I would like to hear from others too.
Please define what you consider economical.
Thanks Jane. I already emailed Hotel du Champ de Mars and Hotel de Turenne for availability. I didn't know how far to reserve ahead so your advice helped. I imagine a lot of people reserve way ahead and then maycancel 7 days beforehand without a charge. One time, we used the Paris tourist office to get a hotel, the day we arrived. They booked us into a really nice hotel at about 50% off, starting that day. I don't know if they still do that anymore but it's also worth checking into. Does anyone know if there's an office like that at the airport?
Hi Linda...we travel to France almost every year and stay in the 7th at the beginning and end of our trips. We stay in the Hotel Champ de Mars . We find it a very good bargain for the money. The Gourdals are constantly upgrading and it is very clean. breakfast is a good deal also.It does not have AC so keep that in mind if you are going in the summer. It is close to a small grocery, the metro, the post office, tabac,pharmacie,the rue cler market, several gourmet take aways,many restaurants and cafes, and a good chocolate shop or two or three. There are other good hotels in the area ,also, with AC, but you will pay more. The Relais Bosquet, the Muguet, The Valadon, and the Du Cadran are all in the area and have AC.Have a look at the trip advisor reports as well. Many people like us have stayed at the Champ de Mars for years.
I've been staying in the 7th almost every year since 2000. I was last there in May 2012. The biggest changes I've noticed are on RUE CLER. The street has new and different cafes. Some of the businesses more aimed at local trade are gone and have been replaced by those more tourist oriented. Most of this change is to the advantage of tourists, who are NOT ALL AMERICANS. I LOVE the bakery on rue Cler. The HOTEL I prefer is a few blocks from rue Cler and yet close enough for a 5-min walk to that street. It is Hotel de Turenne; it has a/c, a large lobby section with tables and big windows, an elevator, and has been upgraded fairly recently. It is lower in cost than many other hotels in the area.
Thanks Jane and Swan for your replies on your personal experiences. The rate key I would use is the same as Rick Steves. I did stay many years ago, at Hotel Les Jardins d'Eiffel, and it was very nice as well. I just wanted to get others opinions of hotels in the area. I really love rue Cler. Even when we stay in other districts, I keep going back to rue Cler. If we were staying a week, I would rent an apt., but we're only going to stay a few nights, before going to other areas of France. One last question; if we were going to be there early May, do you think we need A/C?
Hi again...I do not think you would need AC?..however you may find that the more reasonable hotels are already booked.....many of them book up6-12months in advance. Some of the more expensive hotels may have some Internet rates you could get a little more reasonably.Better try sooner than later.