I am looking for recommendations for a hotel in Paris for about 4-5 nights in late Oct. for an older single female traveling alone. Naturally I want to be near a metro stop, but I do not need to be going to all the "tourist" destinations as I have been to Paris a couple times in the past- though not in many years. On this trip I just want to go to a few museums and walk around the city and soak up the atmosphere. I have read many of the recommendations on the Trav. Helpline, but have not found anything yet that fits my budget as the cost is a factor. Would very much like to keep it no more than $100US if possible, since I am traveling alone. Any suggestions????? Thanks! Patricia Also, what is the best way now to get from the airport (CDG) to a hotel?
Posted by
OP
Irvine, California
66 posts
Thanks, Ralph, Lisa, Ed, and Karen for your input. I will check out your suggestions and also about the Paris Walks!
I'm interested in safety rather than ethnicity, Ed, but thanks for your info..... Patricia
Posted by
Lansing, MI, USA
85 posts
I always stay at the Hotel Republique on Rue Albert Thomas. It's inexpensive, clean, and comfortable. The location is a couple of short blocks off of the Place de la Republique - several Metro lines intersect here. There's a wonderful bakery nearby, and a Leader Price grocery store. It's a bit quirky, they seem to change the colorful decor every couple of years, and they have what must be the world's smallest elevator, but I've always been comfortable here. (I generally travel alone, too.) I take the RoissyBus from CDG to the Opera, then a taxi to the hotel. I do this to avoid the Metro's stairs when I'm jet lagged and toting a suitcase.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
'9th Arr, the ethnic part of Paris' If 'ethnic' means a bunch of white people that put on modern clothes and stepped out of Gigi , probably so. It's one of the most historically and culturally rich areas of the city, rivaling the arrondissements of the inner core. Arrondissements are nothing more than administrative districts. None (not even the central ones) are homogeneous in character or culture and all except the inner few are fairly large. It might be possible to characterize a neighborhood within an arrondissement as having something to distinguish it in one way or another, but that's as far as it goes. And, as far as something being ethnic (whatever that means), the people that live there are still French Parisians - - whatever their hide color or where they show up for church on everwhat day of the week. And, however you characterize an area, you can go stand in the middle of it and find a gazillion exceptions. Thinking a bit, the only arrondissment I could really stereotype is the 16th, and that one's easy - - money.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
Last October, I stayed in the Hotel du Loiret. It's in the 4th, just off Rue du Rivoli. It was 70 euros for a single. It's pretty basic, but clean and comfortable. I was alone, and I felt very safe. Bathroom was very small and I had to contort around to get into the shower. I loved the location and the area. http://www.hotel-du-loiret.fr/ I took RER from CDG to St. Michel, and walked about 10 minutes. I think you can also go to the Chatelet-Les Halles RER stop. Look into Paris-Walks for some great walking tours. I went on 4 of them in a week, and wish I'd done more.