Paris Hotels: Is AC a Must in August?

I was in Paris in a room that got lots of sun in the afternoon. Nice and toasty on a hot day. Wouldn't have been able to sleep without the AC.

My first trip to Paris was in early August and we didn't have AC, but we didn't need it. Others say it's a must. It's a gamble not knowing in advance what the weather will be like.

It all depends on what your personal comfort needs are. I spent last Aug in Paris. My apartment was a 5th floor walk-up without AC and I had no problem with it. I'm 67, somewhat overweight but still pretty fit (at least as far as walking and stairs). I've never been obsessed with having an elevator or AC but that's a personal decision. It does make it easier to find less expensive places in good locations. For me location always beats AC when choosing.

Typically, someone cleaning your room will close up your room (windows perhaps, and curtains) to keep the sun out during the hot daytime hours. I suggest you leave the curtains closed when you go out for the day. The room will be warm when you return, but just open the window(s) to let the breeze air it out. I am an A/C fanatic, but I've never had A/C in Paris, and I travel the during The Hot Months.

Cooling is only 1/2 the benefit of having AC. Noise is an absolute nightmare in many areas. The last time we stayed in the 7th we specifically booked a hotel with AC...arrived and AC not working and every night was miserable. The traffic never stopped and the room was too hot with the windows closed. Yes, get AC.

Eileen, just the opposite happened to me. I left the curtains closed and came back to find them open - more than once. Go figure.

Don't forget the issues of no-screens and possible street noise. I trust Rick's judgement, but the fact that some of his bus tours (not talking about Paris here ...) include earplugs, and he says why, is a dealbreaker for me. On the other hand, I've been to a (Dutch) business hotel that came with earplugs on the night-table for all, and we (blessedly?) never found out why. There's good and bad air conditioning in Europe. Some of the best A/C I've had was the modern split units at the Hotel Louvre Sainte-Anne, which is a bargain place with modern bathrooms in a good location - and thus hard to book. Their street's restaurants call for closed windows. But when you stick your head out the window on higher floors, you can just see Sacre-Coeur. As others stated, it's a matter of personal taste. We sometimes travel with a 240-volt fan, the ultimate in non-light packing. So my vote is for A/C.

Chani, sometimes I think some housekeeping staff likes to mess with us ;-) I am unnaturally in love with O2-Cool 5" fans!!! I always take the 2 D batteries with me, but the adapter (sold separately) DOES work with dual voltage - fabulously! Without the batteries, it weighs practically nothing, and folds flat for easy packing, We will NEVER travel without them again. Low speed is great, and High speed is really great. I use them all the time at home, too. Every time I went to Wal-Mart (most consistent supply; $6), I tossed a few more into my cart. I never want to be without them. (Try O2 Cool's hand-held fan, too! $1 one year, then $1.67 the next - worth sooo much more! It can stand on its own, too) Sports Authority, Amazon.com, and a jillion other places. DO order the adapter ($9.99) from the company! They're available at Wal-Mart, seen at drug stores (CVS, Rite-Aid, etc.), and Safety Central's combo price (including adapter) is the best I've seen. Yep, I'll be ordering more ;-) This fan would have saved two of the worst/'non-cross-breezable' rooms in Europe.

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Also helps with drying laundry. TC