Hi again, My husband and I will be in Paris for 8 nights beginning Oct. 28. We have a reservation at a hotel near the Sorbonne (Luxembourg Garden area), but even Steve describes the walls there as 'thin' and we are poor sleepers, and the hotel itself describes their location as the Latin Quarter ( Hotel Cluny Sorbonne) I just read in Steve's that the Latin Quarter is a tourist ghetto. I had been thinking of finding another hotel in the Latin Quarter, but maybe that's a bad idea? So... Maybe I should consider another area? We are great walkers and more interested in historic, cultural, people watching than shopping, which we hate. We also can't spend much more than 130 Euros. Any ideas, folks?
Thanks
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9422 posts
You got some good suggestions for hotels in your other thread, and I don't know any in your budget, but I like the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement), I also like the 4th and 6th. It's a very central location making it easy to walk to so many places, including along the river. The 5th also has the Luxembourg Gardens, my favorite place in Paris.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6545 posts
I agree with Susan, the Latin Quarter is a good place to stay for its own atmosphere, proximity to many sights, food options, and affordability. No more of a "tourist ghetto" than any other area equally convenient to sights, restaurants, hotels etc. Certainly meets your historic, cultural, people-watching criteria, and shopping is easy to avoid. We stayed some years back at the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles on rue Cardinal Lemoine, http://www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com/, current rates are 120-150 euros for a double room depending on season. Late October might be within your budget. There are many other good hotels in the 5th arrondissement, but I don't know anything about the Hotel Cluny Sorbonne.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10248 posts
I have stayed in the Latin Quarter twice and find it to be a good location. I agree that the 4th & 6th are also good areas. For an 8 night stay, have you considered an apartment? You would have more space and a kitchen available if you want to use it. Most apartments have washers too. You should be able to find an apartment in your budget. I use vrbo.com and homeaway.com to find apartments.
Posted by
OP
Boston
179 posts
Thanks for all the advice. i feel more comfortable with the choice of neighborhoods, now.
Posted by
Boston, MA, USA
250 posts
Nancy - if you're going to be there for 8 nights, why not explore the
Apartment option? There are many reputable companies: vacationinparis, VRBO, airbnb, and many more. The area more toward Luxembourg and the 6th is a little quieter than the Latin Quarter but only a short walk away. We stayed in a small apartment on rue Servandoni, which runs between St. Sulpice and Luxembourg. It was a terrific location. And with an apartment, your chances of coming in under budget are very good.
Posted by
OP
Boston
179 posts
Dale, If you rented this apt. recently, would you mind telling me who you rented it through? Do you know if a large security deposit is usually requested? I saw requests for 500 euros.
Thanks
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10248 posts
I have rented two apartments in Paris using VRBO. The first one did not require a deposit. The second one wanted a cashiers check for 400€. I told that owner that I was leaving for home after Paris and did not want to have to deal with the cashiers check. He agreed to take my credit card number as a deposit. One advantage of renting directly with owners is there can be some flexibility.
Posted by
Denver, CO
737 posts
Hi Nancy, I agree with the idea of looking into an apartment. You'll have more room and the option of cooking/eating in your own place, plus the added bonus of feeling like a local! Here are a couple options that I found on vactioninparis.com - they look like a home away from home!! One is in the Marais and one is in the Latin quarter. http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_112.htm ($135)
http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_133.htm ($130)
Posted by
Denver, CO
737 posts
Nancy, Here's another apartment to check out. They have received great reviews and if I'm remembering right, they don't require a deposit so to speak. They ask for a post dated check that they just hold on to in case there are any issues. http://parisbestlodge.com/rivoli.html (850 euro a week) Okay, I started looking at each of their apartments and rather than copying in 10 links I thought it would be smarter to just copy in their home page so you can take a look yourself - they all look wonderful, I can't decide which are best! http://parisbestlodge.com/ This is making me want to book a ticket to Paris tonight!! Happy planning!
Posted by
Beverly Hills, MI
799 posts
I like a lot of what Rick says but there are times when he gets a bit whiny and this is one of them. The Latin Quarter has a lot of reasonably priced accommodations and places to eat, it is well located to a lot of attractions and is popular with both American and French tourists. We have stayed in the area twice and never felt ghettoized.
Posted by
Boston, MA, USA
250 posts
Nancy - Sorry - had a computer upgrade and lost the original info. We rented from rentparis.com - listing #20:
http://www.rentparis.com/en/apt-49-rue-servandoni-75006-paris.html As I remember, their terms were half on booking, half on arrival, and we paid by credit card thru paypal. It's a studio apt. and was, shall we say, cozy ... but we loved it. I saw lots of listings in that area on the VRBO site.