Paris - which part of city for hotel

For a period of 5 - 7 nights you might want to consider an apartment. It is often less expensive than a hotel, and you have the benefit of more space. I found the apartment I rented on vrbo.com. There are many agencies that have apartment rentals in Paris.

As for what area to stay in, I think the 4th, 5th and 6th arrondisments are the most central to most of the tourist sites and are also nice to walk around in.

Have a fantastic trip!

You can also check Homeaway for apartments. We rented an apartment for 4 for about 125E a night. Plus you save on breakfast. We stayed in the 2nd Arr. near Les Halles. It's easy to walk from there to most sights, except Eiffel Tower.

We stay at the Villa Beaumarchais just off the Boulevard Beaumarchais in the Marais. We were within walking distance of La Place Bastille and Place de Vosges. Excellent breakfast buffet for $15 euros each. Small room, great service. Mostly German and English tourists there with an occassional French family. we booked through Hotwire and got a great deal. Not sure what other site has them.

I have used vacation in Paris. They are amazing and it is so much more fun to have an apartment. They are an American based company with managers in Paris and they send you the keys before you leave,

Chris,

You might want to have a look at either the France or Paris Guidebooks, as they contain listings for Hotels in various parts of the city, along with a description of each area. That way you'd have the best information to choose something which suits your preferences.

I tend to favour the Rue Cler area, which is easy walking distance from the Eiffel Tower and other major sites. I also like the atmosphere in that area, and it has easy access to the Metro via the Ecole Militaire station.

Some Hotels that you might consider (if they fit your budget) would be Duquesne Eiffel, Hotel Muguet or Hotel Grand Leveque.

Happy travels!

I hope Ken means the Rick Steves guide books for Paris and France. I have use both - was there in May and June of this year passing thru to Turkey and lots of time there in 2009 - and found them very helpful. I too like staying in the Rue Cler (sp?) neighborhood. Good luck and happy travels.

The deluxe rooms at the Hotel Le Regent on Rue Dauphine in the 6th ( St Germain) fits your bill nicely,, easy to walk to many places, metro nearby, river a block or two away, cafes and markets outside. The standard rooms are really tiny,, so book the bigger rooms. ATM literally 5 feet from door, so you can load with money and they put it in hotel safe.

Chris I agree with Ken to stay near Rue Cler. We stayed at the Hotel de L'Empereur, recommended in Rick's guidebook. If you can get a 5th floor with a balcony, you have a view of Les Invalides (we were there during a full moon; what a view!). It's 5 minutes each way between two Metro stops (La Tour Maubourg and Ecole Militaire), 10 minutes to La Tour Eiffel, 5 minutes to Rue Cler (and breakfast!) and the price is right. Being so close to the Metro made getting anywhere else in the city very easy (if you don't have it, get a Streetwise Paris map, it shows all the Metro lines and every street and attraction. Made it easy to find everything).

Vive La France!

If you are planning a trip in October, you are waiting too long in many cases to book a hotel. October is busy in Paris and rooms in prime areas book out months in advance. We've had ours booked since May and had trouble then. Go to www.tripadvisor.com for lots of expert advice on Paris and www.hotels-in-paris.com for a map of each arrondisment of Paris and price ranges of each.

Caution--You will never be the same after Paris.....

Look at Hotel Bonaparte in the St Germaine area and near St Sulpice, Hotel des Grandes Ecoles in the Latin Quarter but within walking distance to Notre Dame, and Hotel Lutece on the Ile St Louis--all excellent locations, very nice hotels, and should fit your budget. Have a wonderful trip!

Hi Chris,

As others have posted, I would look for a hotel in the Marais and/or Rue Cler areas. The 1st and 2nd arrond. (by the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Seine, etc.)are beautiful, but the hotels are very expensive. I agree with others that have posted; you may want to consider renting an apartment. If you go on www.homelidays.co.uk (Check out "Heaven's Corner" listing) or www.sabbaticalhomes.com, you will most likely have luck. I have used www.sabbaticalhomes.com for renting apartments in Paris and Rome. They were very reasonable and the owners were wonderful.

As an aside, the metro system is extensive and will get you to any of the sights in and around Paris easily and inexpensively.

Angela

Haven't been yet, we go in September, but Vacation in Paris is who we used to rent our apartment for 6 days in the 7th Rue Cler. I was considering 3 different units in 3 different neighborhoods (Rue Cler, Latin Quarter & Marais). They sent me references of people who had stayed in each apt. It made it so much easier to choose hearing the pros & cons, helpful hints, neighborhood insights & tips. The office staff has also been very helpful and paid with my credit card here so no extra transaction fees converting to euros. Have fun choosing!

We have stayed at the Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles in the Latin Quarter twice now and absolutely loved it. It has an especially beautiful garden that you eat your breakfast in or sit in later on & picnic. They have a huge door between the street and garden area entrance so at night, it's very quiet and it's easy to believe that you're actually in the French countryside. Rick lists all the particulars in his Paris book. Their website is: wwww.hotel-grande-ecoles.com. Bon voyage and bon journee!

We stayed in Rue Cler in May for five nights and liked it very much. We booked about six weeks before arrival, and based upon email replies there were multiple options. If you want your top choice for location/price quality by all means book as soon as possible. Best to be on the safe side.