What area of Paris should we stay in?

Many people here like the Rue Cler (sometimes known as Rue Rick) area. Although it is very nice (I stayed there my first trip), I found it to be too far to walk to most things except the Eiffel Tower. I prefer the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissment). I think you can't go wrong in the 4th, 5th or 6th. The closer you are to the river the more central you will be. From that area you can walk almost anywhere. One way I like to get around is the batobus. It is a boat-bus that has multiple stops on both sides of the river. The stops are at major tourist destinations (Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, etc.), and it is more fun than being underground on the metro. A multi-day pass is only slightly more than a one day pass. Enjoy your trip to Paris...my favorite city in the world!!!

We have stayed at this apt. in the 9th for the last 3 years. Very secure, nice area, 2 min. to bus stop and 10 min or less to Metro Anviers. Great studo for 2. Nadine Giblin Studio 30 sqm Paris 9e near Montmartre/Opera E-mail : locationparis9@numericable.com Website : http://locationparis9.canalblog.com

I would have to recommend the area around the Eiffel Tower and Rue Cler, the 7th and possibly 15th Arr. I loved being right near the Tower - every night (with good weather) you can walk to the Tower, take a picnic, and watch the Tower light up and sparkle - it's magical. It's also so close to good Metro lines that you're less than 15 minutes away from all the main sights in Paris. And Rue Cler is so fun to walk the little market streets and eat at the local cafes. I'm staying in that area for 3 weeks this summer, and have found lots of apartments to rent for less than $130 a night - and you can do your own cooking!

If you're willing to pay $200-250 a night I'd check some of the hotels on Ile Saint Louis. Hotel du Jue de Paume, Hotel de Lutece or Hotel des Deux-Iles. Great location near the metro.

I agree with Andrea, I'd recommend the 4th, 5th or 6th. Especially since it's your first visit to Paris. I don't like the rue Cler area. I also agree with Sharon, our favorite hotel is Hotel de Lutece on Ile Saint Louis (my favorite neighborhood), but it is pricey.

Consider the Marais, the area roughly from the Pompidou Center to the Place de la Bastille on the Right Bank. It is lively, with loads of restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and hotels. Metro access is excellent, though you would be hard-pressed to find a part of Paris in which that is not true. A short walk brings you to Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Place St Michel on the Left Bank. Rick describes many Marais hotels in his Paris/France books, and I can personally recommend one of them, the Hotel Castex. You will have a wonderful time. One suggestion, though....bring raincoats/hats/light sweaters so you can easily adapt if the weather turns cold or rainy. You may be lucky and have nothing but warm sunny days, but in Paris in April rain is quite common.

We stayed in the Latin Quarter and liked it. As for hotels, we paid way less than $200 per night but our tastes may not be the same. I have found Venere.com to be a good source and you can pick your area and how many stars and work from there. I also agree with Andrea about the batobus. The all day ticket is really a nice touch.

Megan - If I had your budget, I would choose to stay on the Ile Saint Louis and would check out the hotels recommended by Sharon and Susan.

Another vote for the Marais. We are going in May and rented an apartment close to the river in the the 4th. I agree that Rue Cler is nice but you are so far from everything else. The Ille St. Louis is wonderful!

Another vote for the Marais. We are going in May and rented an apartment close to the river in the the 4th. I agree that Rue Cler is nice but you are so far from everything else. The Ille St. Louis is wonderful!

We were there in 2007 for two weeks and we rented an apartment in the 4th. I loved it! Let me know if you want the information about the apartment and I'll try to find it.

Do you have a copy of RS Paris Guide Book yet? If so, good. If not, you should get one right away as it has lots of good information for those visiting Paris and we found it most helpful when we visited there. RS also has a tour this is "Paris and the South of France" which we took 2 years ago.
You could click on that tour to find out information about its travel plan. Happy Travel and I love Rue Cler.

Being young as you are I'd say the Latin Quarter. Great location with dozens and dozens of cafes,shops,(think alcohol, food) etc. It's my favorite area.

End of April is a really nice time of the year for Paris! Although early may is probably the best. I would also (as some have) advise the central districts close to the Seine, you can really enjoy the beauty of the city while walking the Seine. The 5th and 6th districts are my favorite areas. The Bellechasse enjoys those qualities ( http://www.lebellechasse.com/ ) - proximity to the Seine, Orsay museum, Invalides and Tuileries. It's a very nice area! An excellent hotel close to rue Cler is the Varenne ( http://www.varenne-hotel-paris.com ) - about 5 minute walk through Invalides to get to rue Cler! The Albe hotel is in Saint Michel - a very trendy area for eating, walking, drinking... very good restaurants and bars! http://www.albe-paris-hotel.com
My favorite place to eat is Bombardier, at Place du Pantheon, they make the best fish and chips! Have a great trip! =]

Hi! Usually I stay in St-Germain area. I like this area because it's very accessible by metro, it's central, active... This area is very popular, and it's maybe why the prices are more expensive than in some others areas. For the hotels, I can advise you a few, in this area. The hotel Odeon ( http://www.odeon-paris-hotel.com/ ) is very beautiful. The rooms are pretty and rather romantic (I stay in one, and I see the others on the website). It's close to St-Germain blvd ( there are lots of restaurants and cafes, like the famous "Cafe de Flore" :) ). The hotel Cluny Square is great. It's a lovely boutique-hotel, right next to St-Germain blvd and near the Ile de la Cite. ( http://www.cluny-paris-hotel.com/ ). I don't know exactly what sights you wanna see, but I know a beautiful hotel close to the Louvre. Its location is really exceptionnal! It's called the hotel Moliere ( http://www.hotel-moliere.fr/ ) .
Anyway if it's your first trip in Paris, you could see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, the Luxembourg Garden, maybe the Pantheon and the Invalides too! There are so many things to discover in Paris :)