Which Paris hotel?

Kerri, sorry can I just ask where the Rue Cler neighborhood is?

Susan: If you look on Google maps it may be listed by its more formal name of "Rue Rick Steves". Just follow the trail of blue books.

I'll be helpful and answer your question Susan. It's located here: http://g.co/maps/a39ez It's close to the Eiffel Tower, Military Museum, Napoleon's Tomb, and the Rodin Museum You can take a virtual walk around the neighborhood here: http://g.co/maps/22vfh

Kerri, I've never stayed in either of the Hotels you listed, but did have a brief look at Hotel du Champs de Mars, and spoke with the staff. Based on my brief visit, the Hotel looks clean and well managed. I'd suggest checking Trip Advisor to get some idea on the ratings for both Hotels. Depending on your budget, you might also have a look at Hotel Duquesne Eiffel or Hotel Muguet. Both of those are also located in the Rue Cler neighborhood. Happy travels!

I have gotten a/c for about 100 euros, but thats tough, the place I got it at had definately small plain rooms, but the a/c worked fine and the location was absolutely primo,, on a little side street, off the busy Boulevard St Michel, easy walk from the RER station , and near several metro stops, walk to Notre Dame etc,, it was Hotel St Pierre. I usually find for a/c I have to go up to 100-120 euros,, but that depends on season, how soon I booked, and if getting a single or double room( I travel solo sometimes) .
A hotel I really liked was the Hotel Eugenie,, once again, excellant location, on border between 5th( Latin Quarter) and 6th( St Germain) .. the bonus was it has a fridge( mini) in the room as well as a/c and tv had a few more english channels( hey when ones alone ,,,) . It prices out a bit more ( I think I paid 110 2 years ago) but it was defiately worth it for the combo of great location , a/c and nice shower stall( don't laugh,, you will be surprised at how these can vary in France).

"The staff are not overly pleasant, but that is Paris!" Nancy, please stop perpetuating this myth. I've spent a lot of my life in Paris, both living there and visiting and have stayed in many hotels in Paris. I've only encountered unpleasant staff once and that was the owners of Hotel Champs de Mars. Parisians are no more unpleasant than people from anywhere else. In fact, I've encountered far more unpleasant people here in the US than anywhere in France.

We stayed at hotel Champs du Mars last May and it was our second stay there. The room, which I booked 4 mos ahead and requested twin beds, was very small with a double bed pushed against a wall. It was clean and cheap at 100 euros but would never stay there again. Owners are rude, snide, and grumpy. They will not hesitate to scold over something as simple as the use of the elevator. It felt like they were running a convent rather than a hotel.

Kerri, have you your heart set on staying on Rue Rick,, because there are literally thousands of hotels, many in more fun areas. I have never stayed on that street ,, or even the streets beside it, so can't recommend a specific hotel there,, but have stayed in about 8 or 9 other hotels in Paris that I thought were very good for the prices I paid.

Hi Kerri,
My husband and I stayed at Hotel du Champs de Mars in September last year. I have stayed at Grand Hotel Leveque, but after reading some posts on Trip Advisor, would not suggest that hotel as my last visit there was in 2008. I was happy with it especially as the neighborhood is great and the price was wonderful for that location! The staff are not overly pleasant, but that is Paris! They were helpful when we needed to try a different type of electrical plug though. Overall I would recommend this hotel as it was clean, although small, it was quiet and all you need it for is to sleep.

Pat, what would you reccommend? We want something with air conditioning at around the 100 Euros.

Kerri, I don't know if your heart is set on Rue Cler, but I stayed in a little place in the 9th (don't know why the 9th gets such a bad rap, it was fabulous) that in the offseason (mid-late September) was less than 100 euro, called Opera Deauville. Although the rooms are very small (what hotel room in Paris isn't?) it had a wall a/c unit that worked very well, and wonderful people at the desk. It was a short 10 minute walk to Boulevard Clichy, and a 3 minute walk up the hill from the Gare St. Lazare Metro station. The area is NOT unsafe, despite much of the handwringing I've seen written about it on some boards. I am a small, 30ish woman who travels alone, and had not one problem with the neighborhood. PM me if you need to know anything else!
Emily

I completely agree with Susan in Sausalito. The hotel that we booked for our trip this May is in the Latin Quarter and the staff is gracious and accommodating. They seem to love the hotel business as opposed to the other one, CDM..

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone! Love Hotel Eugenie but 135 Euros is a bit steep when I can get Hotel de Turenne for 95 Euro. Taking a serious look at Opera Deauville though. I'm still taking suggestions for AC hotels (going in mid-July.) Thanks again!

For singles, you can't beat Hotel de Turenne. I've stayed there many times. The generous-size public area at ground level is a good place for breakfast, take-out food, using Wifi (it's also in rooms), reading, etc. From there it is a short walk to Napoleon's tomb or rue Cler. Many buses stop in the area and there is a taxi-stand almost outside the door. There is a laundromat and BNP Paribas bank across the alley-way. Very convenient, and the rates are reasonable.

I realize this thread is a year old but to anyone considering staying at the Hotel du Champs de Mars please read this thread... http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/36649/hotel-du-champ-de-mars-paris.html

My husband and I stayed at the Hotel du Champ de Mars on December 30 and 31, 2012. We found the hotel charming and do not have a single complaint. The gentleman at the front desk was warm, friendly and always helpful. Our room was small but had everything we needed including a view of the Eiffel Tower. There are cafes on the same block and a short walk to the Metro and the Tower. It's a lovely central location and we would definitely stay there again if we are lucky enough to visit Paris again.

I can only comment on Hotel de Turenne since it is the only one I have personal experience with. I agonized over this decision myself (which area to stay in, which hotel.) and chose de Turenne. Even in the days leading up to our visit, I wondered if I should have stayed in the Marais, or over by Luxemburg Gardens. Anyway, we loved de Turenne and I would stay there again. It is a budget hotel so do not expect huge rooms, free breakfast, etc. However, we found all the people who worked the desk to be so helpful and kind. The room was clean and I would stay there again. We only had on issue and I hesitate to mention it for 2 reasons: is is nit picky and we had this problem in many of the older hotels we stayed at in France. The problem was we struggled to keep all our electronics charged since there was one outlet in the room and bathroom...and it was being used by the TV. We don't travel with a lot (one cell phone and 2 MP3 players) but since we were doing a lot of the RS walking tours, we had to charge 3 things every night. Add in trying to blow dry my hair in the morning and that was one heavily used outlet. As I said, we stayed in other older hotels and had the exact same problem...all though we usually did not have to charge MP 3 players. Other than that, the hotel is great, the locations was wonderful, and I would stay there again for sure.

This question was posted a year ago and there is just a small chance the question has been answered to her satisfaction.

Bets, I thought the same thing...

What month(s) will you be in Paris? We've been there twice in May and didn't need air conditioning. Regardless of the air conditioning question, the Rue Cler is fun, but it is mentioned a lot on Rick Steves PBS shows and many visitors feel "I must stay in the Rue Cler". We did on our first visit (for the very reason I mentioned), but on the second visit stayed in the 14th Arrondissement. The hotel is convenient in that it is relatively close to the Metro Port d'Orleans (terminus station) line 4, but tramway line 3a runs between the station and the hotel. It is a place less frequented by Americans, and we thought it was great. It is in the Good value (€67.00/night in 2011), many relatively inexpensive places to eat, and a divine boulangerie around the corner. Don't be intimidated by how far out this place is from the City Center, we went every where we wanted to go in just a few minutes on the Metro.

Jon, can you share the name of the hotel? We normally stay in the 16th, at l'Hotel Hameau de Passy, and love it - but maybe it's time to try a new neighborhood!

I stayed at the hotel Champs du Mars with my daughter in July of 2010, and thought it was great. I found both owners nice and helpful, and the location cannot be beat. 10 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower and Metro. Also the Italian restaurant down the street "La Taverna" was exceptional. If you stay there, the owner's dog "Cinnamon" is very friendly as well.

My new favorite is the Hotel Saint Petersbourg which is down the street from the Opera and the Olympia theatre. The customer service was wonderful, it was clean, nice to look at , and had air conditioning.

Kerri
It is the Hotel Terminus Orleans; the email address is htoparis@gmail.com the internet is http://www.paris-hotel-terminus-orleans.com.