Suggestions on Where to stay while visiting Paris..?

Question

My husband and I are going to Paris in April and would love suggestions on where to stay. (this could be an area or a specific hotel). We would like someplace that is convenient to transportation, and attractions. We would like someplace kinda cool, bohemian, artsy, with cafes and shops. Safety is important and someplace moderately priced. It doesn't have to luxurious.. just clean. (Wow.. that's a lot of requirements! LOL)

Answer 1

My favorite little hotel in Paris is the Hotel St. Andre des Arts. I've been staying there on visits over the last 35 years and its a gem.

http://www.123france.com/en/0/hotel-sain...

Mind you, this is not the place for everybody. There is no elevator. The building dates from the beginning of the 17th century. There are no mini-bars, TV's, or even radios in the rooms.

The floors are uneven, the decor is "eclectic", and you can find all sorts of nasty reviews from people, usually Americans, who think that something that isn't just exactly like the Best Western in Omaha is a pit. (But anything that says this place isn't clean is a lie).

If you seriously are looking for cheap (86 euros a night for a double including taxes and breakfast) , bohemian and hip (the owner is a professor of philosophym his wife runs the art gallery next door,  and the employees are students and artists) then this is the place for you.

The location is as good as it gets. Its in the 6th arrondissement (St. Germain) just over the boundry with the 5th (Latin Quarter). The Odeon metro stop is a short block away. The area is filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. The Mazet, directly across the street is where Jim Morrison has his last drink. Around the corner is the Cafe Procope, the oldest restaurant in Paris. The rue de Buci street market is on the next block. Its a 3 or 4 minute walk to the Place St. Michel. The blvd St. Germain is the next street due south.

If there is any drawback it is that the area is filled with people night and day. If you're looking for solitude this isn't the place to be.

If you choose to stay here be sure to book well in advance. It is a very popular place and almost always full.

Answer 2

Everywhere , I wish like h**l it was me and not you , Paris , I think I would sleep in the streets of Paris anywhere would be Beautiful.

Answer 3

I personally prefer to rent an apartment rather than stay in a hotel.  That way, I can invite my Parisian friend over for dinner (and he always brings very nice gifts)!  Plus, it lets me economize by cooking my own dinners, and then I can splurge on nice lunches at cafes and brasseries.  There are lots of agencies online, and the nightly cost is about the same as a hotel.  

For area, I love Beaubourg.  You're close to a main metro & RER station (Chatelet / Chatelet-Les Halles).  From that station, you can get anywhere quickly.  I've even walked to the Centre Georges Pompidou, Notre Dame, l'Hotel de Ville, l'Arc de Triomphe (this was a really long walk), le Louvre, le Musee d'Orsay, etc.  

They say that April is a wonderful time to visit Paris.  Have fun!

Answer 4

I would suggest the 5th & 6th arrondissements on the left bank, based on the type of atmosphere you are looking for (Latin Quarter/St-Germain-des-Prés) :

Another hotel in the same area as the one mentioned by Rillifane is Hotel Welcome, in the heart of St-Germain des Prés. The rooms are tiny but clean and staff is friendly (I had booked a room for a friend there and loved the staff, building and location when I visited him) :

http://www.welcomehotel-paris.com/anglai... (102 €)

You can check the reviews and pictures there:

http://www.tripadvisor.fr/Hotel_Review-g...

For very little more, you can find some really charming hotels with beautiful decors if you want to make your Paris experience a little more romantic:

6th & 5th arrondissements:

http://www.villa-des-princes.com/ (121 €)

http://www.hotel-saintjacques.com/index.... (100 to 120 €)

http://www.hotelsorbonne.com/index.html (75 € to 130 €)

http://www.hoteldulys.com/ (105 € to 120 €)

http://hotels.parishotels.com/hotel-dire... (100 € - 110 €)

On the right bank, the Marais district in the 4th is also really good (it's the g*y district). Some of the hotels are incredibly well-priced for the level of charm and comfort they offer:

http://www.carondebeaumarchais.com/ (this one is a gorgeous 3-star hotel with double rooms as low as 125 €)

http://www.hoteldenice.com/En/salon.php (105 €)

http://www.castex-paris-hotel.com/englis... (100 € - 150€)

All of the above are recommended by trustworthy guide books so I feel confident about recommending them. The spring is the most expensive season so book early and you can get online deals with some of them.

If you prefer budget hotels with rooms around 30 € to 50 €, try http://www.paris35.com/

For instance Hotel Stella is 50 €/night for a double room:

http://site.voila.fr/hotel-stella

Another tip: don't waste time taking the métro to go everywhere. If you are fit and enjoy walking, rather than make  métro trips full of connections, use it only to go to distant areas and walk to the nearest stop that will have a direct line to your destination. You'll get the feel of Paris this way.

North eastern districts are not too safe (but you can go to Montmartre though). Châtelet-les-halles in the very center is not the best place at night either. You may want to visit some sites of the posh arrondissements in western Paris but as far as staying there, it is not at all what you are looking for. If you're looking for the artsy bohemian life you'll be bored to death there. You may want to read these posts for more info on the different parts of Paris:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 5

More th 300 Paris rental apartments