Paris - recommend a hotel?

Dickerty

Hello everybody-matey-peeps (as Stavros would have said).

Am taking my wife to Paris for her 30th, and would like to find a hotel that ticks the right boxes. We are not interested the bells and whistles of the average 4 or 5 star (gym, pool, conference rooms), we just want good comfy rooms, walking distance all the main attractions, and service if you need it without being all over you (we are not Americans after all).

Anyone got any recommendations? I was looking at a place called the Keppler, but I don't like surprises....

Thanks.

Ponster

Have you tried searching Tripadvisor for 'romantic hotels' ?

For info, there is not way to get a hotel within "walking distance all the main attractions" unless you like walking for hours Grab a map online and find out which area you'd prefer to be in.

Dickerty

Thanks Ponster - I'm all over Tripadvisor, but it's let me down before. So I was hoping to get a more direct recommendation.

And who's to say I'd want it to be romantic??

Ponster

What's the budget per night and approx travel dates?

phog

I can recommend the Hotel Eiffel Seine, it is fairly small, exceptionally clean and friendly, most of the staff have good english and will recommend sights/restaurants for you. Across the road from the metro and only a few minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower.

Padraig Mor

Try the Magda Etoile - good rates, good location, good hotel!

Miskatonic

As Ponster said, it's impossible to be within walking distance of all the main attractions and with the metro, it's easy and quick to get around. I recently stayed here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d197447-Reviews-Grand_Hotel_Francais-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Ideal location if you want to avoid the crowded touristy areas and within easy reach of a few metro stations. Easily the best hotel I've stayed in in Paris.

If this is your first visit to Paris and you'd rather stay somewhere more central, Le Marais is a good choice. It's a lively area with lots of bars/restaurants and within walking distance to Notre Dame cathedral.

Johnny James

I used to live in Paris for a long time, not in hotels though, so I won't recommend any particular hotels, but I can advise to stay somewhere in Quartier Latin - areas of Blvd St Michel or further Montparnasse. It's a lively area, all best restaurants and bars are there, also very romantic feel with rue Monge (name to remeber - wifey will be delighted if you take her there) and a bit of bohemian Paris...

Other idea would be Montmartre - but more on the hill, further north from rue Pigalle though (unless rue Pigalle is sth that you would like to walk by...). Lovely little streets, I've seen some small hotels there, look Paris 9 or south 18 - area of Sacre Coeur. Again, artists, painters, wonderful views on all Paris, but also clochards and Paris weirdos in abondance.

Another idea is Bastille - very central, very original, lots of bars and restaurants.

I wouldn't recommend Marais - posh, expensive, no caracter for me, it's a gay district in Paris - unless you're gay (which I assume you're not) - not so much fun... Visit Place des Vosges though - the most beautiful square in Paris.

If however your feel would be for this exclusive, expensive, high fashion, snob Paris - go to 7th or 16th Arrondissements - you'll pay a for anything close to decent place to sleep, 10€ for coffee and croissant... Personally - don't recommend this Paris, there is no heart in it at all. But cars are nice...

Other than that - metro is great in Paris and anywhere you stay - you can be at Eiffel Tower in no time.

BoardsRanger

Hey guys, didnt want to start a new thread sp posted here. My question - myself and the OH will be in paris from saturday-monday flying with ryanair- with the shuttle bus dropping us at porte malliot. What tickets should we get for the metro? We will be using it several times a day for the 3 days and i presume will mostly be within zone 1. Thanks in advance.

undo

You have many options but whatever you do, do not fall for the ParisVisite ticket. This is a tourist rip-off much like the Dublin Pass here in Ireland.

When you switch the RATP website from French to English, it sneakily hides all multi-ride tickets and tells you about the "great" ParisVisite ticket only.

Your actual best options are:

* the ten-pack of single-ride tickets, known as t+, for €11.60

* a whole-day ticket, known as Mobils, for €5.90

The great thing here is that you can mix and match: If you are in Paris for part of Saturday and part of Monday only, it might be best to use t+ tickets on those days. On Sunday, when you are in Paris for the entire day, the Mobilis should suit you best. Or you could get a Mobilis for each day but vary the zones it covers: Get the zones 1-2 one for €5.90 most days but buy one covering zones further out on a day you want to go to Versailles.