Best area/place to stay in in Paris?

Best area/place to stay in in Paris?

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G_T

Original Poster:

16,160 posts

191 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Bonjour,

Looking at taking budget(ish) break with the Mrs to gay Paris (say it with a French accent if you must) but I've no idea where abouts in the city to stay. We're just wanting to do the normal touristy sight seeing possibly with Eurodisney and she'll probably be wanting to do some shopping after she works out my credit card pin...

Anyway I have no idea where abouts is central to major touristy things and I wonder if someone could perhaps enlighten me the area place to stay or better yet recommend a reasonable hotel around the *** mark?

Merci,

G


mrmaggit

10,146 posts

249 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Bruges.

G_T

Original Poster:

16,160 posts

191 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
mrmaggit said:
Bruges.
no no no... FRANCE.

Liszt

4,329 posts

271 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Try and stay near the Louvre. From there you can do a pleasant walk through Louvre, to Pont Neuf where you can do the boat trip, then to Notre Dame. From there a walk up the left bank to Musee D'Orsey (Impressionist art gallery) and then back across the river to the Louvre.

Can also go through the Parc de tuilleres (sp?) next to the Louvre, to Place de Concorde then onto Champs Elysee. At the top of the CE is the Arc d' triomphe and from there you can get to Eiffel tower.

That should tick a few boxes

navier_stokes

948 posts

200 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
I'm not sure whether you want a touristy holiday or a more off the beaten track.

Either way Paris is very easy to get about so whereever you stay you can see everything easily. Disneyworld is further out though I'd recommend cycling everywhere using their bike system rather than the tube - you get to see much more.

The Marais is very boutique with good food, small shops and cafes.

If you want a French experience, (even if you speak little French), I'd thoroughly recommend this B&B, the hosts are superb!

http://www.bonne-nuit-paris.com/

Edited by navier_stokes on Wednesday 4th March 16:58

MonkeyBusiness

3,947 posts

188 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
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I stayed at Hotel Residence Foch last October and can't recommend it enough. Near the centre.

randomman

2,215 posts

190 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
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Wherever you stay make sure you take her up the tower

ianash

3,274 posts

184 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
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You need to get the book "poofters Paris".

Skywalker

3,269 posts

215 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Stay on the Rue des Ecoles near the Sorbonne University.
Easy to get to lots of places and very nice too.

BaronVonVTEC

397 posts

185 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
I had a dirty weekend away in Paris a while back, hotels were pricey so we ended up renting an apartment for a little cheaper. We stayed in the 11th Arrondisement (spelling?) which is the best place for restaurants and bars, really good food and nightlife and you aren't paying the ridiculous prices you pay in the centre. It's about 25 minutes walk from the centre, but metro stations are nearby so it's easy to get around. Personally, I enjoyed staying in an apartment a lot more than staying in a hotel.

Apartment is this one if you're interested, I recommend it, but there are many other places on the site. http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/France/holiday-ap...

Stu R

21,410 posts

216 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
randomman said:
Wherever you stay make sure you take her up the tower
*snigger *

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

249 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
G_T said:
mrmaggit said:
Bruges.
no no no... FRANCE.
IMHO, Paris is a dump.

So, Bruges.

Trommel

19,164 posts

260 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
MonkeyBusiness said:
I stayed at Hotel Residence Foch last October and can't recommend it enough. Near the centre.
Are you serious? I fell into the Tripadvisor trap too (I can only assume the average reviewer usually holidays in Brazzaville) - the hotel is awful. One look at the state of the public areas and the absolutely appalling room led us to get straight on the phone and book somewhere worth staying in (as we should have done in the first place). Expedia seem to agree, as they refunded our money with no issues. As for near the centre - it's bloody miles away from anything decent.

I will never again book something in a hurry without doing my own research. A harsh reminder that there are no bargains is Paris.

Stay in the Marais or St Germain if you don't want to pay for one of the Grand Dame hotels.

G_T

Original Poster:

16,160 posts

191 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Cheers for that guys. You've given me a good starting point! I've seen some nice hotels by the Louvre so far. As I said I'm more interested in doing the touristy thing I'm afraid. I'll wander off the beaten track myself if I fancy practising my grade C french.

Shame the exchange rate is so fking awful at the moment.

MonkeyBusiness

3,947 posts

188 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Trommel said:
MonkeyBusiness said:
I stayed at Hotel Residence Foch last October and can't recommend it enough. Near the centre.
Are you serious? I fell into the Tripadvisor trap too (I can only assume the average reviewer usually holidays in Brazzaville) - the hotel is awful. One look at the state of the public areas and the absolutely appalling room led us to get straight on the phone and book somewhere worth staying in (as we should have done in the first place). Expedia seem to agree, as they refunded our money with no issues. As for near the centre - it's bloody miles away from anything decent.
Give over. Its 5 mins from the Arc De Whatits. Room was great (you must have got the broom cupboard).
Anyway I thought it was a good base and got it on a good deal.

Zod

35,295 posts

259 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
4e (Marais), 5e or 6e.

Colonial

13,553 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
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The Lourve is overrated. Go to the Musee D'orsay instead. Could spend days in there.

I stayed in a flea pit one step above a backpackers hostel. But it was clean, comfortable and relatively affordable. About 4 metro stops from Gar Du Nord heading south east-ish

*Raz*

195 posts

189 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
oooh i really want to go Paris



Colonial

13,553 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Then go. It's not that far and not that hard to deal with getting around and can be done cheaply. Me and my gf did about a week for a max of about 100-120 euros a day

Mr Fenix

863 posts

206 months

Thursday 5th March 2009
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Been to Paris twice and I recommend the Sorbonne Uni area or Avenue De Voltaire, pretty much anywhere near a big metro stop.

The 2nd visit had us staying at a very cheap hotel in "Placa de Pigalles" near the Mon Matre area, it was a little doorway between a sex shop and the world famous 4 storey high SEXODROME! Sex shows, great little cafes all over the place and the moulin rouge was just a few mins walk away.

I'd recommend a trip to Versailles on the train over EuroDisney any day, stunning architecture, art works, grounds, history and souvenir shopping abounds! Be warned you'll need to commit a whole day to it to get the most from it and wear comfy shoes as there's a lot of walking as its a big palace with huge grounds aswell.