The Paris Traveler

Up, Up and Away: Part Deux

by Kim on January 22nd, 2008

Ok, hopefully, you have found a reasonably priced flight to get you to Paris.  Now, where does one hang up one’s hat once they arrive?  I see you having two options:  1.  Staying in a hotel or 2. Renting a vacation apartment.  

I am sure all of you are familiar with staying in hotels, but may not be familiar with staying in European hotels.  Just like anything, how much you spend determines what you get.  My experience has run the gamut from two to five star establishments.  2-stars should get you a clean room, perhaps a folding chair and fairly decent private bath. Many will have shared baths which I have not taken part in so can’t comment on.  5-stars is all out, over-the-top luxury which sometimes can be too much.  But to each his own.  You can find charming, comfortable 3 and 4-star hotels throughout the city that won’t break the bank.  (although with the current exchange rate, I could be lying!) These offer the best value for how much you are actually in your room. Hopefully,  you are out and about all day, discovering the city, running back every so often to drop off packages or re-grouping with a quick nap for your night-time adventures. 

 Once you have established a budget, deciding what part of the city to stay in is your next step.  Briefly, the city is organized in “arrondissements”, villages within the city.   Each one has it’s own town hall and mayor and very distinct characteristics.  There are 20 of them and if you look at the map you will see that the numbers spiral around the city, similar to the inside of a shell.  During my year of personal indulgence, I lived in the 7th, near the Eiffel Tower.  It was quieter, more residential than other parts but still centrally located which is why I chose it.  The more interior you are, the more there is to do.  As you gravitate outwards, you enter community living and parts that you just might want to avoid altogether.  Hotel pricing works the same way, the more interior, the more expensive and vice versa.  I’m thinking the 1st through 8th would be your best bets.  When I help people plan a trip, I recommend the 6th.  Shops, restaurants and many tourist sites are right outside your door or within reasonable walking distance. 

These are sites of hotels that I have stayed at and would recommend.

•  Relais Christine        
•  Hotel Bel Ami
•  Hotel Pas de Calais
•  Hotel Montaigne
•  Sofitel Baltimore-Paris  

If none of the above fit the bill, visit these sites and you can spend hours looking for something that would be just right for you.  And, for the less adventurous, they do have Holiday Inns!

• Hotels Paris
• Paris Hotel Guide
• France.com
• Booking.com

If prices are in euros and you want to know the “actual” amount of dollar damage you will be incurring, go to xe.com and weep.  Good luck my friends.

Tomorrow we will explore the world of vacation apartment rentals!!  Be sure to come back for that.   

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