Paris - Recommendations on Accommodation etc

[Lemon_Party]

We'll be staying in Paris for 2 or 3 nights early January at the end of our European Christmas holiday. Looking for some advice on good places to stay. Will have been travelling for a couple of weeks and mostly staying with friends and family, so am happy to push the boat out a little, but ideally I'm looking for 5 star hotels at 3 star prices

But if anyone has some good places they'd recommend up to $300-$400 per night (or less!) I'd appreciate it. Plus any other food recommendations too, i'm sure i've seen some restaurant advice for Paris floating around on the forum.

I've got a hilton (diamond?) membership through the velocity platinum referral, or I will if they ever contact me about it, so thats an option if there's any actual likelihood of an upgrade.

Thanks! And apologies if this has been posted in the wrong place...

 

[jamang1999]

Not sure if this'll help at all since you said hotels, but I've stayed at some Paris Address places and many of them really good.

 

[vetrade]

Your question is very broad, Lemon_Party, since you haven't provided any clues as to what area you would like to stay or what things you intend to do in Paris. Have you been to Paris before?
Firstly you should check out a map of the various arrondissements of Paris and their proximity to the attractions you would like to see. Most people tend to want to stay relatively close to the River Seine because walking and the Metro are readily accessible for the main attractions such as the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.

Hotels in Paris have generally small rooms and are comparatively expensive - many are only around 12 m2 - not much room to walk around the bed, and bathrooms can be very small & cramped too. It pays to look up sites like booking.com to check the floor area of rooms so you don't get caught out. If you want 5 star be prepared to pay handsomely for it.

We used to stay in the Bastille area close to Nation Metro Station but now prefer the St Germain area on the southern side of the River which seems to be a bit more eclectic with plenty of good restaurants. Last time we stayed at Hotel Aiglon (beside Raspail Metro) which I selected because they had 25m2 rooms which had been recently refurbished. We generally go for 4 star digs and would happily stay there again. Should be within your budget. You will need to do your own homework and look up pics of potential hotels because what you choose depends entirely on your own tastes though.

Restaurants are plentiful and I suggest you investigate their prices before you book - Paris has some great restaurants but some are horrendously expensive. Two I would definitely recommend in St Germain are Le Reminet (you won't get much elbow room but food is great - price point is about 140 Euro for 2 including wine) and Il Suppino Italian Restaurant - once again fabulous food and prices reasonable - certainly you would be hard pressed to find Italian food better.

 

[samiam]

I've stayed several times at the Citadines Les Halles and Novotel Les Halles, before finding a regular BnB that I now stay at, to live like a local.

Les Halles is reasonably central, has an underground shopping complex (and has just undergone a multimillion outdoor transformation), with easy access to the RER (rail) and is a 10 minute walk to the Louvre; from the Louvre you can take a leisurely stroll down through the Jardin de Tuileries, past the Place de la Concorde and then hit the Champs-Élysées for a not so leisurely walk down to the Arc.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Your question is very broad, Lemon_Party, since you haven't provided any clues as to what area you would like to stay or what things you intend to do in Paris. Have you been to Paris before?
Firstly you should check out a map of the various arrondissements of Paris and their proximity to the attractions you would like to see. Most people tend to want to stay relatively close to the River Seine because walking and the Metro are readily accessible for the main attractions such as the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.

Hotels in Paris have generally small rooms and are comparatively expensive - many are only around 12 m2 - not much room to walk around the bed, and bathrooms can be very small & cramped too. It pays to look up sites like booking.com to check the floor area of rooms so you don't get caught out. If you want 5 star be prepared to pay handsomely for it.

We used to stay in the Bastille area close to Nation Metro Station but now prefer the St Germain area on the southern side of the River which seems to be a bit more eclectic with plenty of good restaurants. Last time we stayed at Hotel Aiglon (beside Raspail Metro) which I selected because they had 25m2 rooms which had been recently refurbished. We generally go for 4 star digs and would happily stay there again. Should be within your budget. You will need to do your own homework and look up pics of potential hotels because what you choose depends entirely on your own tastes though.

Restaurants are plentiful and I suggest you investigate their prices before you book - Paris has some great restaurants but some are horrendously expensive. Two I would definitely recommend in St Germain are Le Reminet (you won't get much elbow room but food is great - price point is about 140 Euro for 2 including wine) and Il Suppino Italian Restaurant - once again fabulous food and prices reasonable - certainly you would be hard pressed to find Italian food better.

I've stayed a few times centrally and with my folks when they lived in St-Germain en Laye. Honestly not overly fussed on location as long as its reasonably central and close to a metro. I'm used to the 100 euro and walls at the end of bed scale of accommodation in Paris, so was interested in hearing from people who've stayed in better places! I've got our first 1st class flight booked on the way back to Aus and its the missus first trip to Paris so wanted to try something a little special if I can get there without killing the wallet...

I'll have a look at Aiglon and also those Les Halles hotels - thanks for the advice.

 

[LadyC]

We stayed at a hotel in St Germain called La Belle Juliette as part of our honeymoon at the end of 2012. A four star hotel and we really enjoyed it. A great location and close to multiple metro lines. Appears to be within your budget for the time you are talking about.

 

[opusman]

If it's your first time in Paris definitely stay in the St Germain area on the left bank.

 

[Edge]

Spent a week in Le Merais last September and absolutely loved it - will stay there every time I return to Paris. Funky, great shopping / restaurants, walking distance to most attractions / metros, etc. Booked an airbnb apartment, was very reasonable.

 

[amaroo]

Spent a week in Le Merais last September and absolutely loved it - will stay there every time I return to Paris. Funky, great shopping / restaurants, walking distance to most attractions / metros, etc. Booked an airbnb apartment, was very reasonable.

+1

Have visited Paris heaps and stayed in half dozen locations spread all over - Le Marais is my favourite.

Can't recommend anything in the price range however, I'm sure you can get something in the area for the nominated spend.

We were in Paris early Jan this year. I did a TR that details a few restaurants we visited ... see here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-and-chasing-lights-72682-10.html#post1392177

 

[maxwell]

Spent a week in Le Merais last September and absolutely loved it - will stay there every time I return to Paris. Funky, great shopping / restaurants, walking distance to most attractions / metros, etc. Booked an airbnb apartment, was very reasonable.

+1! Partner and I booked an Airbnb in Le Merais in late December for an intimate Christmas together. Very nice area and close to Notre-dame, Louvres, Center Pompidou & Place des Vosges.

 

[medhead]

Almost 10 years ago we (family) stayed at the Citadines St Germain des Pres on the left bank. It was reasonably priced back then. we really enjoyed it, they had a mid week champagne reception. More recent checks suggest a price increase. serviced apart hotel paris saint germain des pres - Citadines aparthotels: serviced apartments for short term accommodations in major European cities centers
Plenty of decent restaurants nearby.
We had breakfast around the corner at a little cafe every morning. The Cafe des Beaux Arts. Really enjoyable to sit on the street and watch traffic/The Louvre. Went back there for dinner last year. Food seemed just as good. The same wheel-less push bike was still chained up out the front.

 

[Jonova]

We have also just completed a stay at the Citadines St Germain des Pres. While it is needing a refresh we found the location to be fantastic, being only a 10 minute walk to the Louvre and Notre Dame and there are plenty of nice cafes and shops just around the area. The rate was pretty reasonable for Paris.

 

[Skyring]

My favourite is Hotel-Hospitel. A boutique hotel located in an attic of Paris's Hotel-Dieu, the hospital beside Notre Dame. Hard to find a better location. On Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame right outside the door, Left Bank just over the bridge. Spent a week there in 2008, and a friend who staid there with his wife last year on my recommendation is full of glowing praise.

150 Euro a night. Hotel-Hospitel.com

 

[kezzakawasaki]

Great thread thank you everybody for your tips! We have a week in Paris end of September, was considering Accor and Hilton as we have top tier in both. But some of these boutique hotels that you have recommended also look really nice. For our first three nights we need a two bedroom as we are a party of 3 - if anybody has Airbnb recommendations for two bedroom in the Marais district we'd appreciate it!

 

[feezable]

I used to work with a Frenchman, he was well travelled and always stayed at this small boutique hotel on Ile Saint-Louis when he went home to Paris. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hote...sle-Paris_Ile_de_France.html#review_384370565
Welcome to Saint-Louis en l'Isle hotel . One day I plan to stay there

 

[maxwell]

Great thread thank you everybody for your tips! We have a week in Paris end of September, was considering Accor and Hilton as we have top tier in both. But some these boutique hotels that you have recommended also look really nice. For our first three nights we need a two bedroom as we are a party of 3 - if anybody has Airbnb recommendations for two bedroom in the Marais district we'd appreciate it!

Hi Kezza, there's an abundance around the Les Marais area. Partner and I looked through many before we made a decision. If nothing around there is to your liking, you could try looking around Les Halles as well.