FINDING THE RIGHT HOTEL IN PARIS
Like
most capitals, Paris is an expensive city, and also a big city, so
finding the right Paris hotel for your needs can be the factor that can
make or break a good trip.
Top of the range hotels in Paris:
If money is no object, there are plenty of top-of-the-range hotels in
Paris. Among the top five-star hotels in Paris are seven renowned
"Palace hotels", the most famous of which are the Crillon, the Hotel Fouquet's , the
hôtel George V, and the Meurice. Then, a bit more affordable, are the
four-star hotels belonging to the major chains such as Accor, with
the Pullman andSofitel brands, which each have a number of outlets in Paris and
the surrounding area. Many of the best hotels in Paris are situated in
the chic quarters, close to the Champs Elysées or to the Eiffel tower.
Check out the green markers on the Map of selected Paris hotels
Apart-hotel residences
Rent a studio or an apartment from one night upwards - your own home in
Paris in a fully serviced residence. Check out the choice of Paris
apart-hotels from Citadines 
Quality hotels (three star):
There is a massive choice of three-star hotels in Paris, so choosing your hotel is really first a matter of determining which district or quarter of Paris
you want to stay in, then finding a hotel; you can choose from hundreds
of independent hotels, or from the three-star hotels run by the major
hotel chains, such as Novotel and Mercure or Kyriad Prestige brands.
Check out the red markers on the Map of selected Paris hotels
Paris also offers plenty of choice in quality boutique hotels - small hotels with character and style.
Check out the pink markers on the Map of selected Paris hotels
Budget hotels
There are hundreds of budget hotels in Paris and in the suburbs;
if you want to book on line with major French hotel chains, check out
the Ibis (mostly upper two-star), and Etap hotels (two star) or the Formule 1 chains
on the Accor website. The general rule is that the further you get from
the expensive quarters of central Paris, the cheaper budget hotel rates
will be. In central Paris, modern budget chain hotels are generally in
the range of 55 Euros to 100 €uros a night for a double room, depending
on location and amenities. In the suburbs, double rooms in modern
budget chain hotels start at about 45 Euros. Note that if a hotel in
Paris offers very cheap prices, there is probably a reason; there are
still a few cheap backpacker hotels in Paris, but if you choose a hotel
in a tourist area of Paris offering rooms at less than 70 € a night in
2010, don't expect too much in the way of space or amenities, and
don't be surprised - with independent hotels - if the furniture is
fairly basic and not too new.
Check out the blue markers on the Map of selected Paris hotels
Hostels: there
is a good choice of hostels in Paris, including students hostels
attached to universities, traditional Youth Hostels belonging to the
French Youth Hostel federation (website, in French), and other hostels and budget hotels offering hostel type accommodation.
Where to stay:
One way or another, it is useful to weigh up the pros and cons of
staying in central Paris, or staying further out from the center of
Paris, or even in the suburbs.
Staying in Paris: There
are hotels all over Paris, but if you want to stay close to the main
tourist attractions, check out our map of selected Paris hotels.
This offers a choice of hotels, from mid-range to luxury hotels, that
are conveniently located near the main tourist attractions. Choose
hotels in the 1st, 2nd or the 8th arondissement (quarter,
district) to be close to the Louvre, Champs Elysées, Grand Palais, etc; choose a hotel in the 7th arondissement to be near the Eiffel Tower or the Invalides. Prefer the 4th, 5th or 6th arondissements for hotels near the heart of the old city and the Latin Quarter.
Advantages of staying in Paris: access,
time. If you are only in Paris for a short break, staying centrally
will allow you to spend more time seeing and doing things, and less
time in trains, buses or taxis.
Disadvantages:
hotels near the tourist areas are generally quite expensive; cheaper
hotels are often in less attractive areas of the city, far from the
tourist sights and attractions, or else on the edge. And if you come to
Paris by car, parking will be a major extra cost.
 Check and book Paris hotels with prices quoted in British pounds sterling: ▼
fff | Staying in the suburbs or outskirts of Paris: Advantages:
hotels tend to be cheaper, and hotel rooms may be bigger. If you choose
a hotel that is near a train station, access to central Paris can be
relatively easy and quick.
If you are
planning a visit to Versailles, you'd do well to take a hotel in the
suburbs to the southwest of Paris. If you are planning to visit
Disneyland Paris, located in the outer suburbs at Marne la
Vallée, then a hotel on the eastern side of Paris would be more
useful. There are plenty of hotels at or near Marne la Vallée.
Disadvantages:
check that the cheaper room cost is not offset by the extra travelling
costs - though remember that it is advisable not to take your car into
Paris. Also, if you stay outside Paris, you'll have less time to enjoy
Paris by night. |
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Click here for Paris tourist attractions guide : Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge, and much more
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