Where to stay

Hello everyone. I need some help.

I am looking into taking my wife to Paris for a 4-5 day trip (Feb 11-16) from Philadelphia. I have looked, but I am at a bit of a loss, a bit overwhelmed. Where are the best areas to stay without breaking the bank? Can anyone point out the areas and some of the major pluses or minuses for staying in a specific area? Any good hotel recommendations for those areas? Restaurants? Is it a bad time to go?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

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WHERE TO STAY:

We love the 4th/5th/6th - the Ile de la Cite, the Ile St Louis, the Marais, the Latin Quarter and the Saint-Germain-des-Pres area.

These areas are really central - you can walk almost everywhere.

However, Paris is expensive and accommodation in less central locations may be cheaper. What sort of budget are you looking at?

WHERE TO EAT:

Great, reasonably priced restaurants in the 4th, 5th %26amp; 6th:

Le Pre Verre (8 Rue Thénard in the 5th) is a crampmed, fun little bistro with great food at seriously good prices for the quality – look for the €13.50, 2 course (lunch only) prix fixe menu. The food is has Asian influences and the place is very popular with locals (www.lepreverre.com).

On the Ile St Louis is Mon Vieil Ami (mon-vieil-ami.com) is a small, intimate bistro with great modern Alsatian food (€39 per person for the 3-course prix fixe menu).

Itinéraires (5 rue de Pontoise in the 5th) is the Le Temps au Temps’ chef’s new venture. It does 3 course prix fixe menus for about €34.

WHEN TO VISIT

Can%26#39;t comment on Paris in February - we prefer to visit in the spring or autumn when the weather is milder.

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we stayed in the marais at Hotel Sevigne. Our room was big but I have heard that other rooms were small. The location was great, and we were across the street from the metro. There were many reasonable places to eat too.

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The major decision of course is whether to stay on the left or right bank of the Seine River. I far prefer the quaint left bank to the perhaps more tradtional %26quot;big city%26quot; right bank. I agree with the locations identified by the poster above; specifically, I%26#39;d stay in the 6th district, in the area bounded by the Seine, Blvd St Germain, Blvd St Michel, and Rue Bonaparte. It%26#39;s filled with narrow steets, good restaurants, small hotels, and endless color/charm. Paris at its best IMO.

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Everyone disses the Right Bank, but we have stayed there twice (First District) and like it. Sure, it%26#39;s quiet at night, but that%26#39;s fine with us. Right seems more classy, Left more funky and fun, and I thought the Right was cleaner, too, but I think maybe more cars parked on Left streets prevents sweeping, etc. You%26#39;ll love both, as long as you%26#39;re near the Seine. February is probably a great time. Hotels depend on your budget. Take some time and type in a topic in the search box like %26quot;best area to stay,%26quot; etc., and threads will come up. You can also click on hotels and start reading the popular TA hotels. Postal codes indicate Right or Left bank (look at Paris map), First District ends in a 01.

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Hotel Paris Rivoli in Marais is a great little hotel - walking distance to the metro, Notre Dame, stores and restaurants nearby. Not as crowded and noisy at the Latin Quarter.

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We stayed at the Hotel Castex in the Marais. It was 150E and I loved the location. Nice walk home at night, but not too far from anything and very near Metro as is everything!!

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check out the reviews for the Hotel Brighton. I stayed there last year and the location is ideal, on the Rue de Rivoli, 2 minutes from the Louvre, view of the Tuileries right in front, Eifel tower, and the Champs right up the street. Make sure you request a room with a view of the Tuileries.

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