When planning our trip to Paris, I%26#39;ve been concentrating on the 1er arrondisement because it%26#39;s so central. I understand that there really isn%26#39;t much going on there. We don%26#39;t mind [and expect] walking. However, for those who have visited Paris before, which areas are best to stay in? For instance, when in NYC, we stay in mid-town, north of Macy%26#39;s and south of Central Park. Is there an equivalent in Paris? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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On my first trip to Paris I chose the 1st arrondissement thinking the same thing you are and I stayed at the Novotel Les Halles. It was very central and I would not say there wasn%26#39;t anything to do there, it just will never be my first choice for home base again. We fell in love with the Latin quarter and then we reserved there on our next trip. I am reserved again there in March! It is very central, very safe and has a lot of small cafes, shops and is a lot of fun to walk around in and just get lost. The small hotels are another draw as they are so charming and very affordable. But, if you want to stay at the Marriott or the Ritz, then the Latin Quarter is not for you. You may want to get a good guide book and read about the personality of each area and decide for yourself!
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On my first trip to Paris I, too, chose the 1er for convenience. I continue to do so. Anyplace I want to go is either a short walk or an easy trip on the Metro with no more than one transfer.
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I hae stayed in the 1st, 4th , 5th and 7th. I liked the 4 and 5th best.
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We always stay in the 4th(ile st. louis). It%26#39;s incredibly convenient to the left and right banks as it%26#39;s in the middle. We walk virtually everywhere from the hotel and then feel like we can enjoy a wonderful evening meal just down the street from the hotel because we%26#39;ve gotten our exercise! Have fun.
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we just came back from the 2nd arr. near les Halles and found it great, close to 5 metro stops, walkable to ile de la cite, Louvre, Pompidou, and there is a great market street, rue de Montorgueill.
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Our area of choice is the 6th, specifically St-Germain. It%26#39;s beautifully located for visiting the Musée d%26#39;Orsay, the Louvre, the Seine, many small art galleries, the Ile St-Louis, the Luxembourg gardens...just about anything one could want. The atmosphere is lively, and there are any number of good little restaurants that don%26#39;t break the budget. I think it%26#39;s the ideal area for a first-time visitor to Paris because its vitality.
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Check out the reviews of %26quot;Hotel Royal Saint Michel%26quot; ... I don%26#39;t think you will be disappointed with this choice and the location is great, in my opinion. We walked to Notre Dame (easily), the Louvre, Museum D%26#39;Orsay, and also to the Bastille area - as well, the Metro stop is literally outside the hotel door (VERY easy to get anywhere i.e. Eiffel Tower, Galleries Lafayette, etc. by Metro, but that is true of any area, really)
The St. Michel area (Latin Quarter) was perfect for us (my first time to Paris) - I also think the St. Germain-des-Pres area would be great, too, but the two areas are right beside each other. I can%26#39;t imagine that you would be disappointed with the hotel and the rooms were great.
Good Luck and have fun!
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I would like to add why I decided not to stay in the 1er again. It was very central and that was nice, but it did not have the ambiance I was looking for and I was staying in the very commercial area near the Les Halles metro which is very, very busy. The huge forum mall was right there too. Also, it did not feel as safe at night. I feel very safe in the Latin Quarter and the St. Germain area as well. This was especially important for us, women traveling alone and liking to stay out late! I like an area with small cafes, shops and the narrow winding streets. Also, I would think the Il de la Citie (island in between) would be a very nice place to stay, but maybe a bit more isolated than I want to be. I like some nightlife at my fingertips. So, it really depends on what you are looking for! Good luck in deciding!
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Definately stay in the Latin Quarter ..St Germain area..First time I stayed we were near the Pantheon and Luxembourg gardens to far out of where we wanted to be
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I really like the area around Place de la republique. Its well located for the metro and a reasonable walk to lots of the sights (if you take your time)
Its also a bit less touristy and busy with Parisians. Lots of restaurants and bars and tends to be a little bit cheaper as it is less popular.
However if you want somewhere very cute and Parisy, probably not the best option.
It really depends what you are looking for.
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