Where to stay?

My wife and I will be in Paris, in early Sept, for the first time. We%26#39;re the type of people who like funky interesting fun places like NYC/Greenwich Village, Boulder, San Fran, Key West, New Orleans, etc. From what I read it seems either St Germain or Latin Quarter would be where we want to stay. Would this be correct? Are there other areas as well, perhaps St Louis Isle? Our plan is to see all the usual sites in our five days there. Any hotel recomms are welcome too. I%26#39;d love to keep it under $200 per night if possible but since it is our first time we do want to feel like we%26#39;re in Paris and not the local YMCA or Holiday Inn.

Thanks in advance!!

|||

I was just in Paris in July and fell in love with the Marais area. Very old beautiful area with tiny winding streets and unique boutiques. Plus it%26#39;s close to many attractions like the Louvre and close to the Seine. I felt St Germain didn%26#39;t have much personality and Ile St Louis is quite touristy...e.g. cheesy Paris t-shirt stands. Montmarte is another area that is very bohemian and artsy and has cheaper prices for apartment rentals. But do not stay in Montmarte up near the Sacre Coeur (famous cathedral) or you%26#39;ll be walking a lot of stairs.

I stayed at a hotel called Hotel Cervantes in the 8e. It was very nice, quiet, comfortable and smoke-free. Not sure of the rates as I booked a flight and hotel combo. They have a sister hotel called Magenta in the Marais that was also renovated earlier this year so everything is brand new. So even though it%26#39;s only a three star hotel it looks much nicer.

hotelmagentaparis.com/FR.hotel-magenta-paris…

Paris is very much like NYC. Hotels are expensive and you truly get what you pay for. Another option maybe to rent an apartment off a site like www.vrbo.com. There are some good deals on that site.

|||

If you like Greenwich, Boulder, San Francisco, Key West or the Big Easy, then I would recommend the Marais.

Isle St. Louis is technically part of the 4th arrondisement where the Marais is located, but it might be a %26quot;little%26quot; quiet and maybe too close to the Isle de la Cite.

The Marais is home to both the Jewish community and Gay and Lesbian community of Paris - therefore, more %26quot;funky%26quot; than the Latin Qtr or St. Germain. There are other %26quot;funky%26quot; areas like Oberkampf, etc. w/ lots of local color, but they are a little further from the %26quot;center%26quot; which, for your first trip, is probably where you want to be.

Also, IMHO, for a first trip, I would recommend a hotel over an apartment to help bridge the language/culture gap - but since you like %26quot;funky%26quot; places, you seem to be fairly open-minded. Besides, the concierge/front desk can point you to places of interest in the neighborhood and local restaurants if you like.....

I%26#39;d recommend the Marais.......

Bon Chance!

|||

Here is a link to an article on the Marais from the NY Times.

…nytimes.com/travel/…

Here is a link to an apartment I am looking into renting in the Marais next summer. Not sure if it is available.

http://www.vrbo.com/49273

|||

Three quick responses...Thanks! A hotel since it is our first time, as suggested, seems right for us instead of an apartment, which I can see doing on a later trip. Marais sounds cool too...thanks all. So it seems Marais beats out St Germain and Latin Q??

|||

I%26#39;d wait and see what some of the %26quot;experts%26quot; have to say - if they respond at all. But from your other examples of places you like, the Marais seems to fit the bill.

You should ask about accomodations near Place des Vosges - a remarkable park in the center of the Marais, beautiful, lively, but still very %26quot;French%26quot;........... although there are many different %26quot;neighborhoods%26quot; in the Marais....... It%26#39;s not a place I have a lot of experience with personally.

But the clubs and restaurants in the Marais are hip and quirky in a Parisian sort of way - it%26#39;s the perfect fit for you given the %26quot;funky%26quot; requirement.......... especially the Greenwich/Boulder/San Francisco comparison........

|||

The Marais is an excellent choice - we will be there in October. Don%26#39;t dismiss the Latin Quarter; last June we stayed on rue des Carmes, 1 block north of the Pantheon and two blocks south of the Seine %26amp; Notre Dame. Beside our front door was a bar, down the block 2 brasseries and lots of great shops, bars restaurants, etc. Enjoy!