I stayed at the Comfort Hotel Lamarck. It’s close to Montmartre and other tourist spots, and a short walk to the Metro. It’s also not too expensive, although the rooms are a bit small. I highly recommend it!

We’ve really enjoyed staying in the 5th arrondisment. It’s very safe, and several metro stations nearby. It’s middle priced so you can find some good deals, and you’re not far from the 1st and 2nd arrondisments, and not too far from Notre Dame etc.

Also, I’ve stayed near the Latin Quarter before, and that’s even closer to Notre Dame (basically right across the Seine). The 1st (good for shopping) is on the opposite side of the Seine from there.

I wouldn’t stay in the 1st or 2nd, because it’s VERYVERY pricey. Expect to pay top dollar. Also, it’s a very snobby area, so don’t expect to feel relaxed unless you have a suit or nice dress on. The 5th is several notches down, but still very nice.

Oh, and I meant to mention, you might consider renting an apartment through one of the vacation rental networks if you’re staying for 1 week or more. Great prices!

My favorite neighborhood to stay in is Le Marais. It’s close to the action but it feels more like a neighborhood than a city center. The Centre Pompidou is there. And we’ve enjoyed a small hotel called the Hotel des Victoires. Nothing fancy, but a good home base for exploring. Enjoy!

Hi,

We stayed in the neighborhood of La Defense in the Hotel Pullman. We got a great deal and paid around $70/night in the month of May (2009). I think we found it through priceline or expedia. Its in a great location and the hotel was was a block away from the metro station. Champs Elysees (Paris central) was only a few stops away. I would highly recommend this area and hotel.

Below is the link to the hotel website but I recommend booking through a travel site. Overall the area of La Defense is definitely great.

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-3013-pullman-paris-la-defense/index.shtml

Enjoy ur stay in Paris.

Lisa

I can recommend the area around Jaurès metro station. If you’re under 35 & after an inexpensive but decent hostel, there’s the Peace & Love Hostel, or if you want something a little more upmarket there’s the Libertel Canal St Martin, which is still a reasonably priced hotel. We booked it because it’s near the coach station where the coach from London stops so it was easy to get to & from with our baggage, and within easy metro rides of all the central attractions.

I just got back from a vacation in Paris! It was our third, and we’ve always stayed in Montmartre, which is arrondissement 18 and a part of 9. Montmartre is a really nice area, the artist area of Paris. The streets are filled with fruit stands, cafés, bakeries and small shops. It’s cosy. For inspiration on Montmartre, see the movie Amelie from Montmartre!


We stayed at the Hotel Montmartre Duperré (http://www.hotel-montmartre-duperre.com/uk/index.php), close to the metro station Pigalle. It was affordable, and no breakfast included. That’s a good thing, it’s much nicer to buy a crêp or baguette and have breakfast in a park :)

We stayed in Montmartre, and we loooooved it. It’s lively and scenic, and the shopping and eating is great around there. You’re very close to Abbesses metro stop as well.

And I say, skip the hotel and rent an apartment! Believe it or not, it’s often cheaper! We stayed here:

http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_187.htm

It was adorable (right down the street from the green grocer from Amelie), saved us money (only USD 150/night!), and we didn’t have to eat out for every meal (cheaper AND healthier). Randomly enough, they also have every Keanu Reeves movie ever made. (WHOA!)

If that’s not the place or arrondissement for you, there’s plenty of other apartments throughout the city. Trust me on this one. Even the crud hotels in Paris will prolly cost more than an apartment. They have studio apartments going for even less than this one bedroom.

I’m with Kylin. Rent an apt in Paris. I stayed in Le Marais (3rd Arr.) for 1200 Euro (1500 USD) for a little over a week and with a friend in a beautiful 2 BDRM. Cost us each about $85 a night pp. Can’t beat that deal!

Le Marais or Montmartre would be my first two choices. Both are very scenic, close to metro stations and have great little restaurants.

Back in 2005 I stayed at Kyriad Hotel Port d’Orleans – http://www.kyriad-paris-sud-porte-dorleans.fr/ – because we got a great discount deal at the time. The metro is literally on your doorstep. BUT there wasn’t really anything in the neighbourhood. So we took the metro to go out for dinner, and had to run one evening to make it back on time. And the staff was pretty rude at breakfast (but you can get friendlier croissants at the boulangerie across the street). Otherwise no complaints whatsoever.

Last year I also stayed at Hotel Louvre Forum in the 1st – http://www.paris-hotel-louvre-forum.com/- and you do not need to wear dresses and suits in the 1st, don’t know where that comes from!. It is near the metrohub Les Halles and very central (well, right by the Louvre) but a little bit more expensive than hotels in the outer arrondissements. Still got a great deal.

I’d personally like to stay in the Marais area or Montmartre area next time, because of their charm.

I agree with the comment above to check Tripadvisor for good deals.

Stay on a boat in the middle of Paris! I did this 3 years ago and my Mom and sister were just there again last month. It’s a charming place to stay, docked on the Seine near the Musee D’Orsay, so near a lot of things, but you are a little away from it all. And they bring you coffee and croissants in the morning.

http://www.bateau.johanna.free.fr/johanna%20english/index.html