You Asked –Where Should I Stay In Paris For A 4-Star Holiday?

We're coming to Paris for 8 nights. I'm very confused about the area in which I should book a hotel. We want to stay in a lively, charming place with lots of restaurants, cafes, and shops and which is safe at night. Please suggest an area an also some good hotels there.

"I'm traveling with my husband & 17 year old son. A 4-star hotel is fine and my budget is 200€ to 300€ per night."
– Dr B, India

We Answer – 3 Hotels in a Great Neighborhood

Dear Dr B,
As this is your first time to Paris, we've narrowed the search to the Left Bank, in the area where the 6th & 7th Arrondissements meet. This is the neighbourhood that best represents the Paris people dream about, with charming shops, outdoor cafes, green spaces, and world-class museums.

There are some neighbourhoods that we would not recommend recommend for you. One is the area above Opera and behind the Grand Magasins, in the 9th. This area is fine to visit, but we don't feel it has the charm that you're after. Hotels in this area will cost less but it's for a reason. Similarly, we wouldn't send you to the outer arrondissements for a special holiday trip — the 15th, 18th, 19th, etc. Everywhere in Paris is safe, by the way, but we want to try to send you to a place that will create a special memory for you.

Let's take a look at the hotel options we suggest for you.

Au Manoir Saint Germain

This 4-Star hotel is right in the heart of the action on Boulevard Saint Germain in the 6th Arrondissement. This is the very middle of Paris on the Left Bank, close to shops, restaurants and short walk to the Seine and three Metro stops. It also overlooks the famous cafe, Les Deux Magots.

Hotel d'Orsay

This highly-rated 4-Star hotel is in a beautiful part of Paris, the east end of the 7th Arrondissement. As the name implies, the hotel is very near Musée d'Orsay (you can see it from the hotel) and just across the river from the Louvre museum. Also in the 7th are the Eiffel Tower (about 30 minutes' walk) and Rue St Dominque (a lively shopping district). Metro stations are nearby.

Hotel des Saints Pères

Another lovely hotel in a great Left Bank neighborhood, located on a quiet street (Rue des Saints Pères) off Boulevard Saint-Germain. There's an inner courtyard. We rate Hotel des Saints Pères "Superb".

A Bit More Advice

Paris is a busy place, so we advise you to book hotels and activities as soon as possible. Remember that hotel rooms (and elevators) in Paris tend to be small. Few hotels have a bellhop to help you with your luggage.

To make your holiday more special book a few guided tours. Things like a skip-the-line tour of the Louvre, or the Best of Versailles Small-Group Day Trip. You experience more (and learn more) on a guided tour than on your own when visiting the major monuments and museums.