Paris Travel Guide

Paris has a wide range of hotels, from the modest to the ultraluxurious, many situated in popular neighborhoods—the Tuileries, St. Germain, Champs-Elysees and Opera areas. The side streets of the Latin Quarter are filled with small and medium-sized budget hotels of mixed quality, although some excellent finds are still possible. A number of cheaper hotels are also clustered near the various main railway stations, but these tend to be a bit dicier, and the neighborhoods are often less interesting. Avoid single rooms as doubles are only marginally more expensive and usually larger and more comfortable. When business is slow you can often bargain the price down a little.

Pools are not a common feature of Paris hotels, but fitness rooms are catching on. For a quiet room, ask for une chambre sur cour (facing the courtyard) and avoid ones that are sur rue (facing the street). Reservations are recommended year-round but are absolutely necessary beginning in May throughout the summer and in the fall, a big season for trade fairs and conventions. Most hotels offer lower weekend rates. Prices must be posted at the door of the hotel. If you arrive in Paris without a reservation, your best chance to find a room is around 11 am.

Apartments are other options for a comfortable and affordable stay in this rather expensive city. For longer stays, a "studio" can be rented. Furnished rental apartments are also a smart option if you're staying for a week or more and have small children; you can shop locally for foods your family enjoys and prepare some meals at home. (You may find that some restaurants are not stroller-friendly.)