tessietoes

Planning a trip to Paris, May 2015. Traveling with my mother and boyfriend for 14 days plus 2 extra for travel time. St Germain area near a metro would be ideal. Any recommendation on hotels or two apartments near each other? Maybe with a little balcony? Budget around $250 per room.

Thank you!

kerouac

Not my favourite area, but that's just me. It seems to appeal mostly to affluent people from North America over the age of 50. If you are in that group, go for it.

You could spend half as much in other parts of Paris.

tessietoes

We are not affluent but we are from North America. My mother is over 50 but we aren't. Half of $250 sounds great...which parts?

kerouac

Look at the arrondissements numbered from 9 to 20, excluding 16.

Dukey1

Please remember that being near the Metro (which I most definitely agree with)is great but being near the Metro and not having to ride forever or change several times in order to get to the attractions you are interested in is better.

We once stayed in a hotel which was in sight of two Metro stations but to get to the places we really wanted to go and see was sometimes almost a hassle and I have tried not to repeat that mistake.

JulieVikmanis

We stay at Hotel Parc St. Severin on Rue de la Parchemenerie between St. Germain and St. Michel. There are lots of other reasonable hotels in same area and plenty of really good restaurants. Our son denigrates the area as tourist central but we love the hotel and their staff, we love the area--if you avoid the main streets, and we love the transportation. Cluny metro in one direction, St. Michel in the other and 3+ bus stops all within a block or two.

sanderskn

I love St Germain.I think it's a really good area to stay in. Especially closer to Luxembourg garden. Last year I stayed at Best Western Trianon Rive Gauche. that was for just one night but I loved the quiet location. At the beginning of our trip we also stayed at the Best Western Tour Notre Dame, which is more in the Latin Quarter but on a quiet street right next to the museum. these two hotels are more French than you think. Each Best Western is privately owned. They were very nice inside but not sterile or generic. They had their own charm.

sanderskn

I meant next to the CLUNY museum.

kerouac

Perhaps sanderskn will also offer to assist you in paying for these hotels.

adrienne

This hotel is not in St-Germain but it's close enough. Rates are below $250 and most rooms have small balconies and is close to the Luxembourg Gardens and on a quiet street.

http://www.balcons.com/

Almost every place in Paris is near a metro station, especially in central Paris. I'm not sure why people worry about how close the metro is to their hotels since you will most certainly be walking at the other end and throughout the day. Why does it matter if the metro is 1 minute or 3 minutes away.

I agree with Dukey1 about what metro line and stop you're near rather than how close the metro is.

justineparis

Kerouac why do you persist in spreading untruths its almost a form of fearmongering.. hotels in the central areas are all so expensive etc .. There are hotels in the 4,5th and 6th that are absolutely fine and well under 250 a night dear.. perhaps since you have NEVER stayed in a hotel in that area you are not aware of that.

I can name three right now.. that I have stayed in .. that are nice, clean, and have a/c ( important for summer visits no matter what some say) The rooms may be small and basic , but the locations make up for the plainness of the rooms and lack of bell boy and room service.

Hotel Eugenie( in the 6th but on border of 5th , 1/2 block to major metro and RER station and the river ,, 5 minute walk to Cluny and Notre Dame ) Rooms are basic but have ac and mini fridge.

Hotel Le Regent( in the 6th. lovely part too, cafes and markets right outside,, and a bank machine right beside hotel, nice bathrooms in this hotel,standard rooms are tiny , deluxe rooms are better.. both have ac and fridge. )

Hotel Des Grand Hommes( this one is in 5th away from busy area.. near Luxembourg gardens and directly across from Pantheon) .. nice décor.. small rooms.. ac and mini fridge.. next door is the Hotel Pantheon.. which is similar sister hotel.. book well in advance to get better rates for this hotel, can be pricey )

Now.. for OP I am going to suggest the apartment option.. since I know a building that has two perfect apartments in it.. you and bf book the Esmeralda owned by Parisbestlodge.. it has a tiny balcony with an amazing and romantic view.. the apartment has excellent air conditioning,, hard to find for apartments.. and its a beautiful room.. there is an elevator in building.. but it goes to the floor below this apartment so you will have one steep flight of stairs to room.. then mom can have apartment directly below you ( this building is only one apartment wide) she will have same view but no balcony, and same ac etc..
Parisbestlodge..
Hotel Eugenie

justineparis

Sorry posted too soon. That apartment is not in 6th but in 5th, on a quiet street just steps from busy area of Latin Quarter.. metro and RER 5 minutes away.. river right there.. excellent area.

Dukey1

Yeah, and then there's that myth that every hotel room in Paris is small. Not if you are willing to pay they aren't.

annhig

Dukey - we stayed at the Hotel St Severin, also in the 5th near the Cluny:

http://www.hoteleurope.net/

They have particularly spacious rooms and balconies which are nice, albeit small. And it is within your budget.

good luck in your search.

justineparis

Small is relative.. I find many Americans would find even an expensive room in Paris small , since some of them have walk in closets that you could have a family of four live in.. lol

I think its fair to say that to most of us from the new worlds, Canada, USA, Australia .. we have a different concept of space.. we are lucky we are used to quite a lot more then the average Europeon.

Huggy

Hr

tessietoes

Look I have the same cup and saucer as Esmeralda! I clicked on the website and that's a Royal Albert's old country roses tea cup. I scored 5 sets at a garage sale in our hood a couple of years ago for $10. Sign might you say? I attached to profile pic.

oooh kerouac they're on to you. I will admit when I was in the 20th last trip, 2 pastries and 2 sin gas & with gas water bottles totaled to only 2,50 euros, much cheaper than some of the bakeries in the center so I hear you.

For this trip I think we might prefer to stay somewhat closer to the center. Thank you for the hotel links adrienne & annihig, I am liking them all. The balcons doesn't have any of the double rooms in May though. It's fun looking for a place to stay.

tessietoes

http://parisbestlodge.com/esmeralda.html

sanderskn

Actually Kerouac, I paid $220 a night for both of these hotels last June. That seems to be in her price range. Prices could have gone up, I don't know, but I just thought I would suggest them.

tessietoes

Dukey, justineparis, sanderskn & Julie thank you. I'll be sure to check out all your hotel picks.