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Looking For Accommodation In Paris France: Your Guide To Finding A Paris Arrondissement To Suit You

By: Michael Giles Click author's name for more of his/her articles

You can't wait to leave for Paris, France . You've gotten your deals on Paris, France flights , now you are considering some great looking specials on hotel accommodation for Paris, France. Here's a guide to Paris's neighborhoods or arrondissements so you can learn more about what areas of Paris the hotels you are considering are in . It will help you figure out where in Paris you want to be and where you don't!

The ideal of staying in Paris can be an extravagant one. It's quite easy to start imagining hyper-luxurious living - canopy beds, crystal antique chandeliers , silk sheets - before waking up to the reality of pricing . Paris is an expensive place . And living like Marie Antoinette isn't possible for most . Furthermore, Paris is a diverse place . It has a huge number of different arrondissements and neighborhoods , and sections of the city . Some that might suit a married couple with 2 kids might not work for an adventurous, young singleton, back packers, or even an older couple. So before you finally decide on which Paris hotels near the Eiffel Tower are for you and your family , or which 5 star hotels in Paris you want to stay in , or which Paris hotels in the Latin Quarter offer the best deal , you should also consider the ambiance and milieu of the neighborhood you're about to stay in. This is important if you are to choose the best hotel in Paris for you and your companion. Remember it'll be your home away from home in Paris and you'll want it to be a good fit. So think about neighborhood along with price, safety and convenience as you make your final Paris hotel or apartment decision. Neighborhood is always an important consideration for accommodation in Paris, France even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre.

Your Guide To Price

By and large, nice hotels on the Right Bank in elegant districts like the eighth and 16th arrondissements are the most expensive of any hotels you can find . On the left bank, prices are generally lower. Like everything else there are exceptions, and the upscale artsy Boulevard Saint. Germain area is also rather pricey, though not as expensive as the equivalent Right Bank hotels . Less costly areas include more residential, student oriented, or out-of the way arrondissements. Boulevard St. Michel - though a bit crowed, is rather cheap, but not as cheap as Montparnasse. These two areas are good for finding cheap accommodation in Paris. Other neighborhoods that are generally on the bottom end of the price scale, but that aren't considered too dangerous to stay in, include Montmartre, which is low-key, artsy-hippie, and relaxed, the student-oriented , though perhaps a tad touristy, Rue Mouffetard, and the residential Portes d'Orleans/Alesia area. These areas aren't close to attractions like the Eiffel Tower, but it's easy to get around on Paris's Metro system or through the Velib bike-rental system.

Your Guide To The Star Rating System For Paris France Accommodation

The idea behind France's star rating system is mathematical - not a value-judgement. In France, a standardized system of star-ranking measures not the quality of the hotel but the quantity of its amenities. The 1 - 4 star scale (there are no 5-star hotels in France) is based on twenty-two criteria about the square footage, features, and amenities, and doesn't reflect on the "charm," "niceness," or lack thereof. So do your research ; don't assume stars automatically equal good, or that a hotel with only one star is no good - it could be a lot more charming than its "4 -star" a hotel with four stars.

Choosing A Neighborhood

For the most part, the 1st, 8th , sixteenth , and seventh arrondissements are the most "elegant," with the seventh by and large more aristocratic, residential, and refined, and the eighth , 1st and 16th more opulent, catering to business men and government officials. The Sixth is upscale as well. But in a far more art-crowd, bohemian way. For young, trendy twenty-somethings, the Marais (third and fourth) is the best place to be, although for student travelers on a budget Montmartre (18th - but be sure you're not in the less safe district of Barbes-Rochechouard or the seedy Pigalle, also bordering the eighteenth ) is a great bet, as is the slightly more picturesque Latin Quarter (fifteenth ). Quiet residential arrondissements like the thirteenth , twelfth , fourteenth , fifteenth , and seventeenth are great for families looking rent out a Paris apartment and experience "neighborhood life." Seedier areas include bits of the second , the ninth , and outlying areas - be sure you're not in Barbes-Rochechouard, on Rue St. Denis (unless you're low down near Les Halles), or in Pigalle or Clichy - these are a bit seedy - actually bordering on dangerous neighborhoods. Staying in the banlieus - suburbs- is not suggested.

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About The Author: TravelGuyMike loves the wonderful mix of adventure and old world tradition that Paris and France offer. Click to find out more about great things to do in Paris and France. You'll find ways to save money on accommodation in Paris and France and cheap flights to Paris.