Looking For Deals On Accommodation In Paris France? A Guide To Selecting A Paris Arrondissement

You can't wait to leave for Paris, the City of Lights .  You've gotten your flights to Paris, France , now you are trying to decide between 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 neighborhoods in Paris the hotels you are considering are in . It'll help you decide where in Paris you want to be and where you don't!  

The dream of vacationing in Paris is an extravagant one. It's quite easy to begin picturing indulgent living - canopy beds, crystal chandeliers, pure silk sheets - before coming to terms with the reality of budget constraints. Paris is an expensive city. And living like Marie Antoinette isn't feasible for most people . Furthermore, Paris is a diverse city. It has a wealth of different arrondissements and neighborhoods , and areas.  Some that might suit a married couple and four kids might not work for the trendy young single person , backpackers , or the retired couple celebrating their fifty-year anniversary. So before you finally select which Paris hotels near the Eiffel Tower are for you , or which 5 star hotels in Paris you like , or which Paris hotels in the Latin Quarter strike your fancy , you should also consider the ambiance and milieu of the neighborhood you're about to stay in. This is really important if you are to select the best hotel in Paris for you and your family . Remember it'll be your home away from home during your stay in Paris and you'll want it to be a good fit. So consider neighborhood along with price, safety and convenience as you make your final Paris hotel or apartment decision. Neighborhood is always an important consideration for hotel accommodation in Paris, France even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre.

A Rough Guide To Price

By and large, good Paris hotels on the Right Bank in elegant districts like the 8th and 16th arrondissements are the most expensive of any hotels anywhere . On the left bank, prices are generally lower. Of course there are exceptions, the upscale artsy Boulevard St. Germain area is also rather expensive , though not as expensive as the equivalent Right Bank hotels . Less expensive areas include more residential, student-y , or less central arrondissements. Boulevard St. Michel - though perhaps congested , is pretty cheap , though not as much so 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 too dangerous to stay in , include Montmartre, which is low-key, artsy-hippie, and relaxed, the studenty, 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 Paris's Velib bike-rental system.

Your Guide To The Star Rating System For Paris France Accommodation

The concept behind the 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 - four 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 mean good, or that a hotel with only one star is no good - it could be a lot more charming than its "four-star" a hotel with four stars.

Choosing A Neighborhood

In general, the first , eighth, sixteenth , and seventh arrondissements are the most "elegant," with the 7th by and large more aristocratic, residential, and refined, and the eighth , first and 16th more opulent, catering to businesspeople and government officials. The sixth is also upscale, but in an artsier, more bohemian fashion. For young, trendy travelers , the Marais (3rd and 4th) is the best place to be, although for student travelers on a budget Montmartre (eighteenth - but be sure you're not in the less safe district of Barbes-Rochechouard or the seedy Pigalle, also bordering the 18th) is a great bet, as is the slightly more picturesque Latin Quarter (fifteenth ). Quiet residential arrondissements like the thirteenth , twelfth , fourteenth , fifteenth , and 17th are prime areas for families looking rent out a Paris apartment and experience "neighborhood life." Seedier areas include bits of the 2nd, the 9th, 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 all seedier , or even dangerous  neighborhoods. Staying in the banlieus - suburbs- is not suggested .