Page 282 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

280  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO STAY

Paris has more guest rooms than almost any also mean a town hall (hôtel de ville), hospital
other city in Europe. Its hotels vary from (Hôtel-Dieu) or mansion. A wide range of
magnificent luxury operations like Le Meurice hotels, listed under five themes – luxury,
and Four Seasons George V (the French call charming (hôtels de charme), design, romantic,
them palaces) to much simpler hotels that are and self-catering and bed-and-breakfasts –
nevertheless full of charm. It is worth noting and in three price brackets, are reviewed on
that hôtel does not always mean “hotel”. It can pages 284–7.

Where to Look The Left Bank covers some of
Hotels in Paris tend to cluster the most popular tourist areas
by type in particular areas. As and has an excellent range of
a very broad generalization, small hotels of great character.
luxury and big-business hotels The atmosphere subtly changes
tend to be on the Right Bank from the much-upgraded Latin
and hôtels de charme are on Quarter and the chic and arty
the Left Bank. areas north and south of
In the fashionable districts Boulevard St-Germain to the
near the Champs-Elysées and rather tatty Boulevard itself
the Opéra Garnier lie many of and the staid institutional
the city’s grandest hotels, area towards Les Invalides
including Le Bristol, the Four and the Eiffel Tower. The
Seasons George V and Le hotels tend to reflect this.
Meurice (see p284). Several less Further from the centre,
well known but elegant hotels Montparnasse has several
can be found in the residential large business hotels in high-
and ambassadorial quarter near rise blocks, and the Porte de
the Palais de Chaillot. Versailles area to the south is Bathroom with charming murals in
To the east, still on the Right usually packed with trade fair Les Degrés de Notre Dame (see p285)
Bank, in the Marais, a number participants. The station areas
of old mansions have been around Gare du Nord and or mid-afternoon. If the hotels
converted into exceptionally Gare de Lyon offer a number of are fully booked, try again
attractive boutique hotels, such basic hotels (choose carefully). after 6pm, when unclaimed
as Le Pavillon de la Reine (see Montmartre has some pleasant provisional bookings become
p284). The nearby areas around hotels if you don’t mind the hilly free. Don’t rely on the
Les Halles and Rue St-Denis, location, and a number of hip impression of a hotel given
however, tend to be seedy and designer hotels have opened in by the reception desk; ask
attract prostitutes and drug rapidly gentrifying South Pigalle. to see the room offered. For
addicts. Just south of the Marais, If you are looking for a hotel airport hotels, see p369.
across the Seine, the Ile St-Louis in person, the best times for
has several lovely hotels. inspecting are late morning
Hotel Prices
Hotel prices aren’t always
cheaper in low season (mid-
November to March; July
and August), because fashion
shows and other major events
throughout the year can
pack rooms, raising prices.
However, in the older hotels,
differences in the size and
position of rooms can have
a marked effect on cost.
Twin rooms are slightly more
expensive than double rooms;
single occupancy rates are as
high or nearly as high as for
two people sharing (tariffs
are almost always quoted
per room, not per person).
Façade of the chic Hôtel D’Aubusson (see p284) Rooms without a bath tend
Le Consulat restaurant on Rue Norvins, Montmartre

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