Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Where Do I Stay In Paris?

FIRST of all THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making the SUMMER WATERCOLOR SALE a HUGE success! Oui, bien sur! Remember we started filling up our piggy bank when we got home in April for the next trip - October 28 /November 11, just in time for the Salon du Chocolat bien sur!
Well the piggy bank is looking pretty good these days. We've even been celebrating a tiny bit. Blue Bird and I...ahem. AND we even broke down and we finally bought our plane ticket 
Now here's the problem.
WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS?
Sometimes you ask me questions.
Where's the best Paris tea salon?
Where can you buy the striped shoes I showed?
Could I please buy 2 pairs in size 8 for you and your mother, etc..You get the picture.
So I thought I'd turn the tables and ask for some help from you dear PB readers.
 I've been looking online and off.


 The prices bien sur, have gone WAY UP, like in the stratosphere...And the $ ain't what it used to be, bla bla bla...
I would like to stay in an apartment (a STUDIO would be great). That way I can stock up on yogurt and macarons and sardines in the fridge. Gotta stay on that EURO DIET after all. I don't need much space. Nothing deluxe PULEEZE. Hey I'm an artist! Internet would be great, so I can keep you all up to date. I don't care WHERE that little studio is. What counts is COST. LOW cost would be so lovely...sigh

 Please let me know if you have any good ideas. I read that Craigslist PARIS is way too full of scamers, so I'm not going that route. A hotel would do in a pinch.
You can leave your ideas here or contact me by email

. I want to get back to those Paris cafes. Then PDQ (pretty damn quick), I'll be home bitching about unpacking and Jet Lag etc. THANKS for your patience this morning and your tolerance for my plight.
I'm open to all your suggestions dear PB readers
BONJOUR PARIS APPART!

27 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:53 AM

    We stay at the Hotel Therese when we are in Paris. Small rooms, but stylish and great location. I am jealous, I want to go. I was there in May and it was expensive, but worth it!

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  2. Anonymous8:53 AM

    For our first trip to Paris we stayed at the Hotel du Cygne. Not 4 star by any means, but the price was right. Especially since we had 2 teens and a 12 year old with us! Next trip, which will be just the two of us, when the dollar recovers - if it ever does. I really dont know what we will do for accommodations. Yeah, an apt would be nice. And maybe do-able. Paris is so easy to navigate, we will again try to stay very close to a metro stop. The Etienne Marcel Line 4 was just at the end the block - very convenient. I will be interested to see what others have to say. BTW- LOVE your blog...it is like going back to Paris everyday - only in my inbox and free!

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  3. Anonymous9:01 AM

    Bonjour! I love Paris and when I read the article about your blog in "Artful Blogging", I knew I had to visit yours. I have been six times and will share with you where I've stayed. They are all hotels, but next time, I plan to rent a studio apartment. Ah, but the cost of just even getting there has gotten so out of reach these days....::sigh::

    1993 - Hotel Derby Eiffel ~ I recall it being small, quiet, nice and close to the Eiffel Tower (as its name might suggest!) http://bestwestern.worldexecutive.com/directory/france/paris/hotels/93346.html

    2000 & 2002 - Hotel Champs du Mars ~ located just steps (literally) from Rue Cler. Clean, quiet and charming. The owners are a bit less than friendly, but the cost was very reasonable. A very quick walk to the Eiffel Tower and a handy metro close by. http://www.hotel-du-champ-de-mars.com

    2005 ~ one of my favorites: Hotel de Lutece on Ile St. Louis http://www.paris-hotel-lutece.com

    2007 (February) ~ I stayed here, in St. Germain (on rue Dauphine) as a solo female traveler. The room was very small, but worked. Here is the website: http://www.regent-paris-hotel.com/ and you can read my review at: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187147-d236507-r6774916-Le_Regent-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

    2007 (November) ~ Lovely, lovely little hotel. Very Parisian rooms. Here's the website: http://www.hotel-britannique.fr and my review: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187147-d198174-r10918273-Hotel_Britannique-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

    Bon Journey and I am simply green with envy and will look forward to your posts upon your return.

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  4. Eeeeeeek !
    150 Euros a day = OUCH
    For 14 days = $3360!

    1 Euro = about $1.6o US :(
    Grumble Grumble
    remember I'm an artiste...
    I need like UNDER 70 euros a day :(
    But I do appreciate you're sharing with me..

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous9:39 AM

    My husband and I have stayed at the Grand Levesque on Rue Cler. When my 22 year old daughter and I went a couple of years ago we stayed here http://www.parisbestlodge.com/thorigny.html

    Rather a leap of faith but it all worked out. A friend is staying there this week. My daughter and I hope to go next April and stay in a different property managed by Thierry.

    I just recently found your site and had to subscribe. The first one I received talked about your friend Kat in Japan. Very timely as my son lives in Tokyo and I plan to visit him in October. Enjoyed looking at her site.

    Now a request...I love all the crypt doors in the old part of Pere Lachaise. Often thought someone should do a book on them - lovely wood and iron. just a thought.

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  6. I wish I knew somewhere, Carol--it's been years since I went, and I just don't know any to suggest, but I did see this--have NO idea if it's a good site, but check it out?
    http://www.travels.com/articles/paris-travel/inexpensive-paris-apartment-rental/

    Good luck! Hope you find a good spot!

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  7. Anonymous10:42 AM

    Don't know if any of these will help but you never know:

    www.rentvillas.com
    www.interhome.com
    www.hotelchatter.com
    www.hostels.com

    PS. Love the new minis pictures and good luck finding a place to stay! :)

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  8. Anonymous11:30 AM

    When I went with my dad last summer we stayed at Maison Zen. It's near Gare de Lyon, nice, quiet neighborhood with lots of metro stops nearby.
    www.maisonzen.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congrats!! That pink piggy bank will look great at Pierre Herme and on the Metro!
    Will keep a lookout for under 70 Euro lodgings...
    :)
    All best, Jan

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  10. I have never been to Paris but one of my blogger friends Put your Flare On as opened a very quaint Teashop there.

    http://loisivethe.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous2:33 PM

    Stumbled across your blog as I researched my own upcoming vacation - the Citea line of hotels does affordable furnished apartments (with kitchenettes, utensils, etc) so you might look into them. Citadines also does furnished apartments but they're pricier. Good luck!

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  12. Anonymous3:33 PM

    You might want to try vrbo.com. you can rent directly from the owners. Just glancing at some of the rentals, several seemed to be within your range......Hope everything works out! Love your blog!

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  13. Anonymous7:02 PM

    Am hopelessly unable to help, but i LOVE little bird packing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Carol,
    Not sure if you are familiar with Slow Travel....but there is a section
    of reviews for rentals.
    http://www.slowtrav.com/france/vr/list.asp?r=Paris
    I've gotten great information from Slow Travlers.

    Love your blog!
    cheers,
    LBZ
    http://baileyzimmerman.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Carol,
    Sorry, I thought the link would appear.

    Go to:

    http://slowtalk.com/groupee/

    * Click on "France"
    * About 2" to 3" down on left, it will say "trip planning"...click on "listings"
    * Once you are on that page, scroll down, past all the commercial listings and click on "Read our Paris Vacation rental reviews"

    Hope this helps!

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  16. I'm taking my family to Paris November!!!!! Yay!!!!! We rented an apartment from this site

    http://www.vacationinparis.com/index.html

    The prices are in USD and it looks like they might have some studios that could work for you--price wise at least. Good luck!

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  17. Anonymous9:09 PM

    Hi Carol,

    I sent you an email with my recommendation. Around 68Euros per day!

    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  18. We found our apartment through abritel.com - It seems to be set up more for Europeans, but we really liked the flat we rented. It was close to the price you're looking for and if you're willing to be a little farther away from the center of Paris, or don't need it to sleep as many (we needed it to sleep four), you can probably get it down below your price cut off.

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  19. Anonymous3:14 AM

    See that liste on "Paris pas cher".
    When you click on a hotel site, see "special prices".
    http://www.parisreferencement.com/hotel-economique-paris.htm

    M-Noëlle

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  20. I love everything that you share.
    Love Jeanne

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  21. We've stayed on rue Delambre in Montparnasse (7 5 0 1 4), in Hotel des Bains (below 80 Euros, small rooms, snarky staff, superb location) and in Hotel Delambre (under 100 Euros, rooms 30% larger, unutterably wonderful staff, ask for la charmante chambre 7--shares no walls with any other room, sooo quiet, although >100). Both are within five minutes' walk from 4 Metro stations and several bus lines, and there are two fine bakeries (boulangerie, patisserie) on the street itself. I've wondered about Hotel Henri IV on Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cite'--very cheap rates; I know nothing else about it except locationX3. We too are thinking of a studio next time we manage to go. I plan to try some of those sites other readers mentioned.

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  22. I've had very good experiences with http://www.homelidays.com
    Good luck Carol!

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  23. Anonymous11:29 PM

    We agree with the poster who stayed at the Maison Zen. We've stayed there twice. It's clean, quiet, reasonable, close to the metro and the people are great. We'll be there again (soon, we hope)

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  24. Homeaway.com We just returned from a 5 night stay at a Homeaway apartment in Berlin, Germany. We were very impressed. 50 euros/night plus a final 25 euros clean-up fee. We felt like Berliners, instead of visitors. Caveat: no phone. You would need to assure internet service at your apt. Homeaway is located in Austin, TX (where I live).

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  25. There is a small and very convenient hotel between place de la republique and canal Saint Martin it's not very far from my apartment and I can check for you if you wish. Name is Paris vélo (cause they have bikes for you if you wish) flowers at all the windows and kind of an old parisian small building.Let me know if you want to get more informations it's not expensive at all.
    sincerely yours
    christian

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  26. still me but I get this for you and if you look for a studio may be Ican try to find something for you. Not sure but I can have a look. How many people are you? which dates exactly.
    Christian.

    http://www.hoteldunord-leparivelo.com/index.html

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  27. Hey, well I don't really know how you'll find this idea, but I loved it. I used couchsurfing.org when I went to Paris this summer. And it only cost me chocolate. You'll stay with Parisians and this way you'll get to meet so many people and have fun, do it as the French do it...haha. Well anyways, just thought maybe you'll try it too one day...but of course it depends on what you wish for...people or solitude (sweet two: you & art). Maybe we'll meet one day in the lovely "gris" city...I'm hoping to move there in 2 or 3 years, but no plans yet, it has to be half way spontaneous :)) Hugs, Erika

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