Visit these Luxurious Hotels in the Ctiy of Lights, Paris France

by Linda Mathieu

Running a Paris-based private tour company, one of the first questions I am always asked is where is the best place to book a hotel? Partly because I always meet clients in the lobby of their hotels before proceeding on walking tours, I have seen an enormous variety of hotels. I've found that many clients do a web search, and simply find the "best buy" as a way of choosing their hotel. Some, using up their airline miles, find themselves in business areas, such as La Defense, a long way from the heart of Paris. Others go for luxury, something Paris is renown for, and prefer to stay in elegant places as the Ritz or the George V. It is a thrill to walk into the lobbies of these well-known hotels and see the opulence, timeless architecture, and fabulous floral displays.

Everyone wants to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arch de Triumph, but do you want to stay close to these two monuments?

When asked what hotel I would recommend, I always ask what the person is interested in seeing or doing while in Paris. Do they want to shop and be located in what is called "the golden triangle" where all of the well-known designers such as Dior or Channel can be found? Would they like to be in the heart of Paris, within walking distance of the treasures to be seen there, riches such as the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter? Everyone wants to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arch de Triumph, but do you want to stay close to these two monuments?

Over the years, I have come up with several areas that I have found clients love, and a list of charming hotels in these areas. Even if you are one of those people who feel a hotel is just a place to sleep at night, what fun it can be to stay in a hotel from the 17th century, full of the details that only the French seem to do so well: the decor of the rooms, beamed ceilings, a view of an ivy-covered, paved courtyard out your window. Or to breakfast in a tiny enclave downstairs with fresh croissants and fragrant coffee that you will dream about once you get back home.

The fact is, Paris is loaded with hotels like this, more so than any other city I have ever visited. Along with the charm however, the hotels will be small. This is something that takes some Americans by surprise, along with the shock of seeing the size of the elevator they will use to get upstairs, not to mention the room size. Not all hotels will be air-conditioned, which is something that you will need to check out in advance if this is important to you.

So, how do you choose the best area for you? I have found that the arrondissement you select is the most important factor. The ones in central Paris, arrondissements one through eight (remember, Paris has twenty arrondissements or districts that encircle the city), are the ones clients tell me they like the best. How wonderful it is to exit your hotel a find a street lined with ancient buildings. To be able to walk to landmark monuments or stroll over to a corner restaurant for a memorable meal, then take your coffee afterwards at a sidewalk table while you do some people watching. Or you might turn a corner and find yourself in a covered passageway lost in time, preserved as it was hundreds of years ago. To have the freedom to walk directly to the Louvre or the nearby Palais Royal, or to visit the church of St. Sulpice (obscure until the best-selling book The Da Vinci Code came along), and explore the narrow streets in the area, stopping at world famous pastry shops to tide you over until the next meal. These are only some of the reasons why Paris is such a unique place to visit. You could stay near the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triumph (there are some really nice hotels in this area), but you will find that you are far from where the real action is. Although the metros are wonderful and can get you anywhere quickly, it is not the same as having a hotel in the heart of the city.

Hotels of Charm-the best of the best. All of these are favorites because of their great ambience and because they have air conditioning and either WiFi availability or high speed computer hookups in each room. But the main determining factors for my choices are... location, location, location: