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The Best Mid-Range Hotels
Hôtel Duo (11 rue du Temple, 4e; tel. 01-42-72-72-22; www.duoparis.com) is a winner in the increasingly fashionable Marais district, convenient to the Picasso Museum and the Centre Pompidou. Parisian fashionistas have made this a favorite nesting place. The old architecture, including time-worn stones and exposed beams, has been respected; otherwise, the place is as up-to-date as tomorrow. A member of the staff jokingly suggested to us that this sophisticated rendezvous is "not for virgins."
Hôtel des Deux-Iles (59 rue St-Louis-en-l'Ile, 4e; tel. 01-43-26-13-35; www.deuxiles-paris-hotel.com). There exists no more platinum real estate, at least in our view, than the Ile St-Louis, Paris's most beautiful isle in the Seine. For a charming, yet unpretentious, hotel on this island, we'd choose this restored 18th-century town house. We like the abundance of fresh flowers and the fireplace in the cellar bar. The rooms are a bit small, but this is one of the city's greatest locations for a hotel, and that should count for something.
Hôtel Saint-Louis (75 rue St-Louis-en-l'Ile, 4e; tel. 01-46-34-04-80). Like Hôtel des Deux-Iles, this cozy nest, a restored 17th-century town house, occupies a "world apart" on a tiny island in the middle of the Seine. The rooms may be petit, but the charm of the place compensates, with its exposed ceiling beams, wooden Louis XIII furnishings, and modern bathrooms. Opt for a fifth-floor bedroom for a panoramic view over the rooftops of Paris.
Galileo Hôtel (54 rue Galilee, 8e; tel. 01-47-20-66-06; www.galileo-paris-hotel.com). In the super-expensive 8th Arrondissement, site of the Champs-Elysées and France's most expensive street, avenue Montaigne, this is a holdout since it's actually affordable to many visitors. In the epicenter of Paris, this restored town house is imbued with Parisian elegance and charm. Though understated, the bedrooms are tastefully furnished and most comfortable, and a few choice ones have glass-covered verandas.
Hotel Trocadéro La Tour (5 bis rue Massenet, 16e; tel. 01-45-24-43-03; www.paris-hotel-trocaderolatour.com). In a tony district known for its well-heeled bourgeoisie and upscale rents, this restored late-19th-century town house charges reasonable prices -- for Paris, that is. Subdued elegance and refined comfort are just part of its allure, along with its view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. From its tree-filled courtyard to its elegant, tastefully decorated bedrooms, this one is a winner and not as well known as it should be.
Hôtel de l'Abbaye Saint-Germain (10 rue Cassette, 6e; tel. 01-45-44-38-11; www.hotel-abbaye.com). For those who'd like to stay in the heart of the Quartier Latin in the 5th Arrondissement, this charming boutique hotel, originally a convent in the 1700s, has been restored with a certain grace and sophisticated flair. Brightly painted rooms with traditional French furnishings are inviting and comfortable, and the maintenance is first-rate. Grace notes include a courtyard with a fountain, along with flowerbeds and climbing ivy. Try for the upper-floor room with a terrace overlooking Paris.
Residence des Arts (14 rue Git-le-Coeur, 6e; tel. 01-55-42-71-11; www.arts-residence-paris.com). If your own "studio" in Left Bank Paris has always been a dream, you can rent one here, or else a tastefully decorated suite or apartment -- all at an affordable price. In the heart of the Quartier Latin, this hotel was carved from a former apartment building to which two upper floors were added in 1998. Some of the units come with kitchenettes, and a bistro and restaurant are on site.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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