I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels in Paris over the years, from more classic and traditional pensions and 2 star properties in my twenties to 3, 4 and 5 star hotels and resorts in the past ten years. Typically I find that 3 star hotels in Paris are more like 4 star hotels in New York City, where standards for 3 stars are at an all time low in my opinion, especially when it comes to cleanliness. Much less so the case in Paris. Below is a photo of one of the deluxe rooms at Hotel Saint Paul in the Marais, a 3 star property.
The property is charming throughout. While I’d much rather have an authentic and historical property than a modern one with every modern convenience, the one thing I do miss about a more classic hotel like this one is the lack of a gym and of course, the smaller than normal rooms. That said, the double deluxe rooms here were ample for me, even for the bits of my trip that were all business when I need more of the comforts of home and conveniences.
The lobby area, where they have magazines you can read….a nice place to lounge around. There’s also a computer in the corner to access the web in case you didn’t travel with your laptop. To the left of the reception area is a lovely little courtyard where you can have a bite to eat or sip your coffee in the warmer months. Many of the inside rooms of the hotel look down onto the courtyard in fact, which makes them less noisy than other hotel rooms that face the street. Hotel Saint Paul is also on a side street which makes it a little quieter as well, however it’s only a stone’s throw from the Saint Paul church and a couple of blocks from the Marais metro stop — in other words, very conveniently located.
What We Loved:
1. It’s a stone’s throw from St. Paul Metro and in in the heart of the Marais. Closest metro stop is St. Paul on the 1/yellow line.
2. The charming atmosphere and authentically historical vibe.
3. The service was great although I had wishes the staff knew a bit more about the area and could make some recommendations.
4. My deluxe room had a hot tub bathtub (nice touch) as well as a shower (part of the bathtub).
5. Free wifi in the rooms (only wish is that it had a stronger signal however as it dropped a few times).
Details:
Hotel Saint Paul Marais
Rue de Sévigné – 75004 PARIS
Tele: +33 (0)1 48 04 97 2
www.hotel-paris-marais.com/
Secondly, there’s the every so charming and historical Grand Hotel Dechampaigne, which was built in the XVIth century.
The Grand Hotel Dechampaigne combines a high standard of comfort and the refined service of a friendly mansion within Paris: Few steps from: the Rivoli Street, les Halles, The Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Concorde Square and Champs Elysees. Notre Dame Cathedral and le Marais, ten minutes from the left bank are Saint Germain des Pres and the Latin Quarter. Directly to Disneyland at only 35 min from Chatelet metro station.
Their staff speaks French, English, Spanish, Russian, Italian and German. Another nice feature is that their buffet breakfast is included in their rates, which isn’t always the case with 3 star properties in Paris, even ones which are as charming as this one. The decoration with a personal touch and carefully done, reflect all the charm of this old mansion of Paris.
The Grand Hotel Dechampaigne have two family rooms very spacious, around 35m2, with a large bedroom and a sitting room with very comfortable bathrooms. One is perfect for a family of 4 and one with a canopied four-poster is perfect for an special occasion and also for a family of 3.
As noted, they have locations in the Marais, Louvre, Les Halles and Notre Dame.
Details:
Hotel Dechampaigne
17 rue Jean-Lantier
75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 36 60 00
hoteldechampaigneparis.com
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
