Paris Latin Quarter And St-germain

While hotels are generally a bit overpriced in these neighborhoods, it's to be expected given their central location in Paris. Nonetheless, the area boasts some truly luxurious accommodations at very reasonable prices. If you want to be well located while living the (somewhat) high life, Let's Go has a few good recommendations for you.

Hotel Des Argonauts, 12 rue de la Huchette (☎01 43 54 09 82; www.hotel-les-argonautes.com), A hotel with extremely reasonable prices, especially considering its location on one of Paris's main thoroughfares. The intriguing decor includes leopard-print chairs perched under traditional rustic wood-beamed ceilings and insulates the guest from the hustle and bustle of rue de la Huchette. Keep in mind that rue de la Huchette is almost always buzzing with activity; if you need your peace and quiet, search elsewhere. All rooms have showers; more expensive options have toilets and bathtubs. singles €55-80; doubles €65-90; triples €90. Breakfast €5. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Young and Happy Hostel, 80 rue Mouffetard (☎01 47 07 47 07; www.youngandhappy.fr), A funky, lively hostel with 21 clean—if basic—rooms, some with showers and toilets in room. Friendly staff speaks English. A kitchen is available for guest use; the hostel is building a bar in the breakfast room which should be installed by late 2010. Breakfast included. Breakfast included. Strict lockout 11am-4pm. Sheets €2.50 with €5 deposit, towels €1. Internet €2 per 30min. 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 8-, or 10-dorms dorms in high season €28-84.90. Takes credit cards. Has internet.
Hôtel de Nesle, 7 rue du Nesle 01 43 54 62 41 (www.hoteldenesleparis.com), An absolutely phenomenal place to stay. Every room is unique and represents a particular time period or locale. The Molière room is ideal for the comically minded, and an Oriental room is available for undying proponents of the colonial lifestyle (don't let that be you). The lobby's ceiling is adorned with bouquets of dried flowers, and the peaceful garden has terraced seating and a duck pond. Reserve a good deal in advance, because this unforgettable accommodation fills up quickly, especially during the summertime. Takes credit cards.
Hôtel Esmeralda, 4 rue St-Julien-le-Pauvre 01 43 54 19 20 The rooms here are potentially awesome. Antique wallpaper, rope staircase railings (geezers, beware), exposed wooden ceiling beams, and red velvet make Esmeralda a cozy and refined place to stay, if not always a top-of-the-line one. Rooms range from palatial suites to singles with doors so narrow that most Americans won't be able to squeeze through them. Great location near a small park, within sight of the Seine and earshot of Notre Dame's bells. Takes credit cards.
Delhy's Hôtel, 22 rue de l'Hirondelle 01 43 26 58 25 (www.delhyshotel.com), A stone's throw from pl. St-Michel and the Seine, Delhy's is situated on a quiet cobblestone alleyway. Wood-paneled and often palatial stone-walled rooms come at decent prices in a surprisingly quiet location. All basic amenities are covered, with a TV with a satellite dish and a phone in every room. Cheapest singles and doubles come with sinkonly. Takes credit cards.
Hôtel Brésil, 10 rue Le Goff 01 43 54 76 11 (www.bresil-paris-hotel.com), While only a block away from the Metro and Luxembourg Garden, Hôtel Brésil feels far removed from the clamoring 5ème. If the luxurious wood-paneled lobby and the rooms with sound-proof windows, hair dryers, and cable TVs aren't enough, sleeping in the same chamber as the hotel's famous past occupant, Sigmund Freud, may appeal to your subconscious. Takes credit cards. Has internet.
Hotel Gay Lussac, 29 rue Gay Lussac 01 43 54 23 96 (www.paris-hotel-gay-lussac.com), An older folks' place (owned by old folks, not inhabited by them) that hosts a younger crowd. The hotel has been around for 50 years, and the rooms' classic French doors, creaky floors, no-frills dining room, and old-school charm are a throwback to a previous age. Rock-bottom prices for rooms that vary widely in size, equipped with only a WC. Takes credit cards. Has internet.
Hôtel Stella, 41 rue Monsieur-le-Prince 01 40 51 00 25 (site.voila.fr/hotel-stella), The rooms here are huge, boasting high ceilings, lots of exposed beams, the occasional piano, and rich oriental rugs. Sun flows into the rooms in the afternoon; this is budget paradise. All rooms are equipped with shower and WC. Does not take credit cards.
Hôtel St-André des Arts, 66 rue St-André-des-Arts 01 43 26 96 16 Stone walls, high ceilings, and exposed beams make this surprising hotel feel like a country inn, despite its location in the heart of St-Germain. The hotel is exceptionally fancy for a one-star; you'll feel like royalty mounting the red-carpeted stairs to your rather spacious room. Takes credit cards.
Hotel St-Jacques, 35 rue des Écoles 01 44 07 45 45 (www.paris-hotel-stjacques.com), A perfect hotel for those who are accustomed to enjoying, and paying for, the finer things in life. Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant fans may recognize this chic hotel from the 1963 romantic murder mystery Charade. Spacious, elegant rooms with balcony, bath, and TV come at reasonable, if by no means cheap, rates. Chandeliers, Belle Époque frescoes, and walls decorated with trompe-l'oeil designs create a regal feel; it's not quite Versailles, but it's a pretty good deal for €125. A/C is an unusual amenity, and perhaps worth the extra buck for those steamy summer nights. Takes credit cards. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
Hôtel du Lys, 23 rue Serpente 01 43 26 97 57 If relative luxury in lodging is important to you, this semi-splurge is well worth it. Spacious rooms, tall ceilings, colorful wall-prints, rustic beams, antique tiles, and a slightly crooked staircase will make you feel like you're staying in someone's château. All rooms come with bathtub or shower, TV, and phone; some come with doors so narrow they must be anti-American. Reserve well in advance during the summer. Takes credit cards.
Hôtel Marignan, 13 rue du Sommerard 01 43 54 63 81 (www.hotel-marignan.com), This family-owned hotel offers a few rare amenities. Clean, freshly decorated rooms can sleep up to five—a rare find in Paris. Backpackers and families can enjoy hostel friendliness and rates without sacrificing hotel privacy. The hotel also offers free laundry (8am-8pm), so you can wash the pajamas you sweat out in the A/C-less rooms as many times as you want. The floor bathrooms might occasionally be a bit grimy, but nothing truly bothersome. The fluent English-speaking owners will gladly chat with you, suggest sightseeing activities and restaurants. Takes credit cards. Has internet.
See more details and book a stay >