Paris Hotel Tips by tiabunna

I found and selected the Plessis for my stay in Paris through extensive internet searching. I then made an internet booking, with my fingers tightly crossed. I’m pleased to say that it fully matched my expectations and I’m entirely happy to recommend it as excellent value for money.

Unique Qualities: The Plessis is a budget-priced two star hotel in the République area, on the north eastern side of the city area. What appealed to me about it? It is a well run, friendly and impeccably clean and comfortable hotel, with the rooms (which are a reasonable size by Paris standards) having showers and toilets and satellite television. Guests also have free internet access. Importantly, there are excellent Metro connections (Oberkampf about 150 metres with 2 lines, République with 4 lines about 250 metres), ample convenient restaurants, supermarkets, and a laundromat nearby (turn R from the door, right at the first corner, and it’s just across the street).

Negatives? I really had none, but the sounds of the street are kept out by the double glazing. As there is no air conditioning, it may be noisy should warm weather require the windows to be left open – the solution would be to ask for a rear room in the summer months, as these open to a rear courtyard.

Update: we stayed at the Plessis again in 2007 – and it still represented excellent value. Also, my overdue recognition to the friendly and helpful staff (with the exception of the overnight caretaker who seemed to resent having to open the door for us after hours!)

The hotel has no website, but go to Cybevasion for more details, including reviews. You also can book through this Cybevasion site.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 47 00 13 38
Address: 25 rue de Grand Prieuré, 75011 Paris.
Directions: From Place de la République, head up the Avenue of the same name for about 150 metres, then take the second street to the right (more of a laneway, but don't let that put you off): the Plessis is about 25 metres from the corner on the right.
Other Contact: fax 01 43 57 97 87

We stayed in this two star hotel on our first visit to Paris in 1992. The staff were very helpful and friendly and the hotel was clean and well run, with quite a reasonable continental breakfast. The lift is tiny, but that seems the case in most of Paris - at least there is one! Traffic noise, which can be a problem in many Paris hotels, is nearly non-existent.

I didn’t stay here on my recent trip, partly because the cost was a little higher than some other two star hotels; partly because many of the rooms are quite tiny (and some are very odd shapes, one we had was wedge-shaped like a slice of cake, with the door at the narrow end); and partly because the Abesses Métro is served by only one line - I was intent on covering as much of Paris as possible with minimum transfers on the Métro.

Unique Qualities: The tranquil, romantic and post-cardish setting of place Emile Gordeau almost gives this hotel an air of unreality. Yes, there are good restaurants and shops just down the way and, although we heard that some parts of Montmartre can be problematical at night, during our stay we never felt even slightly uncomfortable in this vicinity.

If you are a first time Paris visitor, particularly if you place high priority on a romantic Parisian setting (and note the other comments above) , this hotel would be a good start for your experience of Paris.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 42 55 74 78
Address: 20-22 Rue Ravignan
Directions: To reach the ‘place Emile Gordeau’, start from Métro Abesses heading west (ie with the church on your left), then turn right up rue Ravignan, the first street on your right, and begin the climb up the hill, crossing rue des Trois-Freres.
Website: www.timhotel.com/hotels/us/montmartre.html