Tag Archive for: Hotels

Annie’s Guide to Booking the Perfect Paris Hotel

/42 Comments/in , , /by

There are thousands of hotels in Paris, and everyone on the internet has advice on where you should stay. Finding the perfect hotel for you can be time consuming and confusing.

I wrote this guide to streamline the process of selecting and booking a Paris hotel, so that you can focus on getting excited for your trip!

Step One:
What to Consider Before You Book Your Paris Hotel

1. Location, location, location!

No matter what anyone tells you, you want to be in an uncrowded, quiet area that is centrally located. I personally think the Left Bank is less busy and chaotic than the Right Bank. I also want to be able to walk to most of the places that interest me.

I highly recommend staying in the section in yellow on the map:

 

 

The first ten years I visited Paris I stayed near the Eiffel Tower. I enjoyed it, but taking the Metro or a taxi everywhere became a real pain. After that I tried many different areas. Then I discovered Saint-Germain-des-Prés/ 6e Arrondissement. Eureka! I could walk everywhere! Even during high season I can find quiet, peaceful non-crowded areas to explore. But as soon as I cross the river to the Right Bank, it’s very crowded and busy.

Before you book a hotel you should have an idea of the area(s) where you want to stay.

2. Size Matters.

Hotel rooms in Paris are notoriously small. You can usually find the size of the rooms in the description of each room on the hotel website. It will be either in square feet or square meters. If you can’t find it, email the hotel. Then you are able to compare room sizes of different hotels.

My husband and I stayed in a very nice 4 star hotel in Paris. The room was beautiful, but he felt cramped. We upgraded to a larger room and he was much happier. I now know what size room to reserve when we travel together.

In “Annie’s Paris Gems”, I have painstakingly provided the room sizes of my recommended hotels so that readers can compare.

Before you book a hotel you should know generally what size room would work for you, preferably in square meters.

3. “Double” rooms does not mean double beds.

“Double” rooms mean the room is appropriate for two people. It does not mean the room has a “double” bed as we know it. The bed easily could be a queen or a king that is able to be made into two twins. Email the hotel if bed size is important to you. If you want two twin beds, ask the hotel if it is possible to separate the large bed.

Before you book a hotel you should decide if you want one small bed, a large bed, a large bed separated into two twins, or accommodations for 3-4 people.

Hotel Academie Saint-Germain–Large bed separated into two twins.

4. Breakfast or no breakfast?

Buffet breakfast is served in the charming 15th century wine cellar at the Grand Hotel l’Univers

Most Paris hotels do not offer free breakfast (unlike Italy). Usually you can include breakfast when you reserve, or decide after you arrive and pay extra for breakfast on the days you eat at the hotel. What should you do?

There are so many places to eat breakfast in Paris that I usually do not include breakfast with my reservation. I like the flexibility of deciding each morning where and when to eat breakfast. However, there are exceptions.

I have found that breakfast at a restaurant that offers eggs generally will cost me over €15. So if breakfast at the hotel is less than €20 per person, including eggs and coffee, I will eat breakfast at the hotel.

If breakfast at the hotel only offers bread, juice, and coffee, I will not eat at the hotel. You can find that anywhere in Paris and its very inexpensive.

So my rule of thumb is: breakfast at the hotel if it is less than €20 and offers eggs.

Before you book a hotel, decide if a hotel breakfast is important to you and what you are willing to pay for it. Also decide if you want to include it in your reservation, or pay each day that you eat breakfast at the hotel.

5. Matching Your Budget with the Hotel Star Rating

I have yet to figure out precisely what the star ratings mean. I have heard so many “experts” say things that I know are not true (example: “2 star hotels don’t have A/C or elevators.” Not true. Many do.) I will tell you that a 1 star is similar to a hostel. After that, any hotel from a 2 star to a 5 star can be great or awful, depending on your expectations. If you are a person who likes elegant, high end hotels, you are better off in a 4 star and above. If you want an inexpensive, basic, clean, no frills hotel in a good location, you may be fine with a 2 star. My advice is to look at the websites and read reviews.

Before you book a hotel, decide on your budget, and be honest about how fancy you want your hotel to be.

6. Book directly with the hotel.

When you decide on the hotel and the room category you want, ALWAYS book directly with the hotel. Don’t go through a third party website like Booking, Priceline, Expedia, etc. When you book with a third party website, you are their customer, not the hotel’s customer. You will be treated better and get a better rate, room, and extras if you book direct.

If the third party website posts a rate that is lower than the hotel’s website rate, contact the hotel and ask if they will match that rate. Be sure to send a screenshot of the booking website rate so that the hotel knows what is included in that rate.

The same advice applies to travel agents. I don’t have anything against travel agents, but their job is to make money, and they will always recommend the best hotel for themselves, not necessarily the best one for you. The first time I went to Paris, my travel agent booked me in a nice hotel, but it was very far from everything and I ended up not enjoying Paris because it was a hassle to get around.

Before you book a hotel, compare the rates on the third party sites to the booking pages on the hotels’ official websites.

Step Two:
Selecting Your Hotel

Now that you know the area you want to stay in, your budget, the size of room and type of bed(s) you want, and if you want to include breakfast, you can select a few hotels that meet your requirements.

“But there are so many beautiful hotels in Paris. I would like to stay in every one of them! How do select just a few?”

Help is on the way!!!

What if you had a dear friend who goes to Paris several times a year and loves to experience different hotels….

And what if that friend, in addition to the hotels where she stays, personally tours other hotels–visits different rooms, talks with staff, checks out the lobby…..

And what if that friend keeps an extensive list of hotels that she personally has visited and recommends, with notes and information about each hotel…..

Would you ask her for her recommendations? Would you like a copy of her list?

Of course you would.

That friend is ME!

I just happen to have a list of personally screened Paris hotels in different categories and price points that I recommend!  You can find that at Annie’s Paris Gems.

Also, here’s another resource that could help you with your Paris trip: Annie’s Guide to Paris.

Last Updated: 11/25

Annie’s Paris Gems

/149 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

I would like to help you find your Paris hotel.

I love recommending Paris hotels to friends. It makes my day when people tell me they loved the gem of a Paris hotel that I discovered.

Every hotel that makes my list has been personally vetted by me.

First, let’s get something straight. I’m not a travel agent, an influencer, or an affiliate. No one pays me. I don’t get a kick back, referral fee, a commission–not even a free coffee (although it would be most appreciated). My recommendations are purely based on my own personal experiences and observations. I never want compensation to influence my recommendations.

Why do people ask me for Paris hotel recommendations?

1. I’ve been around.

I have been going to Paris two to three times a year for over twenty-five years. I have explored most of the city and stayed in several arrondissements. My hotels have ranged from the fanciest 5 star in the 8e Arrondissement to a 1-2 star minimal hotel in the Latin Quarter.

On a recent three week solo trip to Paris, I stayed in six different hotels.

I don’t know many people like me. Most people don’t have the luxury of spending three weeks in Paris exploring hotels. Most people have a few days or a week and they might not go back for several years. They want to stay in one hotel and not waste time moving hotels. I don’t mind moving because I love experiencing different hotels.

2. I’m picky.

To me, the hotel is part of the experience. I want to find the very best hotels within my budget. I want a two star that acts like a three star, a three star that acts like a four, etc. I love staying at a 5 star hotel, but only if it is totally worth it.

I have read many hotel recommendations on social media that frankly scare me. Rave reviews for hotels that haven’t been renovated since George Washington stayed there. Hotels that I know are dreary and dark are being touted by people who obviously enjoyed their stay, but what do they have to compare it to? Or hotels that are located far from the main areas, when it’s so easy to be centrally located.

3. I am a habitual hotel “tourer”.

I have an unusual activity that I do whenever I’m in Paris. I “tour” hotels.

Between the hours of 11am and 3pm (after check out, before check in) I stop in hotels that interest me, or that I’ve read about, or that friends have asked me to visit. I explain to the person at the desk that I recommend hotels to travelers, and ask if I might see a room or two. They are usually very happy to show me around.

My hotel tours tell me alot about a hotel that I can’t get from their website.

Is the staff friendly? Is the lobby inviting, would I enjoy hanging out there on a rainy afternoon? How small are the rooms? Do they smell musty? Are the bathrooms remodeled? Bathtubs or showers? Do the rooms look clean? Are the rooms light and bright, or dark and dreary? Hard surface floors or carpet? Where is breakfast served? Is coffee available during the day?

I also make note of the area around the hotels.

How crowded is the area? Does it feel safe? Is there an abundance of cafes and restaurants close to the hotel? How central is it? Would I feel comfortable staying in that area by myself? Is it walking distance to the main areas? Is the architecture beautiful? Are there parks nearby? Where are the nearest Metros?

Annie’s Paris Gems

The Paris Hotels That I Recommend

Annie’s Paris Gems (below) is a spreadsheet of Paris hotels that I recommend based on my personal experience being a guest of or touring the hotel. I consider these hotels real “gems”. They range from 2 star to 5 star, minimalist to elegant. To be included on my list, they must be a good value for the money compared to other hotels in their class, in a central location, clean, and inviting. The rooms should also be light and bright with newer bathrooms.

Keep in mind that there are thousands of beautiful hotels in Paris. Since my list is limited to hotels I have personally visited, I am hoping that it will help you narrow down your choices.

If, after looking over the list, you still need help making a decision, I’m happy to help.

Since I’ve seen every hotel first hand, I can answer questions about a hotel and make sure it is appropriate for your situation.

If you share with me your hotel budget, what month you are going, and how many beds you need, I can suggest hotels from my list I think will work for you.

To contact me privately, leave me a private comment below with your email address and I will contact you. (Be sure to mark your comment “PRIVATE”. Comments are not published unless I give permission) Or you can message me through my Facebook page,  Annie’s Nuggets.

I often make videos of hotel rooms where I’m staying. I have published some of the videos to my YouTube channel for the benefit of my readers and you can see those here at Annie’s Paris Hotel Rooms Videos.

A Note About The Paris Hotels I Don’t Recommend:

I have visited many highly reviewed Paris hotels that I don’t recommend, and therefore, they are not on my list. It doesn’t mean they are bad hotels. It means that I think there are other hotels that are a better value. Seeing many different hotels gives me a unique comparative perspective.

If a hotel you are interested in is not on my list, feel free to ask me about it. I will give my honest opinion if I’m familiar with it.

Please help me and my readers by sending me any corrections or updates. And if you have stayed in one of the hotels on the list, please let me know what you thought of it.

I also would appreciate learning of any hotel that you feel qualifies as a “gem”so that I can tour it next time I’m in Paris.

Annie’s Paris Gems will constantly be updated as I visit more hotels. Be sure to get the latest version when you are ready to book a hotel.

Before you book a hotel, read Annie’s Guide to Booking the Perfect Paris Hotel!

Also, when you’re ready to plan your trip, here is Annie’s Guide to Paris!

Annie’s Paris Gems

Hotel 

Website 

Location/ 

Description

Notes 
 

Annie’s Advice

    NEW!

Hotel du Quai Voltaire*****
https://hotelduquaivoltaire.com/eng/
7th in St Germain. Ideal location right on the Seine with a view of the Louvre. Steps from Musee d’Orsay.
Newly remodeled and gorgeous! 
Hardwood floors, showers (some rooms have bathtubs). 
Rooms are Seine View or Courtyard View.                  Classic 16m2(can connect two Classic Rooms) Superior 18m2  Delux 23 m2      Delux Courtyard 26m2                  Duplex Seine 19m2–Loft with desk                    Duplex Baudelaire Courtyard 30m2–Loft with queen bed (can connect with Duplex Seine)
Perfect hotel for a special occasion.        Good for people who can’t walk very far as the hotel is close to many attractions and has incredible views.                                    If you combine both loft rooms you can sleep 6.

Hotel Academie  **** 

 

(do not confuse with Hôtel des Academies et des Arts)

https://academiehotel.com/en/

7th (on very edge of  6/7) north of Blvd  St Germain  

Excellent staff and beautiful hotel.  

Spotless. Perfect  location.  

Light bright rooms.  3 room categories.  Hard surface floors 

Modern bathrooms.  Luxury linens.  

Washcloths.  

Fragonard  

amenities. Bathtubs  with grab bars

Extensive breakfast  buffet 

Must ask  

specifically for

rooms with beds  separated into two  twins. 

 

Old fashioned tube hair dryers. Bottled water provided.

Classic Room  

13m2  

Delux 17m2  

Junior Suite 20m2  Connecting Delux  Rooms available.

 

No rooms for 3 adults.

Book breakfast with  reservation for  

better rate. 

 

May be difficult to get in and out of the bathtub.There is only one room in the whole hotel that has a shower without a bathtub.

Hotel Fougere**** 

https://www.hotel-fougere.com/

6th, on rue  

Bonaparte  

Gorgeous hotel, it’s  like staying in a  

stately home with  fine furnishing and antiques. Beautiful  lounge area. Lovely  staff. Perfect 

location, easy to  walk everywhere.

Rooms are  

beautifully  

decorated. Luxury  linens. Bathtubs.  The Delux Room is  big by Paris  

standards, 22m2.  The Superior Room  is very nice, a bit  smaller at 17m2. 

Hotel Fougere has  the option of a suite  + small room for a  family of 3. It is not  listed on the  

website so you  

must contact the  hotel to make  

arrangements.

Go for the Delux  Room or the Suite.

Hotel La Perle*** 

https://www.hotel-paris-laperle.com/en/

6th, south of Blvd  St Germain  

Great staff and 

location. Beautiful  garden breakfast  room. Comfortable  beds, nice rooms.  Carpet. Bathtub. Quiet street down  from St Sulpice and  Lux Gardens.

Breakfast is a bit  sparse. Charges  extra for espresso  vs free drip coffee Breakfast is a  

special rate even if  you don’t book it  with reservation.

All rooms can have 1 double or two twins.

Standard Double 14m2. Two Standard rooms can interconnect for 4 people. Superior Room  

17m2  

Executive Room  24m2. Possible to add 1 or 2 beds for 3-4 people.  

Duplex Suite 45m2. Possible to add up to 3 extra beds for total of 5 persons.

Don’t get the  

breakfast. Too  

many great places  for breakfast in the  area.  

Get the bigger  

room. Some rooms are a  bit dark.

Hotel Baume****
https://www.baume-hotel-paris.com/fr/
6th, South of Blvd St Germain near the Odeon Theater. 1930’s decor. Charming. Enthusiastic welcoming staff. Nice breakfast area including an outdoor patio. Rooms on ground level are handicapped accessible. Small bar.
A/C, elevator, carpeting. 
Rooms are decorated in different 1930’s themes. Some rooms have a balcony or a terrace. There is a lot of variety in the rooms. King beds can be made into two twins. Suites include a sofa bed that can sleep 2.

Classic 14m2, Superior 16-20m2, Unique 14m2 with 20m2 terrace, Deluxe 22m2 with Nespresso, Deluxe Terrace 20m2 with 12m2 terrace, Duplex 26m2 on two floors, Junior Suites 30m2 have a king bed and a sofa bed, Suite Balcony 30m2 with king, sofa bed, and private balcony

 
Hotel Baume offers many types of rooms to accommodate many types of guests. Great for families or friends traveling together.                                   Rooms that can accommodate 3-4 people are rare, as are rooms with balconies/terraces. Hotel Baume offers both.

1

Odeon by  

Malone***

 

(do not confuse with Odeon Hotel St Germain)

www.odeonhotel.fr/

6th, south of Blvd  St Germain, Latin  Quarter  

Very nice hotel in  perfect location.  Easy walk to  

everywhere. Free  breakfast. Nice  

modern bathrooms  and good linens.  Showers. Carpet.  Very good value

Breakfast is  

included and offers a nice buffet with  wait staff 

Espresso. Eggs,  fruit, meat, cheese,  juice. Snacks are  offered all day

Superior Double  16m2  

Deluxe Room  

(Double or 2 Twins) is 18m2.

Nespresso.  

Family Room is two  doubles adjoining.  Beds can be twin  for 4 separate  

beds. Key is left at  desk.

Get the Delux  

Room.  

If you ask the  

breakfast staff, the will make you an  espresso or hard  boiled eggs.

Hotel Clement **  (budget)

https://www.hotel-clement.com/

6th, south of Blvd  St Germain. Across  from Marche St  

Germain  

A very popular  

budget hotel in a  great location. Nice  lobby, nice rooms  (a bit dark). There is an elevator but you also must go up a few  stairs. Comfortable  bed. Very good value

Lovely breakfast  (extra). Bathroom  rather dated.  

Showers or  

Bathtub.  

Tradition 10m2  

Classic 12m2  

Twin 17m2  

Superior double  15m2  

Junior Suite (3  

people) 19m2 

Note: there is a  

‘food kitchen” next  door. There are not  homeless people  hanging around and  you probably  

wouldn’t know it  was a food kitchen  unless someone  pointed it out. 

Hotel sells out  

quickly but if you  check frequently  you may find

openings. 

2

Hotel Des

Marronniers***

www.hoteldesmarro nniers.com/en/

6th, rue Jacob. In  the heart of St Germain

Just adorable!

Beautiful and very french. Nice linens,  remodeled

bathrooms. Great staff. Clarin

amenities.

Washcloths. Great water pressure.

Hard surface floors. Showers.

Breakfast in

beautiful garden  room or cozy

basement. Good  breakfast with

eggs, cheese and meat. Coffee is

made by request.  Key is left at desk.

The double rooms are small. The Superior Garden and Classic are 12m2. The Comfort Room is only 13m2.

The 3 person Delux room is one room with a king and a separate room with a twin.  Perfect for families  or friends.

The Family room is two connecting rooms, one with a

double and one with 2 twins.

Rooms are small.  Be sure to check  room sizes. I stayed  in the Superior

Garden 12m2 and it  was perfect for one  person. It had a tiny  bathroom.

The attic (6th floor) Comfort Room is  adorable.

Hotel Grand

Hommes***

www.hoteldesgrand shommes.com/

5th, across from the  Pantheon

Lovely hotel.

Comfortable lobby,  updated

bathrooms, nice  linens.

I had a beautiful big  room with a large  bed and a view of  the Pantheon right  outside of the

double windows.

Location is good for  exploring the 5th.  Jardin des Plantes,  Mouffetard, Plac

de la Contrescarpe.  Emily in Paris apt  around the corner.  Lots of students,  busy area

I highly recommend  this hotel if you like  the location.

Altho I had a very  pleasant

experience, I prefer  being closer to the  river and more

central in the 6th.

Grand Hotel de  l’Univers***

https://www.hotel-paris-univers.com/en/

6th

Very nice hotel in a  perfect location.  French Country

style. The rooms  are beautifully

decorated. Carpet.

Breakfast in the

basement.

Bathtubs.

Classic 12m2

Standard 15m2

Delux double

21-24m2

Executive (1st floor)

I stayed in a Standard and a Delux. Both were excellent.

Lobby is very

inviting.

Great value. Staff is wonderful.

I suggest the bigger  rooms for more

than one person.  The street can get  very noisy. Ask for a  room facing the

back of the hotel or on a upper floor when you reserve.

Hotel De Seine****

https:// 

www.hoteldeseine. com/en/

6th

Beautiful old Paris  lobby. Very inviting.  Great location right  in the middle of St  Germain. Bathtubs.  Carpet. Clarins

amenities.

Lobby is very

inviting.

Classic 14m2

Superior 16m2

Executive18m2, can be 2  twins

Delux room 22m2 offers king + twin, or 3 twins for  3 people. Nespresso.

No connecting rooms.

Get the Executive  Room for 2, or the  Delux for 3

3

Welcome Hotel **

(I was shocked that this hotel is only a 2 star)

https://www.hotelwelcomeparis.com/

6th, right on Blvd St  Germain  Location is the best feature of this hotel.

Small charming

hotel on corner,

right on Blvd St- Germain. Quaint  lobby. Old Paris

decor. Hard wood floors,

Shower or bathtub  Ideal location.

I had a great corner room with two big windows. Basic shower, not much counter space in bathroom. Water provided daily. Bathroom could use a remodel. Old fashioned hairdryer.

Single 9-10m2

Classic 10m2

Classic twin 13m2  Superior/Dauphine  16m2

La St Germain #15 28m2  (1st floor)  is a newly decorated larger room on the first floor.

 

Three adults can stay comfortably. King + sofa bed.

 

Hotel is more like a 3 star. Very nice. Good breakfast. Perfect location. I suggest The Superior Room

 

Hotel de

l’Empereur***

https:// 

hotelempereurparis. com/

7th, across from  Invalides

Great location right  across from

Invades and

walking to rue Cler.  Free breakfast,

Nespresso in lobby  Very good value

Nice lobby. Rooms  are open and

modern. Open

shower with no

door. Superior room  has a wonderful

view of Dome des  Invalides at night.  Nespresso

Double classic

14.5m2

Standard double  with view 14m2

Superior double  with view 17m2

Triple 21m2

Connecting

doubles with view,  2 double beds

Absolutely get the  room with the view  of the Dome!

Madison Hotel

****

https://www.hotelmadison.com/

6th, right on Blvd St  Germain

Beautiful upscale  hotel. Very classy.  The location on

Blvd St Germain  has a perfect view  of the church by the  same name.

The rooms that look  out to the church  are light and bright  and definitely worth the splurge.

The smaller rooms in the back are NOT worth it.

Go for the Privilege View, 20m2,  or the Delux View, 30m2. Stunning.

There is also an

apartment.

Note: Friends of mine selected the smaller, cheaper rooms in the back and regretted it. If you want a cheaper room there are many better hotels.

I would not hesitate  to suggest The

Madison to anyone as long as you stay in one of the Privilege or Delux View rooms.

For the same price, I don’t think The Madison compares to Hotel du Quai Voltaire.

Hotel Recamier  ****

www.hotelrecamier.com/

6th, behind St

Sulpice Church

Charming, tucked  away in a quiet

corner with a

gorgeous view of  the church., The  lobby is cozy, like  the living room of  an elegant house.

The rooms are

elegant and classy.  Some have a small  balcony.

Classic 15m2

Delux 19m2

Tradition 21m2

Club 30m2

Club and Delux can  connect

Short walk to

Luxembourg

Gardens.

Any room with a  view of the church,  is spectacular. Go  for it.

4

Hotel l’Abbaye****

www.hoteldelabbaye

6th, south of Blvd  St Germain.

Pretty, romantic

hotel, with old Paris  elegance. The

lounge and dining  area are gorgeous  and so inviting.

Upscale.

There are many

room categories.  The smallest, the  Classic, is 9-13m2.  The largest, La

Veranda, is

23-25m2. There is  also a large

“duplex”

apartment.

Convenient location  between Cafe de  Flore and

Luxembourg

Gardens.

Stay here at least  once in your life.

Hotel de Lille***

https:// 

www.hoteldelille.com/

7th, close to Musee  d’Orsay

Great location one  block from the river.  Very stylish modern  decor. Easy walk to  the Right Bank,

Tuilleries Gardens.

My room had a

large bed,

bookshelves, and  an entry alcove.

Lots of room. Hard  surface floors

Shower. Nespresso  My room was a

Double Delux

Executive double  14m2

Delux double 17m2  Club/Superior

Junior suite 23m2,  sofa bed for 3rd  person

Family Suite can  sleep 4-5 people

If you are ok with  modern decor,

you’ll love this

hotel.

Hotel des Deux  Iles***

https:// 

www.deuxiles 

paris-hotel.com/

on Ile St Louis

Charming old hotel  on quiet street.

Rooms are small  but cosy. Only 17  rooms. Not

handicap

accessible. Very  Parisian, flowery

AC and Elevator

Beautiful lounge  area serving

afternoon tea.

Nespresso in some  rooms. The hotel  can be a bit

overpriced for the  size of rooms, old  decor.

I stayed in the Mini.  13.5m2. It was tiny.  La Charmante

14.5m2

L’Exquise 15m2

Singuliere 14m2  with a patio   All rooms can be  two twins or one  large bed.

Stay on Ile St Louis  at least once in

your life. It’s so

quiet and charming.  Wonderful restaurants.

Easy access to Notre Dame and Le Marais.

Hotel Bel Ami*****

www.hotelbelamiparis.com/

6th, behind Cafe de  Flore

Large 5 star in the  middle of St

Germain. Modern.  Very convenient  location.

Public area on main  floor is expansive Spa and fitness

room. Concierge  and services you  would expect from  a 5 star.

Rooms are large by  Paris standards,  ranging from 19m2  to 2 bedroom

apartment.

Bathtubs and

carpet.

If you like modern  and 5 star, this is a  good option.

5

Villa-des-Prés*****

www.villadespres.com

6th, on rue de Buci  New. Very modern  art oriented.

The building

exterior looks like a  gorgeous upscale  apartment building.  The location is right  in the middle of the  busy restaurant

area of rue de Buci/ rue de Seine.

Rooms are large by  Paris standards,  ranging from 24m2  to suites and

apartments. King or  two twins.

There is a pool,

sauna, and spa

area in the

basement.

If you are a 5 star  client who would  appreciate a pool,  fitness room, in a ideal location, Villa des-Prés checks all  of the boxes.

La Villa Saint

Germain des Prés  *****

www.villa saintgermain.com

6th, on rue Jacob  New. Very modern  art oriented

An exact miniature  version of it’s sister  property, Villa-des Prés.

Rooms are large  and identical to

Villa-des-Prés,

ranging from 24m2  to large suites. King  or two twins.

There is also a pool,  fitness room, an

sauna in basement.

If you are a 5 star  client, love Villa des  Prés but want a

smaller property on  a street that isn’t so  busy, this is it.

Hotel and Spa    Latour Maubourg ****

 

 
www.latourmaubourg.com/en/
7th, on rue Grenelle
Charming hotel right across the street from a small park and the Metro
Old building, looks like an old townhouse. Winding staircase.                                               Best part of the hotel is the spa in the basement. Very hot steam room, cold room, and shower.
Classic (single and double) 15m2          Superior 18m2        Privilege 26m2         Triple Privilege 30m2 (Can accommodate 3 adults.)
Updated 09/2025

Why I Shop at Trader Joe’s Before I Travel

/2 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by

You may be surprised to hear that I hit Trader’s just before I travel overseas. I love to load up on goodies to take on my trip.

Come with me on my travel haul before my international trip!

My Trader Joe’s Pre-Travel Shopping List

1. Go Raw Trek Mix

I don’t need to tell you about airplane food. The Trader Joe’s Go Raw Trek Mix is a yummy combination of nuts and dried fruit. It’s the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy. It’s a must for my backpack.

 

2. Lip Balm

I throw a few of these into my purse and backpack. Airplane air is dry and I am constantly reaching for my lip balm. This one is spearmint.

3. Head to Toe Balm

Great for feet that have walked 20,000 steps all over Paris! Also good for hands and cuticles. Some people love it to tame unruly hair.

4. Spray Hand Sanitizer, Lavender and Grapefruit/Lemon

They smell so good you’ll forget that they are fighting germs. I take these into bathrooms and spray EVERYTHING.

5. Chomps Beef or Turkey Snack Sticks

I keep these in my backpack for when I need a little protein. No refrigeration needed.

6. Ginger Chews

Great for car or airplane sickness, or just too much rich food. Ginger settles upset tummies.

7. Marula Oil

Good things come in small packages! This is great for dry skin. I put it on after wash my face at night and let it sink in.

8. Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream

A staple in my makeup bag. It’s rich but does not clog your pores.

9. Micellar Wipes

Awesome for removing makeup. Also works great as a stain remover for your clothes!

10. Hydrating Hyaluronic Body Gel Cream

I put this cream in a 3 oz container for my carry-on. It is one of the best body creams I’ve ever used. And guess what, it’s also a wonderful face moisturizer! Two products in one plus hyaluronic acid for better moisturizing.

11. Super Lemon Room Spritz

Ever checked in to a hotel room that smells musty? This room spray is very lemony and refreshes the air and fabrics. As a matter of fact, I use it instead of Downy Spray to get rid of the wrinkles in my clothes! I take an item out of my luggage, smooth it out on the bed, spray it with the Super Lemon Spritz, and hang it up. The wrinkles hang out and my clothes smell delicious!

12. Pop Up Sponges

These little wafers are dehydrated sponges. Get them wet and they expand into little sponges. I use them in the shower and to wash my face because most European hotels don’t provide washcloths. Another nugget… Cut them in thirds and use them to apply your makeup. You’ll have a fresh, clean applicator every time.

13. Lavender Dryer Bags

I love the smell of lavender! I throw one of these into my carry-on and it makes my clothes smell wonderful. They are also good for putting inside your pillowcase for a restful sleep.

14. 100% Ginger Mix and Ginger/Turmeric Tea

Some hotel rooms provide a kettle in the room. For those that don’t, I have a Travel Immersion Water Heater that I bought on Amazon so that I can have a cup of tea in my hotel room at night. I love the Trader’s Ginger/Turmeric Tea, plus I add a little of the Ginger Mix in with it. It really helps with the havoc that all that bread and cheese does to my system!

15. Small Hand Creams

Trader Joe’s usually offers these 1oz. hand creams in a 3 pack. They smell great, are easy to keep in your purse, pocket, or make up bag. They work just fine as an all over body cream.

If you find additional travel goodies at Trader Joe’s, please add them in the “Comments” section below!

Tips for Picking the Perfect Hotel

/1 Comment/in , /by

Let’s pretend.

You and a friend would like to go on a trip. You know where you want to go, but have no idea where to stay. You don’t want to spend a fortune, but you want to stay in a picturesque, quaint, immaculate, comfortable hotel in a safe area of the city, walking distance to the major sites.

You contact everyone you know who has been to your destination. You reach out to people on Facebook. You ask for hotel recommendations. You ask them why they liked or didn’t like their hotel. You ask them for names of good tour guides and suggestions for fun things to do and great places to eat.

Your friends (and your friends’ friends) give you tons of great recommendations for places to stay, places to avoid, and things to do.

You book a hotel based on these recommendations. You and your friend arrive to find the perfect hotel in the perfect location. The pillows are soft, the water pressure is hard, the breakfast is free, and the rate is in your price range.

Fantasy? Mais non, mon cheri.

Traveling is exciting. But what is not exciting is arriving at your hotel and being disappointed. When you think you are staying in an exquisite, elegant, spotless hotel and you find it is, well, not that–it can ruin your trip.

After a few bad experiences with accommodations that were either booked for me by a travel agent, or that were recommended by someone on Facebook, I have finally found a way to increase my odds of staying in exactly my kind of place and within my budget.

Here are my secrets:

Tripadvisor and Google Translate

I know what you’re thinking. Tripadvisor is not new. But here’s a way to use Tripadvisor that may give you better information than just reading the recent reviews.

Tripadvisor is like having hundreds of people give you detailed reviews of their experiences. Just enter your destination and up will pop the top rated hotels and B&B’s. Read some of the reviews and get an idea about different hotels. Go to the hotel websites and see pictures and rates.

1. Read the negative reviews first.

Click on any and all negative (less than 3*) reviews.

Some negative reviews must be taken with a grain of salt. One person says his hotel was nice, clean, with good service, but there were no English speaking channels on the television. That doesn’t matter to me. Another says that their hotel didn’t have room service or someone to carry their bags. I don’t care.

But if the not-so-positive reviews say mildew, dirty, bad location, etc., etc., I know to cross that one off the list.

One “negative” review I read said the B&B wanted all guests to be quiet after 10pm.  That was actually a positive for me. You decide how “negative” the review is, dependent on your preferences.

2. Read the reviews that are NOT in English.

Here’s where Google Translate comes in. Click on the link provided, or go to www.google.com/translate.

Some of the reviews may be written in a different language. Don’t dismiss those just because you can’t read the review. Highlight the review, right click, and select “copy.” Then go to Google Translate and paste the review in the box. Let Google Translate figure out the language and translate it for you! (Some browsers have a translator built right in)

I read one review of a European hotel where all of the English speaking reviews were great, but the reviews from non-English speaking people gave me an entirely different perspective.  One said a certain hotel “is filled with very loud Americans.” Another said if you call the hotel directly, they will give you a better rate than what is quoted (in English) on the website. Hmmmm.

3. Contact the hotel directly. Always.

Once you decide on a few hotels, go directly to the hotel instead of using a booking service like booking dot com, etc. (I booked one of my favorite hotels in Italy by calling the owner after the booking websites responded “not available.”)  Call or email them for their best rates. Be sure and ask if they offer free breakfast, and the check in and check out times. And it doesn’t hurt to ask if there is any kind of price break if you pay cash.

This system works just as well here in the “good ole’ U.S. of A.” as it does in other countries. Try it next time you would like to stay in a lesser known hotel or a B&B instead of a chain.

Now, let’s pretend you have this great trip planned and you invite your good friend Annie to go with you……