Paris laid claim to some 2,000 hotels - with about 80,000 rooms - spread across its 20 districts. They range from the Ritz and the Crillon to joint which is very repellent. Most visitors come to Paris in July and August. Many French are on vacation, and trade fairs and conventions come to a stop, so there are usually plenty of rooms, even though these months have conventionally been the peak season for European travel. In most hotels, February is as busy as April or September because of the volume of business travelers and the numbers of tourists taking advantage of off-season discounts.



As hot weather rarely lasts long in Paris, very few hotels provide air-conditioning. The French government grades hotels with a star system, ranging from one star for a simple inn to four stars for a deluxe hotel. Moderately priced hotels usually get two or three stars. Two- or three-star hotels frequently have elevators, and rooms will likely have bathroom, phones, and TVs. In four-star hotels, one will get all the amenities plus amenities and services like room service, 24-hour concierges, elevators, and perhaps even health clubs.

The river dividing Paris geographically and culturally demands one make a choice. Tourist preferring Left Bank, want a room in the heart of St-Germain, where Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir once spent their nights. Whereas on the Right Bank sumptuous quarters like those at the Crillon,is situated. Each of Paris’s neighborhoods has its own flavor, and the experiences and memories of Paris will likely be formed by where one prefer to stay.

If one wishes for chic surroundings, choose a Right Bank hotel. That is near the most elegant shops and within walking distance of major sights like the Arc de Triomphe, places de la Concorde, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre.

For people liking informal atmosphere and tiny bohemian streets, head for the Left Bank, where prices are traditionally lower. If one wants to stay somewhere more intimate than a hotel, one has the option of booking a room within a private home. This setup is a connection between travelers who seek rooms in private homes and Parisians who wish to welcome visitors. Most hosts speak at least some English, range in age from 30 to 75, and have at least some points of view about entertainment and dining options within the neighborhood. Available options include individual bedrooms, usually within large, old-fashioned private apartments, as well as empty and without the benefit of a live-in host.

In cases where a client occupies an apartment without any host, the refrigerators will be stocked with sufficient breakfast supplies for the number of days one is staying (3-night minimum stay).

Throughout the hotels expect the bathrooms in very expensive and expensive hotels to be a bit larger than normal, with fine toiletries, plush towels, and perhaps bathrobes. The bathrooms in moderate and inexpensive hotels tend to be cramped but still acceptable, with towels that are less plush than those at expensive places.

Be conscious of the fact that some hotels offer tub/shower combinations, some offer shower stalls, and some offer a mix. If something particular is important to you, request your preference when reserving. It will be a delight for the tourist.