Housing
The Paris Café Writing workshops meet in the Marais, so for easy walking distance we recommend that you select a hotel or apartment in the 3rd or 4th arrondissement.
Tip: To find the arrondissement, look at the address zip code. All zip codes for Paris start with 75. The last two numbers are the arrondissement. So for the Marais, you are looking for 75003 or 75004.
Tip: You do not need the Internet for your week at Paris Café Writing. However, if you are bringing a laptop and want to use the internet, check with your apartment or hotel. Some hotels have better internet in the lobby, and the lower floors often have better reception.
Tip: Rooms are small. Very small. In both apartments and hotels. This is very typical for the center of Paris.
Tip: We live quite comfortably without air conditioning in summer in Paris – it’s less humid than Chicago – but if you need it, be sure to inquire.
Tip: The price for the hotels and some apartments are in euros, not dollars. (See FAQ for exchange rates.)
Apartments
Expect to pay about what you would for a hotel room, or a little more.
Check the apartment location on a map so that you know how far you would be walking to the morning Paris Café Writing workshops. The closest Metro stops are Filles du Calvaire or Saint Sébastien Froissant.
Book early to reserve your apartment.
oVacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO)
The last time we checked, the Vacation Rentals by Owner web site had a whopping 350 apartments for rent in the 3rd and 4th arrondissement alone! Each property is individually owned or managed.
Hotels
Paris is filled with lovely hotels. The suggestions below include both budget and designer hotels and are arranged by walking time to the Paris Cafe Writing morning workshops. Prices are for medium/shoulder season and, of course, will change like the weather. If the online site is in French, look on the home page for a British flag or the language choice EN for English.
Returning Paris Cafe Writing travelers tend to favor the Hôtel du Vieux Saule, Hôtel Americain, and Hôtel au Petit Moulin.
Walk to Paris Cafe Writing cafes: 2–5 minutes
Hôtel du Vieux Saule (3-star)
A sentimental favorite because we stayed here while looking for our own apartment. Location is ideal. Small hotel. Warm, attractive lobby.
6, rue Picardie
75003 Paris, France
Metro: Filles du Calvaire or Saint Sébastien Froissant
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.42.72.01.14
Fax from the U.S.: 011.33.1.40.27.88.21
www.hotelvieuxsaule.com
For English, click on the small British flag near the top. A single room starts at about 175 euros.
Hôtel Américain (2-star)
We discovered this hotel one day when we booked too late for our other favorites. (The name was off-putting. In Paris, who wants to stay at an “American” hotel?) We were pleasantly surprised by the clean, functional rooms and the friendly front-desk staff. Try for the two rooms on the rez-de-chaussée (ground floor), which open onto a small courtyard.
72, rue Charlot
75003 Paris, France
Metro: Filles du Calvaire or République
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.48.87.58.92
Fax from the U.S.: 011.33.1.48.87.48.03
www.hotelamericain.com
A single room starts at about 155 euros.
Hotel Sookie (formerly My Hotel in France Le Marais) (4-star)
We stayed here—when it was a less expensive 2-star—while we renovated our apartment years ago, and we slept well enough. The rooms are still small, but the lobby is greatly improved with a tea room and comfortable seating area.
2 bis, rue Commines
75003 Paris, France
Metro: Filles du Calvaire or Saint Sébastien Froissant
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.40 29 01 33
www.hotelsookie.com/en
A single room starts at about 200 euros.
Hôtel Jacques de Molay (3-star)
The location is superb: at the intersection of rue de Bretagne, across from the mayor’s office in the 3rd. Designed with a purple circle motif, the just-renovated rooms have a little more space than normal in Paris, modern downlights, a better-quality hair dryer, little shampoo bottles. A plus: your stay includes a nicely equipped gym—which any walk-in can also use for about 20 euros a session. Recent PCW writers report very good service.
94, rue des Archives
75003 Paris, France
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.42.72.68.22
http://www.hotelmolay.fr
For English, from the home page scroll down to the bottom right and click on langues to select English.
A single room starts at about 285 euros.
Hôtel Paris France (2-star)
The consistently warm and friendly welcome is super. For some reason we scored a 30-euro discount, and we had a balcony with a view overlooking Turbigo and a row of geranium-laden balconies. For this we gladly overlooked the tired carpeting, somber-colored walls, cheap little hair dryer, plastic (not glass) shower curtain, and those dumb, permanently attached clothes hangers. For this good price, I would stay again and just buy some fresh flowers to brighten the room.
72, rue de Turbigo
75003 Paris, France
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.42.78.00.04
Fax from the U.S.: 011.33.1.42.71.99.43
http://www.paris-france-hotel.com/hotel
A single room starts at about 200 euros.
Walk to Paris Cafe Writing cafes: 5–10 minutes
Hôtel du Petit Moulin (4-star)
This Christian Lacroix boutique hotel became the “it” hotel as soon as it opened. You will get a luggage handler, room service, a massage upon request, one of only 17 rooms behind black lacquered doors, draped in damask or toile de Jouy—and you will pay for it. The private bar is charming.
29/31, rue de Poitou
75003 Paris, France
Metro: Filles du Calvaire or Saint Sébastien Froissant
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.42.74.10.10
Fax from the U.S.: 011.33.1.42.74.10.97
www.hoteldupetitmoulin.com
For English, click on the small French flag near the top nd choose the British flag. A single room starts at about 365 euros, with breakfast.
Mary’s Hôtel (2-star)
Spartan but clean, no-frills hotel. If you can afford to do better, do.
15, rue de Malte
75011 Paris
Tel from the U.S.: 011.33.1.47.00.81.70
http://www.maryshotel.com
Scroll way down on the home page to “change language.” A single room starts at 165 euros..
