<p>Well, my D is departing Vienna tomorrow. Her quarter is over and she is headed to London to stay with a friend for a week, then they are going to Amboise in the Loire Valley and then on to Paris. Her friend has to leave 2 days before my D’s flight home so I am trying to get some suggestions for them in Paris. My D needs a place she’ll be comfortable without her friend. Clearly I’d like safe, they’d like centrally located. Small hotel, hostel, I don’t think they care all that much. Have any of your kids stayed in a property they liked and would recommend?</p>
<p>The Splendid. It’s a fabulous boutique hotel, great front desk (they speak English if you don’t speak French), very good value, and in a wonderful neighbourhood with lots around it (just a few steps to the metro, the Ecole Militaire station, and in the neighborhood of Rue Cler, which is very beautiful with xmas decorations at this time of year). </p>
<p>Strongly recommend Rick Steve’s Paris as the BEST guide book. It’s how we found this gem too.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d233803-Reviews-Hotel_Splendid_Tour_Eiffel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html[/url]”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d233803-Reviews-Hotel_Splendid_Tour_Eiffel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html</a></p>
<p>The MIJE hostels (3 buildings) are very clean, quiet and well located in aristocratic townhouses in the Marais. My S was very happy staying there a few years ago.</p>
<p>Hotel d’Albe is also in a great location. The metro St Michel is just out the door and there is the RER to go to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
[Hotel</a> D’Albe St Michel (Paris, France) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d208082-Reviews-Hotel_D_Albe_St_Michel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html]Hotel”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d208082-Reviews-Hotel_D_Albe_St_Michel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html)
But it’s not cheap. It’s a three star hotel.</p>
<p>The Hotel de l’Empereur (one $ in Rick Steve’s travel guide) is clean, inexpensive, and has the most amazing view of Les Invalides. I actually stood in the bathroom at night, with the lights out, shooting pics of Les Invalides. Make sure they ask for a room with a view! It’s located in the Rue Cler area. If they walk down the road that runs between the hotel and the Les Invalides, they’ll see a house from the Middle Ages in among more modern buildings. A pretty amazing sight.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Splendid, also, and agree with starbright’s comments. The Rue Cler, in addition to being a great neighborhood, also is a wonderful street for nice, family-friendly food places. We got the name from Rick Steves also, and have always had good experiences with the hotel he recommends.</p>