Hotel in Paris -Pre/post Viking cruise

[OrlEngr]

Looking for recommendation for hotels in Paris Pre and post cruise. Where does Viking normally put people up? Other recommendations?

[Jesterscourt]

Do you want to be near where the boat is docked? There are so many incredible neighborhoods and districts (arrondissements) in Paris, each with it's own charm and personality, that it is hard to come up with an answer until we get an idea of what you are looking for. Also, practically all hotels are located within walking distance of a metro stop, so there really isn't an inconvenient location either. But since you asked, we have always stayed in the Rue Cler district since it is very "Parisian" and an actual charming neighborhood where locals shop at butcher shops, patisseries, flower shops, and eat at cafes and creperies, etc. It is hard to believe this neighborhood is so close to the Seine River, Eiffel Tower and the Invalides where the Rodin Museum and Napoleon's tomb and other major sights are located. We have stayed in the Grand Hotel Leveque right on Rue Cler and the extremely popular Hotel Champs de Mars. Both are right in the middle of the action and close to metro stops. I predict that this will now become a very popular thread as many people feel passionately about Paris and will certainly want to share their opinions!

[OrlEngr]

Thanks for the feedback. We might even consider staying different locations Pre and post cruise. (3 days each) to get a taste of different spots

[Jesterscourt]

You will get a real feel for Paris spending three days in two different locations! Some friends of mine just returned from Paris and raved about Hotel La Belle Juliette in the Luxembourg/St. Germain/Montparnasse area. They felt like they were returning to their neighborhood every night, and yet could walk through Luxembourg Gardens nearby, walk to the cafes on St. Germain des Pres, and even walk up to the Seine River and d'Orsay Museum comfortably from the hotel. The staff was sincerely helpful to them when they had to cut their vacation short due to a death in the family and fly home early.

Another popular recommendation among CruiseCritic members is the Hotel Eiffel Seine due to it's charm, location (closer to the dock) and neighborhood feel. Good luck and have fun choosing where to stay!

[pjtraveler]

We stayed at the Eiffel Seine last April and find it very convenient to getting around to all the sights. It's a small boutique hotel, and the staff is very helpful. We got a good deal on price on one of the online booking discount sites.:)

[WarEagle76]

In case you haven't seen this, here is where Viking docks in Paris which we stumbled across when we were doing research for our cruise in October.

 

PARIS

Docking location is Pont de Grenelle/Quai de Grenelle. Approximate taxi fare from Charles de Gaulle Airport for one person with two suitcases is 50-60 euros; two people, each with two suitcases, can expect to pay approximately 70 euros.

 

 

[KCcruisin07]

You can rent an apartment with a three day minimum. We like to rent apartments because we have more room, and we are closer to the neighborhoods. I like VRBO because I think it is an American company and is more likely to help if there is a problem.

We rented an updated apartment in a very old building near Rue Montorgueil, a market street, so we had great fun at the bakeries and little restaurants and shops there. But Les Halles and St. Germaine are popular with Americans.

The downside of apartments is there is no one there to help with problems or directions. For that reason it might be best to rent after the cruise, so you already know your way around.

Either way it would be good for you to choose a location (one of the arrondissements) and then choose a hotel or apartment...unless someone suggests a place that sounds perfect.

[while]

It's a small boutique hotel, and the staff is very helpful.

[chef1943]

We are going on the August 5 Paris to Nomandy cruiise with a stay in Paris after. We have booked everything through Viking. They are putting us in the Crowne Plaza Republique.

[Jesterscourt]

At the risk of sounding opinionated, I have stayed at the Place De La Republique before and I feel the cruise line really missed the mark on this one. This is a somewhat run-down, noisy intersection, and not a good choice for the first-time visitor to Paris. It does, however, have a great Metro hub, with no less than 5 subway lines, so it is easy to take public transportation to anywhere. But it is not really within walking distance to most sights, and most visitors like to walk from their hotel, and be able to come back to a relatively safe area at night. They did the same thing in Prague, using the out-of-way Hotel Corinthia next to the convention center next to the highway. Sure, it was next to a metro stop, but most guests were not afforded the opportunity to walk the charming streets of Old Town or Mala Strana, etc. What were they thinking? It's not rocket science. Charge a few more euros if you have to, but put your guests up in a more convenient or charming location!

[OrlEngr]

Thanks for the suggestions