Going to Paris is almost always a good idea. Before you can get to all of the good stuff you have to figure out where to stay. When attempting to answer that question you have to consider so many things. The main reason to come to Paris is to enjoy the large variety things to see and do. From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre you’ll never run out of things to do and see in Paris. That’s before you even get to the wonderful food. You also don’t want to spend the majority of your time commuting in a city as fabulous as Paris .
The conundrum is that the closer you are the more expensive it gets. You may be able to comfortably afford higher priced accommodations. You may be willing to pay the higher prices for the ambiance or the convenience of being so close. Even if you’re not in one of those two categories there are still options. You can find a nice place to stay outside the immediate center of the action without feeling like you’re taking a massive commute every day.
When we visited Paris, we found that the neighborhood of Batignolles and the surrounding areas in the 17th arrondisement is a perfect place to stay. Our hotel was in the 17th just east of the Batignolles neighborhood. So what makes that area such a good place to stay in Paris? I’m glad you asked.
It’s close to the metro and main tourist attractions
One of the main reasons is that like most of Paris it’s well served by a remarkable metro system. We stayed just off of Avenue de Clichy and from there we were really close to the Brochant stop. From that metro stop we were able to reach the Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries and Eiffel Tower in between 20 to 30 minutes from the door of our hotel to our destination. The beauty of the metro system in Paris is that it is practically foolproof. I cheated a bit and used the Google Maps feature on my phone and got around very easily. You could also go old school and download a pdf metro map.
The metro is set up so that you don’t need much help to navigate around the major attractions. With the metro being such an asset you should use it to explore. You can also use it to stay in areas outside the central part of the city. This can easily be done without causing frustration and confusion or getting lost. You can also avoid adding major time to commuting from your accommodations to your destinations.
There’s a variety of good affordable restaurants
It stands to reason that if you are not in tourist areas, you will not pay tourist prices. That applies not only to your accommodations but also to food. And that was true in our case. Since it is a residential neighborhood and is out of the way for most tourists, the food was priced accordingly. This was quite the pleasant surprise because when you think Paris and food you do not think inexpensive and affordable. But that was exactly what it was. There was also quite the variety. We had Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern, the best burger I ever had, and of course some of the best French pastries that we’ve ever had. We got all of this for affordable prices.
There were also a couple of markets which we did not really get to shop at. That is an excellent way to load up on snacks for the day. All of those restaurants, bakeries and markets were within walking distance to our hotel and the metro stop. This made it easy to grab something either on our way out in the morning or on our way back in later.
It’s an authentic Parisian neighborhood
When you stay in Paris you probably want to feel like a Parisian. What better way to do that than to shop where Parisians shop, eat where they eat and live where they live? We were able to do all of those things because of where we stayed. It can have a profound impact on your experience and how you enjoy a city. We didn’t want to stay in a hotel that could’ve been in any city in any country. We were able to stay in a place that felt uniquely French and Parisian. Some larger hotels obviously have more amenities and can offer you more in the way of services. They can also offer the service of convenience especially if you’re close to the center of the action.
You get the service and convenience but you do miss out on unique experiences. We really liked staying in a neighborhood surrounded by actual Paris residents. Just seeing a guy carrying a long loaf of French bread coming from the bakery was something that I remember. I couldn’t believe that I was actually there among the local residents and getting to enjoy the city right along with them. I also loved being able to interact with Parisians in their own neighborhood and not in such a tourist setting.
It was nice to observe, blend in (as much as 4 Americans in Paris can blend in) and enjoy the area. The neighborhood is also quite scenic. You’ll really get to appreciate French architecture, especially if you stay in an apartment or boutique hotel in the area. We really enjoyed exploring since it is really beautiful. It was wonderful to just walk around and see all that it had to offer. It was good to also enjoy Paris on a smaller scale.
There’s good prices for accommodations and shopping
The good prices extend beyond the food. Again since it’s a residential neighborhood most items are priced affordably with the residents in mind. So you can shop and find decent prices for souvenirs or other items that you may want. When it comes to accommodations you get lower prices because it’s not in a tourist heavy area. You still get quality and the bonus of being able to stay in residential neighborhood and experience all the charm that it has to offer.
It’s a great area to stay in Paris
Where to stay in Paris is a big question to answer. Fortunately Paris is a city of such variety that there are almost endless options for everyone. This includes families that may not want to spend top dollar on accommodations. The Batignolles neighborhood and 17th arrondisement provides a beautiful solution to the question of where to stay in Paris.
Staying in this area gives you so many things that make it worth investigating and ultimately choosing. There’s the close proximity to main attractions. An easy, clean way to get around by means of the metro system which serves the area well. You get to stay in an authentic Parisian neighborhood and building. This includes enjoying the affordable prices on food and other shopping that are available in the neighborhood. You also get to interact with Parisians in a normal everyday setting, right in their own backyard. Unless you just have to stay in the center of the action, staying in or near Batignolles in the 17th is the perfect solution for families and budget travelers alike.
Now that you have an idea for a great area to stay, it’s time to start planning that trip Paris. Be sure to check out our essential itinerary for your stay as well as some helpful tips for first time visitors to Paris. It’ll help to make your trip to Paris one that you’ll never forget!
Safe travels!