The New Paris Renaissance
Finding your perfect stay
Eiffel Tower shot from Tuileries Gardens in Paris France by Barbara Schmidt, studiobstyle
By Barbara Schmidt, studiobstyle, many people go to Paris to live the Parisian lifestyle. Ask yourself--what does that mean to you? Do you want to see all the famous sights? Eat Parisian food? For me, it was to work in Paris. I wanted to shoot a fashion story. And so I did. On March 22, that feature story will run in the Star Tribune Magazine.
Before and after my creative project, I spent most of my time in two neighborhoods - the 11th arrondissement and the 3rd arrondissement. The 11th arrondissement is the “Bastille” neighborhood. Named for the old prison now Opera house “de Bastille,” it is considered the hip and diverse neighborhood of Paris. There are a lot of smaller independent restaurants and boutiques in walkable streets.
Years ago, when I visited Paris it was the 3rd arrondissement where all the artists lived and worked that attracted my attention, so when I booked our stay this time I focused on the “Le Marais.” My husband would be spending just a few days with me before and after my project so I tried to find a place to stay that he would like as well.
Map showing the 3rd and 11th arrondissements in Paris, France
Choose Your Neighborhood
It’s a great idea to check out reviews and look into Parisian neighborhoods based on your interests. If it’s certain sights, food, or fashion then try to stay near those hot spots. For us, we wanted to walk the neighborhoods, shop a little, and explore the food and wine scene. We’d both been to Paris before and had seen many of the famous sights in other areas already.
I checked through all the usual websites like Airbnb and VRBO. Recently, I booked through both websites for work trips, and they can be cost effective and value added. I just didn’t find anything in the right neighborhood that was available for our trip.
Then I checked the following resources; Tablet Hotels (Michelin), Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, Relais & Chateaux, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Oyster, SLH.com, The Guardian, Tripadvisor and Booking.com. This was a very interesting exercise because the reviews were not comprehensive, nor consistent on just one site. I highly recommend reading through all the reviews on various sites for the past year about the property of your choice to get the whole picture.
Traveler Tip: Some of the best places I’ve found are not on any of these sites. They are new or just opened properties that haven’t been rated yet. Some properties are very small and independent so you have to hunt for them. Google new hotels, boutique hotels or inns to find them.
Interior courtyard of Cour des Vosges, Paris France shot by Barbara Schmidt, studiobstyle
Booking Criteria
Out of thousands of places to stay, how do you choose one? Now that you have your neighborhood chosen, it’s time to look at the properties that fall into that neighborhood. Here are some things to think about:
Style: Historic or New? Look at the traveler photos on Tripadvisor or Booking to get the real scope of where you will stay. Actual hotel website photos are shot with various camera lenses and are retouched.
Amenities: Spa? Pool? Restaurant? Or do you just need a place to lie your head? Don’t pay for amenities you won’t use.
Vibe: Quiet vs. Lively - read the fine print! We did end up moving rooms because of noise, and thankfully because of Tablet Hotels, that was easy.
Value: Are there packages if you stay 3, 4, or 5 nights? Don’t hesitate to ask if it’s not listed in the description.
Bed: Look at the bed photographs and read about the bedding. Former guests will comment if the beds are in poor condition. Nothing is worse than a sagging or soft bed when you are traveling.
Nearby: Will your room face a busy street? It’s noisy in Paris and some of the main streets buzz all night long.
Dream Space: Ask for certain types of rooms when you book. In both cases, our booked hotels gave us either a view or balcony because we’d asked for it.
After doing some research, I decided to go with Tablet Hotels for this trip. Their Tablet Plus program of a $90 annual fee gives you an upgraded room if available and some extras like snacks or wine etc. upon arrival. It was well worth the fee, both our hotels upgraded our rooms and that was worth a lot more the one-time annual $90 charge for membership. Both hotels also gave us vouchers and snacks worth more than the $90 fee, too.
The Experience
We travel constantly, and I have to say both hotels were beyond our expectation, and they were at two different price points. The first hotel was a splurge for us because it’s our 20-year anniversary. The second hotel was a design choice for me.
Beautiful, luxury bedding @courdesvosges Paris, France; photo by Barbara Schmidt, studiobstyle
Cour des Vosges in the 11th arrondissement is expensive by most standards, but the service, the decor, the bed, the artwork, the location - well, it is perfection. Cour des Vosges is positioned on the Place des Vosges - the oldest planned square in Paris. Our building was built in the 1600s and is the perfect setting for a luxe boutique hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there from the soaking tub to the high-end bedding. If you have high design standards and want a quiet refined stay, book here.
This luxe room had three floor to ceiling doors opening onto a balcony over looking Rue du Bourg l'Abbé @lesbains-paris France; photo by Barbara Schmidt, studiobstyle
The second place we stayed was Les Bains Paris in Le Marais. This storied hotel is famous for its rockstar nightclub. Quite famous in the late 70s, 80s and 90s this venue was a hot spot for A-list celebrities. Oh, but do not think that it is quiet now. The club is booked for private parties and rocks until the next morning every Thursday - Saturday and sometimes on a Tuesday or Wednesday. The decor and the service were spectacular. If you love music, stay here for the DJs and the scene.
Want to see more? Check out studiobstyle’s Paris highlights on Instagram under the Travel icon.