Je T’aime, Paris: Seven Days, Three Neighborhoods, One City
After a few weeks of train hopping between Germany, Spain, and Southern France, I ended my month-long European adventure in my favorite city in the world: Paris.
Having been here three times before, arriving in Paris this time felt just as new and exciting as the previous. The lights and energy alone inspire all feelings of possibility and hope. The language and food open doors to a culture difficult to forget; and the French people are so welcoming in a way that made me never want to return home to New York.
With the generous help of L.E. Hotels in Los Angeles, I was booked in three hotels in Paris: Hotel Le Littre in Saint Germain, Hotel Plaza Tour Eiffel in Trocadero, and Hotel Powers near the Champs-Élysées.
If you ever plan on visiting Paris, be sure to treat yourself to a stay at one of these hotels — all with incredible accommodations, helpful staff, nearby sites, restaurants, bars, and all you will want to visit. You will not be désolé (“sorry” en français)!
Hotel Le Littre
9 Rue Littré 75006
Neighborhood: Saint Germain, 6eme (6th arrondissement)
Shortly after my midnight train from Barcelona arrived into Paris, a family friend drove me, my luggage, and massive amounts of retail damage, to Hotel Le Littre for a three-night stay.
In the Montparnasse/Saint Germain border of the 6th arrondissement in Paris, Hotel Le Littre scores amazing views of the beautifully lit Tour d’Eiffel. The classic Parisian luxury room at Hotel Le Littre boasts a king-sized bed, walk-in closet, open living room space, writing desk, television and internet, and a small terrace to “ooh” and “ahh” at the glorious view of city of love.
To top things off, I was greeted in my room the first night with a plate of French macarons. How could you resist?
Begin each morning with a complimentary buffet-style breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel from 7am through 10am. After filling up on coffee and all-you-can-eat bread, you can take a short walk through the heart of the Saint Germain neighborhood, filled with an assortment of little Parisian shops, luxury retailers, adorable cafes and boulangeries — the SoHo of Paris.
The hotel is located at the end of the block of a quiet street, but in walking distance from the Montparnasse gare station with connections to most Metro lignes as well as RER trains that can take you to the outskirts of the city. The extremely helpful front desk speak both fluent French and English, are always happy help plan out your days, and even sell discounted books of Metro tickets to save a few Euros!
Hotel Plaza Tour Eiffel
32 Rue Greuze, 75116
Neighborhood: Trocadéro (16th arrondissement)
If you want to enjoy the closest view of the Eiffel Tower without the disturbance of too many tourists, you’ll want to stay at the Hotel Plaza Tour Eiffel. Located in what you can call the Upper East Side of Paris, the Trocadéro area is quiet and residential with just the right amount of liveliness in its surrounding sites and eateries.
Being an early riser (as you should be — you’re in Paris!), I arrived to the hotel before my room was ready. Luckily, the staff provided me with enough coffee and magazines to keep me entertained. While I waited, the hotel manager even joined me on the modern satin couch for a quick chat about the hotel’s accommodation and what I might find interesting in the area.
My room was complete with your typical European double bed, which can always be easily converted to a full queen when requested; a writing desk, flat screen TV, reading chairs and side table perfectly framing your balcony with yet another view of the Eiffel Tower.
The decor is modern and fresh, accenting the hotel’s signature color scheme of black, beige, and white. Though the room was much smaller than the last, it was enough for me to nose dive into the clouds of comfort after a long day of sightseeing.
Complimentary petit déjeuner (breakfast) was served in the basement restaurant level of the hotel, offering an assortment of breads, a choice of coffee or tea, charcuterie, cheese, and cereals. Being next to the hotel’s gym, in close quarters of the kitchen, and with the lack of any windows, some may feel too cramped or even rushed for the morning breakfast. Luckily, the hotel offers an “express” breakfast option in the main lobby with coffee, tea, and croissants.
The best thing to do in the Trocadéro area other than to take amazing pictures of the Eiffel Tower, is to visit the Jardins du Trocadéro and nearby museums. My favorite part about staying in this area was grabbing a quick crêpe for dinner and sitting in the Trocadéro square before the hourly Eiffel Tower light show. The tower sparkles for the first five minutes of the hour after sundown. From this part of the city, you couldn’t get a better view!
Hotel Powers
52 Rue François 1er, 75008
Neighborhood: Champs-Élysées (8th arrondissement)
Last but not least: Hotel Powers — a charming, old-school Parisian hotel situated in the heart of the Champs-Élysées. If you’re a luxury shopper, this is the place to be.
One block away from the main road, the hotel is surrounded by numerous bars and restaurants. The building has a warm, welcoming feel the moment you walk in through the thick black doors and into the red velvet-covered lobby. The front desk is extremely delightful and offer the best part of the hotel: a skeleton key to your room. This is why I love Paris.
Unlocking the door to my room (and what I may imagine as Narnia), I walk into a bright, sunny, large and airy deluxe room. The blue striped walls, large closets, velvet armchairs, and large balcony view make me feel like I’m living as a queen in Versailles. The bathroom is the nicest I’ve ever seen, complete with L’Occitane En Provence products — my favorite!
I loved the room so much that I didn’t realize I had wasted five hours of my day admiring the view and rolling around in the king-sized bed until past dinner time. Good thing I was close by to a sea of restaurants on the Champs-Élysées.
The part that got me hooked and longing to book my next stay was the complimentary room service breakfast. Breakfast in bed? Coffee by the fire? Fromage on the balcony? Count me in.
From the hotel, you can do whatever your heart desires: shop on the main road, take a walk through the Jardin des Tuileries, head over the Louvre, or admire the serenity along the Seine.
Whether you’re returning to the city of light for another time or going for the first time, be sure to check out one (or all!) of these hotels for a guaranteed excellent stay, customer service, and easy access to, in my opinion, the best city in the world.
