Posts Tagged ‘Paris hotels’

Paris: The 2nd Arrondissement

You’re nearly there – Paris, France’s crown jewel and capital city! You can’t wait to land. You’ve gotten your cheap international airline ticket to Paris, France , now you’re considering some great looking deals on Paris hotels throughout Paris. What arrondissement you are staying in is always an important consideration for accommodation in Paris, France even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre.  Here’s a guide to Paris’s Second arrondissement so you can learn more about whether this area of Paris is where you want to be!

It’s unlikely that you’ll spend alot of time in the 2nd arrondissement as a tourist, but if you choose accommodation in this arrondissement , you will be in the heart of Paris’s finance center. Home to Paris’s Bourse (stock exchange) and the CAC 40 index of France’s top listed companies , the second arrondissement is also widely known for its thriving   fashion and journalism industries, as well as its general atmosphere of business.

What To Expect :

Why You Want To Stay Here:

You’ll hardly see any tourists here, so that the people-watching will be strictly French : Parisian businessmen going to lunch, harried traders dashing to work, journalists meeting sources over coffee for the next big scoop . Visitors will also be close to the lovely 19th “galleries,” a tradition when the Duke of Orleans decided to rent out his garden to shops in the late eighteenth century. These “galleries,” akin to early shopping malls, have glass windows and tiled floors, are still working now . Visit for a nostalgic and charming look at Paris’s nineteenth-century past.

The Negatives :

This isn’t an especially with-it area by any means, and while there are many places for lunch in the neighborhood, suitable for an expense account, nightlife absent . However, with the Marais in the fourth arrondissement only a short distance away, there’s not much to be concerned about. In addition, near the eastern end of the district, you may run into a few prostitutes looking to ply their trade, but don’t be too alarmed – it’s safe, if seedy, and nevertheless you’re likely to encounter far fewer than in similar sections like Rue St. Denis or the Pigalle area.

What To See:

If you’re a financial type, pay a visit to the Bourse, or Stock Exchange, for a look at Paris’s economic heart. Or check out the Galleries – the Gallerie Vivienne is regarded the best-preserved, with authentic and beautiful 19th decor, a magnificent mosaic floor, and elegantly high end shops. In contrast, the Passage Choiseul is more “authentic,” catering to business men and women on their way to work, and selling newspapers and offering services like shoe-shining to harried traders at the nearby Bourse.

Eating Places :

Cafe Etienne Marcel, on Rue Etienne Marcel, is a trendy Costes brothers place – less expensive than most of their others – with a menu to match. Or have a drink or two at Harry’s New York Bar on Rue Danou, reputed to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, and a hangout of Hemmingway. While Harry’s not cheap by any means, it’s nevertheless a great hangout for those who want the elegance and decadence of Art Deco bohemian expatriate life. And, of course, a bloody Mary mixed to perfection.

Shopping Spots :

Brentano’s, on Avenue de L’Opera has an outstanding assortment of English-language and art books. And, of course, the Galleries are filled with fascinating shops . Stroll in and out of some of the delightful galleries, looking at the many wonderful shops on offer, and consider buying art and far more at all of them.

When backpacking around Europe (or any part of the world for that matter) here are a couple of tips that I found quite useful:

1. Figure out everything you’ll need while on your trip then reduce that amount by at least half! A common mistake is travelers taking too much stuff with them. Remember to enjoy your vacation instead of carrying around heavy luggage in areas you don’t know. One key thing to remember is as you travel you will find memorabilia that you will want to purchase, and this takes up precious cargo space.

2. As weird as it sounds, bringing a GOOD towel, such as a camping towel can really make your vacation a lot more tolerable. While traveling Europe for the first time I figured a normal beach towel would suffice, needless to say, it did not. Camping towels can be purchased luckily and are quite similar to the “sham wow”. They are great because they are anti-bacterial, absorb a lot of water and dry quite quickly. This was a major improvement to my second trip to Europe.

3. Take advantage of accommodation deals on websites. If you are the type of personality that can travel around and book your accommodations with short notice (I know some people like to know far in advance they have a place to stay every night), you can really save a lot of money on hotels. The later you book generally the better deal you receive. You don’t want to be stuck at the last minute and suddenly find Paris rooms all booked up.

4. Hostels also over a unique social setting you’re not likely to encounter anywhere else. The really amazing thing about staying in hostels is you have the opportunity to form great friendships from all over the world with people who are traveling like you. Though you may only be friends for a short period of time they help cement that trip into your mind.

5. Using the EU rail pass is a great way to travel throughout Europe. Once you’re aboard you’ll save a quite a bit of money. To top it off using the trains throughout Europe is a great way to travel. Be sure to make sure you purchase your tickets before you leave in order to save even more money. Though it takes some research to figure out what pass best suits your needs, it’s a great buy.

6. A secondary way to travel is to look into discount airliners over in Europe such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet. Because these airlines (and there are others) don’t serve all places in Europe I find that they are a great way to supplement an EU rail Pass for transportation. Often you can find flights for as low as $50 and depending how you plan your trip there a great way to get from one remote location to another and save valuable time those other forms of transportation take.

7. When you’re traveling, especially for long periods of time, it’s very important to register with your embassy to let them know what countries you’ll be in. The reason is just for peace of mind in case of disaster or other events that could leave you stuck in a remote country. By doing so the embassy can account for your and have a rough idea of where you are. Though the odds are quite small that disaster could strike, it’s better to be safe than sorry when traveling abroad and to be prepared just by chance disaster does strike.

Alessandra S. Llewellyn was born in Switzerland and raised in Paris. She has traveled all over the world with her family and loves to explore new places and meet new people. She loves to write about her travels and will sometimes review Paris cheap hotels for various travel magazines and websites.