My perspective on travel is you are there to immerse in that place's culture, customs and ways of life. We chose to stay in Saint Germain because it is a relatively safe, fun and active neighborhood and centrally located to just about everything you'd want to see and do in Paris.
Pros:
1. Location, location, location! You can't be more than a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute bus/metro ride from just about everything a tourist wants to see in Paris. We got a LOT done in Paris (it was an efficient trip, to say the least) so this was so important to me.
Plus, beyond the major attractions in Paris you have all of Saint Germain to explore. Our first night, my husband and I went to a few different vendors and bought street food and some wine to enjoy in our room.
2. Friendly staff. We felt welcome the entire time we stayed there. In fact, my husband and I both had wonderful conversations with several front desk employees. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and even went as far as to make suggestions for more local haunts. I couldn't give enough praise to them!
3. Accommodations. This is where I like to remember that, unlike most hotels in the US, space here is not the biggest selling point when looking for a hotel. It was no necessarily spacious, but it was efficient and comfortable. We had a quieter room (though I noticed other reviews felt there was a lot of street noise) and I slept well. I do recognize that my normal "US bedtime" of 11 pm is just about when most Parisians are getting started, so it may have bee noisy but that's what I signed up for on this visit.
4. Breakfast. We only really needed to eat-in once, but it was so nice to have that option. Breakfast was quick, easy and efficient. There was wait service which surprised me, and she was so helpful.
Cons:
Not a lot to speak of! If you're looking for a huge room, I suppose that could be a downfall. Again, everything I researched showed that you just aren't going to get a lot of space when staying in the heart of Paris. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything!
We loved staying at this hotel. From the get-go, they were friendly and helpful. Our next visit to Paris (and there sure as heck will be one!) will definitely bring us back to the Hotel Dauphine. read more