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Hotels

The hotel you choose will certainly help sculpt your experience of Paris – while a modern hotel with high-tech gadgets might be your typical lodging of choice, perhaps a centuries-old, refurbished mansion-cum-hotel with a four-poster bed and antiquated Parisian décor will prove to be more your style for this voyage. Surprisingly good values and intimate settings can be found by steering clear of the main tourist areas, and are ideal for those looking to get off the beaten track a bit. Also, in anticipation of your hotel stay, there are a few things to keep in mind: Note that most hotels do not include breakfast in the room rate; air-conditioning is not widely available (although Parisian summers typically do not get unbearably hot); and French showers, with their handheld nozzles and lack of curtains, can be a somewhat disconcerting experience for the unaccustomed American traveler. That said, there a couple of thousand hotels spread about Paris proper – here's our quick pick of some of the best high-end, moderate, and budget lodgings to call home for your stay.

Expect to pay a pretty penny for luxe lodgings, but rest assured that the perennial favorites mentioned here will provide an unforgettable experience in themselves. The Hôtel Ritz (www.ritzparis.com) overlooking the stunning Place Vendôme in the 1st, makes for such posh lodgings that it's the actual namesake of the word "ritzy"; the property boasts several shops, gardens, and even a subterranean pool and spa. The swanky Four Seasons Hôtel George V (www.fourseasons.com/paris) in the 8th, has been the go-to hotel for Hollywood A-listers, royalty, and other elite since it opened in 1928 – expect superlative white-glove service and majestic public and private spaces flooded with glorious antiques and Louis XVI trimmings. We also recommend the Pavillon de la Reine (www.pavillon-de-la-reine.com), a regal and intimate property in the Marais that dates back to 1612; lovely gardened grounds and cobblestoned courtyards make for excellent views from the well-appointed guest rooms.

Moderate picks include the atmospheric Hôtel Langlois (www.hotel-langlois.com) in the 9th, where oversized guest rooms are decorated with period art and original tile fireplaces; request a room on the top floor for views over neighboring Parisian rooftops and the Sacré-Coeur basilica. The Hôtel des Deux-Iles (www.2iles.com) offers lodging in a charming townhouse on the picturesque Ile St-Louis; the rooms are a bit on the small side, but there's no beating the superb location. Another good choice is the Hôtel Henri IV Rive Gauche (www.henri-paris-hotel.com) just steps from the Seine and Notre Dame, in the Latin Quarter; all of the charming, country-chic rooms here feature air-conditioning and WiFi.

There are a good amount of budget hotel choices in Paris, as well. Our recommendations include the historic Hôtel de la Place des Vosges (www.hotelplacedesvosges.com), situated on the majestic square in the 4th, and within walking distance to many of Paris' top Right Bank attractions. We also like the Hôtel Résidence Monge (www.hotelmonge.com) in the heart of the Latin Quarter, for its simple, but tidy accommodations in provençal décor – it's a veritable bargain for the location. Finally, the artsy, six-storey Le Petit Châtelet (011/33 (0)1 42 33 32 31; no website) is another good bet, situated on a busy 1st arrondissement street just steps from the Louvre and Beaubourg; the only caveat is the lack of elevators to access the upper rooms.

See Paris Travel Guide