Okay everyone – by favorite I mean that these are the hotels I like the best when on a gal pals trip to Paris.  If we were on business and meeting with clients who expect  us to be staying at a business-like hotel near their offices then we would stay in a different category of accommodation.  We non-high maintenance gals would just rather spend our money on shoes and purses than have bragging rights to name drop upon our return some terribly famous boutique hotel.  These picks of mine are charming little places with excellent reputations, are well-run and are located in the area we like to hang out in at night.  George V or George Cinq (pronounced George sank) is for Paris Hilton, not Priscilla’s gal pals in Paris.  Got it?

Hotel Belloy - pronounced “Bell whaaa” or if you are Lisa with an Australian/London accent you insist on calling it the “Bell oy” is located in the 6th not far from Blvd St. Germain.  The front desk people are extremely helpful and the rooms are very comfortable.  One time a friend was very ill and they made a run to a pharmacy to get her medicine.  They make all your restaurant reservations for you upon arrival and they have a great breakfast downstairs in their dining nook.  It’s an exceptional value and as a bonus they offer rooms that connect where we girls can have a nightly pajama party!

One word of caution – if your room faces Rue Racine and you like to towel dry your hair at night on the balcony, make sure you are not bra-less and wearing see through pajamas.  The patrons at the restaurant across the way will love the show, but you may trip through the French doors on your way back into the room when you realize that you’ve just given your first burlesque show unintentionally.  I personally wouldn’t know, but apparently my friend Clare who stayed behind when we all went out one night might know something about this.

Hotel Au Manoir – This hotel is right on Blvd St. Germain des Pres making the location my favorite.  It’s a three star hotel and very deserving of its reputation.  The rooms are nicely decorated with lovely fabrics and seem to be well laid out.  One needs to keep in mind that like all small Paris hotels, no two rooms are alike.  These small luxury hotels were former apartment buildings with many space limitations.  This hotel boasts larger rooms than my other recommendations with upgraded bathrooms and serves the best coffee and breakfast of all three picks.  With this modernization and great location comes a steeper price tag so the gal pals have not stayed there yet.

Right next door to this hotel is a very famous restaurant that is reportedly a great place to eat by many a travel book.  It’s called Brasserie Lipp.  I had the worst dining experience ever in Paris there so I “un-recommend” it to you.  I could go on with the nitty-gritty details but I won’t.  With so many fabulous places to eat, why would anyone go to one where a real person says don’t!

Hotel Left Bank – This is my current favorite place to stay!  The price is very reasonable and it includes a nice breakfast each morning.  There  is free wi-fi in the lobby which you can access in your room as well and the staff is very helpful and sweet.  Their rooms can be small but they are very comfortable and the location can’t be beat for nightly crepe cravings just a couple of doors down.

The housekeeping staff uses the most wonderful smelling detergent or starch on the sheets and towels.  My “bestest” gal pals know I hate “smelly” things so this says a lot about the place.

To add to the appeal of this location - it is right next door to one of my favorite restaurants – Le Procope.  Typically we eat there our first night as we are tired and hungry and want a “sure thing” that is close by.  It doesn’t get any better than paying the check and crawling in to bed in less than 5 minutes!