The Hotel du Commerce is a cross between a hotel and a hostel, offering simple rooms in a prime Latin Quarter location at hard-to-beat rates. The hotel, housed in a former 13th-century convent, is situated right off the Place Maubert, a short walk from Notre Dame and Saint Germain des Près, and near to a range of Metro stations and buses.
Upstairs (no elevator), there are 32 basic rooms furnished with desks, wardrobes, sinks, and IKEA lamps. They're decorated with a cheery "provencal" color scheme of yellow and blue, with matching curtains and bedspreads. Impressionist prints hang on the walls. Rooms do not have TVs, which keeps things quiet. (It was, after all, a convent.) Free WiFi is offered throughout the hotel.
The Commerce sets a cool scene in its lobby and common area, with trendy furniture, bookcases, artwork, and a free internet station. There's also a large table where guests can prepare breakfast and eat together. (This is a great option given that the Place Maubert has a wonderful open-air market three mornings a week and fresh supplies can be stocked in the hotel fridge.)
Please note: Only three of the 32 rooms have both a shower and toilet in the room. To book these three rooms, you must call the hotel directly. Most of the rooms bookable online are cheaper, with a shower in the room and toilet in the hall. Also note that, like many hostels and residences, rooms are not cleaned every day during your stay (although they will be cleaned again for guests staying several nights). No credit cards are taken here, only cash or euro-denominated traveler's checks.
» Denise Young
Note: This hotel was visited by a EuroCheapo editor and is recommended based on cleanliness, location, price and overall quality. EuroCheapo did not charge this hotel to be listed.
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Hotel Address
14 rue de la montagne sainte genevieve,75005
Latin Quarter, Paris, France
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About the Hotel du Commerce neighborhood
The student district of Paris since the 13th century, the Latin Quarter is located in the Left Bank's 5th arrondissement, and includes the Ile de la Cité in the center of the Seine. It's home to the Sorbonne University, the vast Jardin des Plantes on its eastern end, the Place St-Michel, the Panthéon on the Ste-Geneviève hilltop, and Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité. It's a lively area of Paris completely overrun with students and tourists and the cheap shops and eateries that cater to both constituencies.
After dark, the masses congregate in the pubs around the Place de la Contrescarpe and the clubs off the winding Rue de la Huchette. Many of the buildings in the Latin Quarter date back to the 1600s, something to keep in mind when choosing a hotel where ancient wooden beams and exposed stone walls come with winding, uneven stairs and tiny rooms.
more about Latin Quarter