Situated at the very eastern base of Rue des Ecoles, on a corner directly across from the University of Paris, the Hotel au Royal-Cardinal Paris provides 36 classic rooms equipped with modern conveniences.
The rooms aren't terribly exciting, mind you, but they are old-fashioned and boast high ceilings and Latin Quarter street views (almost all are on the street). All rooms have bathrooms, which are equipped with hairdryers. Twelve lucky rooms have private balconies—ask ahead when reserving. (One fifth-floor room we checked out has an entrance to the balcony in the bathroom. Now that's a perk!)
The friendly hotel is a 10-minute walk to boulevard Saint-Michel, three minutes to the Seine, and five minutes to Ile St-Louis. The central location in the Latin Quarter means street noise, so be prepared to shut your sound-proofed windows at night.
» Tom Meyers
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.
About the Au Royal-Cardinal 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