Paris Bed & Breakfast

To get an ‘insider’s view’ of Paris, consider staying at a Parisian B&B also known as ‘Chambres d’Hote’.

While staying at hotel which may be elegant in so many ways, lodging in a Parisian home can be not only elegant but enlightening. In order to make the most of your stay, here are some tips.

Tips for about staying in a B&B

In France, one’s home is truly one’s castle. As a guest, even a paying guest, you’ll want to be sure to respect personal space. Do not go in areas of the apartment where you’ve not been given permission to go - especially the kitchen refrigerator!

Respect for neighbors. Do not shout in the hallways, especially after 9 :30 pm.

Water use. Do not waste water when taking baths or showers - and don’t splash water all over the place.

Leave everything as you find it.

Wipe your feet on the front doormat before entering a household.

These may seem like little details, but it will make your host or hostess in Paris look forward to your next visit.

What you should expect from a B&B host

Continental breakfast consisting of fresh bread with butter/jam, a choice of coffee with milk or tea.
Do not expect eggs, bacon, cereal etc. If you’re looking for a full-fledged breakfast, stick to the larger hotels which provide buffet style breakfasts.

Depending on the B&B, some hosts may offer you a home-cooked dinner. If so, you should definitely consider accepting this option. Although the dinner may be more expensive than the room, it’s usually worth it. Although I haven’t stayed at a B&B in Paris, I have stayed at a number of B&Bs throughout France. The experience can range from sublime (St. Emilion at a chateau -Les Bottes Courtes)- to ‘correct’ which means in French - the way things should be. B&Bs are inextricable from the personality of the apartment owner - so are there no ‘guarantees’ for quality - you’ll want to contact the individual by e-mail or telephone to establish a good ‘rapport’ in advance. Usually a deposit is expected along with a faxed request for lodging listing your arrival dates. Be especially considerate about notifying the owner about your estimated arrival and departure times so they can plan their day accordingly - and if you do accept a dinner plan, don’t cancel the dinner at the last minute!

Parislogue is very eager to receive any feedback from readers who decide to go the B&B route in Paris. Let us know about your experience.

More Parislogue topics on Bed&Breakfasts:
B&B’s in Paris

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