The Hotel Crystal

It was our first trip to Paris, and we were excited, but nervous, when the taxi dropped us in front of our hotel, recommended by a friend. We walked into the lobby of the Crystal Hotel, and it was everything we’d hoped for -a small, typically Parisian hotel, with an efficient, friendly desk clerk who greeted us with a warm “Bonjour.” A white cat lounged on the winding staircase. I’d worried about my French, which was very basic, but I needn’t have worried. In excellent English, the receptionist told us that our rooms weren’t quite ready but that we could leave our bags behind the desk. As soon as we’d stowed our luggage, we were off to have our first meal in Paris. Half a block from the hotel we found ourselves on the Boulevard Saint-Germain, an area full of upscale shops. The Café de Flore was on the corner of rue Saint-Benoît and Boulevard Saint-Germain, and Les Deux Magots was half a block to our left. I could barely contain my excitement when I saw the two well known literary cafés for the first time, but which one to choose for our first meal? We chose Les Deux Magots and headed for a table inside. After lunch, we went back to the hotel to check in. The tiny elevator wouldn’t hold both our luggage and us, so my husband went up first with the bags, and I followed. Our room was perfect, with matching flowered bedspread and curtains in shades of rose. A window, with French doors, opened onto a tiny inner courtyard, and the bathroom was a good size, with a deep tub and hand-held shower. After freshening up, we headed out to explore. The amiable desk clerk was more than happy to direct us to wherever we wanted to go. The first order of business was to head for the Visitor Information Center on the Champs-Elysées (which has since closed). We found that the Crystal Hotel was perfectly located for both bus and métro, and there was an ATM machine conveniently located by the métro stop on Boulevard Saint-Germain. A short bus ride on the #95 bus, from the Place Saint–Germain, brought us to the Pont du Carrousel. From this point, we took a leisurely walk through the Jardin des Tuileries to get to the Champs-Elysées. Later in the evening we had dinner at Le Petit Zinc, 11, rue Sain-Benoît. We had chosen it, because I loved the artwork decorating the doorway, and it was only steps from our hotel. The food was wonderful, and the waiters were efficient. A perfect choice for our first night in Paris! The area surrounding the Crystal Hotel is a wonderful destination in itself, with small, winding streets and cafés to stop by for a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or a croque madame. Although the hotel had a breakfast room, we chose to take our breakfast each morning at Café de Flore, where they had the most incredible croissants, and we loved watching the waiters at work. Every movement was done with a flourish, almost as if it were choreographed. Our favorite walk was to Saint-Sulpice, about a ten-minute stroll from the hotel, and on a bit further to Jardins du Luxembourg. Often, we stopped at nearby Gérard Mulot, at 76, rue de Seine, for a pain au chocolat to eat as we strolled in the gardens. Places further away were easily reached by bus or métro, though we generally preferred the view from the bus. The Boulevard Saint-Michel was a short ride on the #63 bus, which we caught on Boulevard Saint-Germain, only a block from the hotel. We took the #87 bus from Saint-Sulpice to get to the Tour Eiffel. The Crystal Hotel is centrally located, near bus and métro, and a perfect location for strolling along the winding streets of the Saint-Germain neighborhood. Hotel rooms include mini bar, television, a safe, a desk with chair, and an armchair. The closet is small, but adequate, and beds are quite comfortable. Hotel rates vary, depending on the season, but in comparison to other hotels in this area, rates are very reasonable. Since our first trip to Paris, we have returned to the Crystal Hotel. This comfortable hotel, with a warm, friendly staff, will continue to be our home away from home when we’re in Paris. Address:24, rue Saint Benoît75006 Paris Contact:Tel: 01-45-48-85-14Fax: 01-45-49-16-45 http://www.hotels-paris-reservation.comemail: [email protected] Hotel rates: (rates vary depending on the season)Single: 110 to 139 €Double: 110 to 160 €Deluxe: 150 to 220 € Continental breakfast 9.50 € per person Credit cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express —Sandy Howell and her husband went to Paris for the first time in 2001, thinking that would be it–a once-in-a-lifetime trip–but they’ve returned twice since then. Paris was everything she hoped it would be and more. Sandy does the travel planning, but her husband loves Paris almost as much as she does.