When picking your Parisian accommodations, it helps to understand the city's layout. Paris is organized into 20 arrondissements—or neighborhoods—each characterized by different sights and distinctive flavors.

Charming and artsy, the 3^eme and 4^eme arrondissements—home to the chic Marais district, and the new Opera Bastille near Le Pavillon hotel—have gained a Soho-like feel in recent years.

The 8^eme, while a bit further from the city center, boasts the Champs-Elysees, designer shops, and luxury hotels, including the Hotel Balzac and Le Marignan.

The upper-class 16^eme provides a quiet respite near the busy city center; look for its peaceful parks, exclusive shops, and elegant Le Parc and The Baltimore hotels.

Criss-crossed with bus and metro lines to whisk you to other parts of the city, these neighborhoods offer a palette of enticing home bases.

For more details, browse through your Hideaways library for the article, "Paris Par Arrondissement," which appeared in the Spring/Summer 1993 Guide, or call 888-843-4433 for a copy.

Winter 1998