At Hotel Relais du Louvre , it all comes down to location, location, location

Travelers who love to be in the middle of the action needn’t look further than Hotel Relais du Louvre. Located literally next door to its namesake museum and across the street from the Eglise Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois church, this cozy 21-room hotspot is a perfectly situated paradise for those looking to flit between the sights. Catering to traditional tourists as well as filmmakers shooting outside of the Louvre, Manager Sophie Aulnette says that staying in the City of Light’s most conveniently located stay is always exciting.

“A few years ago we had French actors from a television show called Morning Life, quite famous, totally crazy, filming a movie somewhere nearby. They had a lot of scenes that were filmed in the river and so they booked a couple of rooms to change in,” Aulnette recalls. “One morning we had a couple of from Houston sitting on the couch in the lobby waiting for a taxi and suddenly the door opens and a man in a wetsuit with big [flipper] feet and everything comes walking through to Room #2 [on the ground floor]. Two minutes later, he came back out, same guy, wearing a huge yellow paper mache bird head. I laughed and told them ‘Don’t worry, it’s just a film.”

The reason actors and travelers alike pick the Relais as the ideal between-scenes resting spot is simple – the hotel is clean, comfortable, and classically French, making it the ideal place to catch a quick snooze while on-the-go. Boasting rooms ranging from no-frills singles (115 euros/night) to a penthouse apartment suite designed to accommodate up to five people (430 euros/night), the Relais is easily one of the most cost-friendly stays in Paris considering it’s prime location amongst the most prized museums and cafes of the Right Bank.

Visitors can expect basic three-star amenities including free Wifi access throughout the hotel, air conditioning and cable television in every room, tasteful French décor, four languages (including English of course) spoken fluently by staff, and a tasty optional breakfast, but they can also expect to only score one of these precious rooms by booking early. Due to the hotel’s enviable location, rooms fill up fast, frequently as far as a year in advance during the March through October high season, with an eclectic mix of entertainment industry professionals, destination-driven tourists, and budget-conscious families. Aulnette says guests can oftentimes spy designers and journalists during the city’s spring and winter fashion weeks, but they can also catch a glimpse of the occasional big-name celebrity in the off-season if they keep their eye on pop culture.

“A few years ago, we had someone from a [television crew] come and ask if they could book a room for an actor to get some rest in and of course we immediately made a reservation,” Aulnette recounts. “The day before the actor was supposed to come, the producers asked if I knew who it was and I said they hadn’t told me yet. They whispered to me ‘It’s Sarah Jessica Parker,’ and told me that they were filming the last episode of Sex in the City around the corner. I don’t watch too much television, so I didn’t recognize her name and they looked at me like I was insane. Oh I was so ashamed.”

Though Aulnette immediately recognized the one and only Carrie Bradshaw after seeing her in person, she says that it’s the delightful surprise of never knowing who is going to pop in that makes the Relais an adventure. “We keep the style of the hotel simple and the atmosphere cozy,” Aulnette says, “but you never know who’s going to be in the room next door.”

Hotel Relais du Louvre

19 rue des Pretres

Tel: 01.40.41.96.42

Fax: 01.40.41.96.44

[email protected]