FEATURED Paris hotels

There is a mere handful of cities whose cultural contributions to the world have become so vast as to be immeasurable, and Paris is one of those cities. Not simply the capital of France, the city is a global capital; of finance and business, of architecture and leisure, of arts, fashion, literature, and cuisine. All of this makes it a popular place to visit and as one of the world's top city break destinations the city is well equipped to meet the demand, through superb transport systems, efficient booking and ticketing systems for the main attractions and ample visitor accommodation, among which is a great choice of Paris hotel options.

There are many famous sights of the city which have helped define the city to the world, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysee, with its magnificent Arc de Triomphe, and the Notre Dame Cathedral, but the best way to get a real feel for the city and its incredible architectural and cultural ambiance is simply by walking around. It is renowned as a romantic city and by sampling some of its delights on foot on the streets and by the river it is easy to see why it has captured the imaginations of the greatest writers, poets and artists.

The perfect setting then for a romantic break, a Paris hotel will complement the city ambiance with all the necessary style and comforts to suit. While the area around Notre Dame is very old indeed, much of the city as it is today dates from the latter part of the 19th century and gives the city its characteristic and romantic neoclassical architecture as displayed in a great many of its hotels. The interiors of such classic hotels will be similarly well presented in a period style providing guests with an elegant backdrop to any time spent in the city.

The River Seine dominates the city and neighborhoods are termed left- or right-bank to denote their location relative to it. Notre Dame is situated in an island in the middle of the river and popular districts to visit include Right Bank areas such as Place de la Bastille, Champs-Elysee, which contains the main shopping district, Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine ended France sovereignty and started a republic, Montmartre, the famous haven for artists, and Le Marais, a trendy district with liberal cultural expression and containing some of the oldest buildings in the city. The right bank is also home to the city's premier attraction and the most visited museum and art gallery in the world, the Louvre.

The Left Bank of the river contains further delights such as Montparnasse, another district popular with artists throughout history and for its classic French cafe life and music halls. The Latin Quarter of the city is also on the left bank and is the student area, known for its lively nightlife and, unusual for the city, some affordable yet very high quality dining options. The cuisine of the city is certainly something readily identified as a major cultural factor and while some of the best restaurants in the world, and most expensive, can be found in the city it is certainly possible to dine out in some style without breaking the bank, and often within Paris restaurants.

A popular visitor destination for sure, the city is also a capital city and a major global force in business and finance. The Central Business District is La Defence, which has its very own Grand Arch, providing an ultra-modernist mirror to the Arc de Triomphe. Visitors looking for a Paris hotel for business will find the best options here and they will be well equipped for the purpose, with meeting rooms of varying sizes and business centers with communications and business technologies and often secretarial and translation services. Any Paris hotel will likely have WiFi and satellite television but the rooms of the business hotels will have additional features such as work desks and international direct dial telephones.

There is a type of establishment which is perfectly suited to the city and that is the boutique hotel. All the requirements of such establishments are easily met in a city so rich in architecture, culture and style and they, perhaps more than any other hotel option, reflect authentic Parisian style and ambiance. They need not necessarily occupy the classic old buildings of the city but are broadly defined by a more intimate approach to service and hospitality. In this respect, dining will certainly be a central feature and they will often incorporate stylish bars or cafe spaces in which to relax and watch the world go by. Personal touches within the guest rooms are a common theme too, from fresh flowers to iPod docking stations.

From the very grand to the small and intimate, Paris has hotels to suit anyone and will even accommodate those on a budget through special weekend break deals and other offers. There are budget hotels in the city and the surrounds and as well as offering a convenient base for the attractions one of the world's greatest cities they also form an ideal base for the wider attractions, such as Disneyland which is just 20 miles from the city center. Choosing the right hotel will depend on your requirements and budget but it is a decision which is easy; the difficult part is fitting everything in during your stay.