Leave 4 Italy & Paris in 1 week
Aug 30th, 2006, 11:41 AM
#1
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Leave 4 Italy & Paris in 1 week
First, I wanted to thank everyone for the most excellent feedback and support. I can't believe it's almost time to go. MaureenB, I took your advice and got our train tickets through Budget Europe Travel, after wresting with the Trenitalia site, this was a blessing.
We are leaving next Wednesday and arrive in Rome for 4 day. We had to book two different hotels Residenza Canali and Hotel Teatropace33 both outside our budget but, oh well) because we couldn't find vacancy in one spot.
One question, after flying all day we want to get to the hotel with the least amount of hassle but also the least amount of money. Have you had experience with any of these companies. One is 35E, the other 45E, the hotel will pick us up for 50E!!! Any suggestions or other ideas?
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/Inglese_p.htm
http://www.limoservicerome.com/Servi...es.htm#Inglese
We will be leaving Rome via train and heading to Santa Margherita and then Cinque Terre for 5 days. Then it's a train into Paris. In Paris we will be staying at Hotel Relais Due Louvre for two nights and then Hotel Cambronne for a 4 nights. If we arrive at Gare de Lyon, does anyone know the best way to get to Relais Due Louvre?
Thank you again for all your help. I will report back in the next 30 days.
Ciao Ciao!!!!
We are leaving next Wednesday and arrive in Rome for 4 day. We had to book two different hotels Residenza Canali and Hotel Teatropace33 both outside our budget but, oh well) because we couldn't find vacancy in one spot.
One question, after flying all day we want to get to the hotel with the least amount of hassle but also the least amount of money. Have you had experience with any of these companies. One is 35E, the other 45E, the hotel will pick us up for 50E!!! Any suggestions or other ideas?
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/Inglese_p.htm
http://www.limoservicerome.com/Servi...es.htm#Inglese
We will be leaving Rome via train and heading to Santa Margherita and then Cinque Terre for 5 days. Then it's a train into Paris. In Paris we will be staying at Hotel Relais Due Louvre for two nights and then Hotel Cambronne for a 4 nights. If we arrive at Gare de Lyon, does anyone know the best way to get to Relais Due Louvre?
Thank you again for all your help. I will report back in the next 30 days.
Ciao Ciao!!!!
Aug 30th, 2006, 12:15 PM
#3
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I LOVED my stay at the Hotel Relais du Louvre. I think a cab will only cost 10 or 12 E's for your party...
I'm not too savvy about the metro but a few steps up the road is a metro, I believe its the Louvre/Rivoli metro...
Robespierre, ou et vous?
I'm not too savvy about the metro but a few steps up the road is a metro, I believe its the Louvre/Rivoli metro...
Robespierre, ou et vous?
Aug 30th, 2006, 12:48 PM
#4
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Thanks Missypie. I've sent them my itinerary and ask for price confirmation, etc. Also, Suzie, that's great to hear about loving the Hotel Relais du Louvre. If you have any other advice, restaurants, sights, etc. to pass along let me know. We are on a bit of a budget and have spent more on hotels than planned so looking for great french food but not high-end type places. I've heard of two places (actually a lot more than that) one in Paris (le souffle) and one in Rome (Alfredo's). I don't know if these are touristy places or not. I want to avoid the "touristy" places. Thanks again.
Aug 30th, 2006, 01:55 PM
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We also have stayed at the Relais du Louvre and loved the location. Right along the river, next to a beautiful church, and best of all, just cross the street for the Louvre. The central location and especially being so near the river made it so handy for sightseeing. When visiting the louvre, to avoid long lines, use the Carousel entrance from Rue Rivoli rather than the entrance through the pryamid. This entrance will also take you in near the "food court" of the Louvre shopping area. That can be handy for inexpensive and convenient quick meals close to your hotel after a long tiring day of sightseeing.
We took the metro from Gare Nord to the Louvre/Rivoli stop, the hotel is just at the other end of the block, towards the river. I was familiar with the hotel from a previous visit, if this is your first trip to Paris, a cab can be a nice treat for getting your bearings before hitting the metro. Have a great trip!
We took the metro from Gare Nord to the Louvre/Rivoli stop, the hotel is just at the other end of the block, towards the river. I was familiar with the hotel from a previous visit, if this is your first trip to Paris, a cab can be a nice treat for getting your bearings before hitting the metro. Have a great trip!
Aug 30th, 2006, 05:40 PM
#6
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Bon Voyage! I'm glad BET worked for you. Now you can relax about that detail anyway.
If you click on my name, you can find my trip reports for Santa Margherita and Rome. Each includes recommendations for mid-priced restaurants we liked in each city, and day-trips from Santa Margherita.
Here are my notes from Paris, 2005:
"Four nights’ stay in Paris, first visit for all of us.
Stayed at Hotel la Bourdonnais, in the 7th and liked it very much. Nice-sized quad room for our family, with A/C and a lift. GREAT view of the Eiffel Tower from our little balcony. Friendly front desk, too. Offered a simple breakfast buffet, but we chose to visit Rue Cler in the mornings, for coffee, croissants, crepes and fresh fruit. A nice market next door to the hotel was handy, too. Metro stop on the corner, Batobus stop close by, too, at the Eiffel Tower. Even an ATM machine at the corner bank. Loved the location and the upscale neighborhood. An easy walk through the Champs de Mars to the Eiffel Tower.
Funny experience—on the Rue Cler, I met a woman who must be related to Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi”! (Remember that classic episode?) When I went into a patisserie/coffee shop there, to place my order, using my decent but very basic college-level French, and my best manners, I was immediately, loudly and firmly told by the counter attendant to “Go, sit!” I never did understand why I was ordered to sit, when many French women went up to the counter and had no problem ordering their items take-out. I wanted to sit outside anyway, but still didn’t understand the system.
When I wanted another cup of coffee, I threw caution to the wind, and went back inside to ask for another “s’il vous plait.” I was again ordered to “Go, sit.” Very odd. Enough so that I sure didn’t return the next mornings!
One morning at brunch, at La Terrasse, around the corner from Hotel la Bourdonnais, we had a very nice young French man who waited on us and spoke excellent English. When we complimented his English, he said he’d studied in Washington D.C., and that he wanted to move permanently to the U.S. because he said, “People here are rude!”
(Please, don't anyone infer I am saying Parisians are rude in general-- just reporting two funny incidents. All told, we found Paris as welcoming and friendly as you'd expect any large city to be that hosts hordes of tourists-- like New York City-- who wouldn't get edgy now and then? But the Croissant Nazi, now she has no excuse!)
Bought the Batobus two-day pass and enjoyed hopping on and off the boat to get to the sights, plus seeing the beautiful city lit up, from the river at night.
Toured Notre Dame, Sainte Chappelle, walked to the second level of the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre and the d’Orsay. Walked the Champs Elysee and window-shopped the designer houses. Our daughter did some shopping at Zara there, and our son got some French perfume for his girlfriend on the Champs Elysee, too.
We walked everywhere, but didn’t have time to get to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur, or to the Sorbonne and Latin Quarter. Too much to see in Paris for only three days there.
Had our favorite meal on Ille St. Louis, at Le Caveau de l’Isle, at 36 rue Saint-Louuis en l’Isle. Great menu, with a three-course fixed prix around 30 EU. Excellent and friendly service. Small and atmospheric place.
First dinner at Le Champ de Mars on Avenue de la Bourdonnais simply because it was close and we were starving. Good enough food poor service as only two waiters were serving the entire place. Nothing memorable, except the price of an iced tea or cola there is outrageous! The kids ordered one apiece at this first meal, and they were 6 EU for the small size and 8 EU for a medium!! Tried not to make that mistake again. Wine at the same place was only 4 EU a glass."
If you click on my name, you can find my trip reports for Santa Margherita and Rome. Each includes recommendations for mid-priced restaurants we liked in each city, and day-trips from Santa Margherita.
Here are my notes from Paris, 2005:
"Four nights’ stay in Paris, first visit for all of us.
Stayed at Hotel la Bourdonnais, in the 7th and liked it very much. Nice-sized quad room for our family, with A/C and a lift. GREAT view of the Eiffel Tower from our little balcony. Friendly front desk, too. Offered a simple breakfast buffet, but we chose to visit Rue Cler in the mornings, for coffee, croissants, crepes and fresh fruit. A nice market next door to the hotel was handy, too. Metro stop on the corner, Batobus stop close by, too, at the Eiffel Tower. Even an ATM machine at the corner bank. Loved the location and the upscale neighborhood. An easy walk through the Champs de Mars to the Eiffel Tower.
Funny experience—on the Rue Cler, I met a woman who must be related to Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi”! (Remember that classic episode?) When I went into a patisserie/coffee shop there, to place my order, using my decent but very basic college-level French, and my best manners, I was immediately, loudly and firmly told by the counter attendant to “Go, sit!” I never did understand why I was ordered to sit, when many French women went up to the counter and had no problem ordering their items take-out. I wanted to sit outside anyway, but still didn’t understand the system.
When I wanted another cup of coffee, I threw caution to the wind, and went back inside to ask for another “s’il vous plait.” I was again ordered to “Go, sit.” Very odd. Enough so that I sure didn’t return the next mornings!
One morning at brunch, at La Terrasse, around the corner from Hotel la Bourdonnais, we had a very nice young French man who waited on us and spoke excellent English. When we complimented his English, he said he’d studied in Washington D.C., and that he wanted to move permanently to the U.S. because he said, “People here are rude!”
(Please, don't anyone infer I am saying Parisians are rude in general-- just reporting two funny incidents. All told, we found Paris as welcoming and friendly as you'd expect any large city to be that hosts hordes of tourists-- like New York City-- who wouldn't get edgy now and then? But the Croissant Nazi, now she has no excuse!)
Bought the Batobus two-day pass and enjoyed hopping on and off the boat to get to the sights, plus seeing the beautiful city lit up, from the river at night.
Toured Notre Dame, Sainte Chappelle, walked to the second level of the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre and the d’Orsay. Walked the Champs Elysee and window-shopped the designer houses. Our daughter did some shopping at Zara there, and our son got some French perfume for his girlfriend on the Champs Elysee, too.
We walked everywhere, but didn’t have time to get to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur, or to the Sorbonne and Latin Quarter. Too much to see in Paris for only three days there.
Had our favorite meal on Ille St. Louis, at Le Caveau de l’Isle, at 36 rue Saint-Louuis en l’Isle. Great menu, with a three-course fixed prix around 30 EU. Excellent and friendly service. Small and atmospheric place.
First dinner at Le Champ de Mars on Avenue de la Bourdonnais simply because it was close and we were starving. Good enough food poor service as only two waiters were serving the entire place. Nothing memorable, except the price of an iced tea or cola there is outrageous! The kids ordered one apiece at this first meal, and they were 6 EU for the small size and 8 EU for a medium!! Tried not to make that mistake again. Wine at the same place was only 4 EU a glass."
Aug 30th, 2006, 06:43 PM
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Hi nunz (also my mother's nickname)
Here is a link to an article I wrote about Santa Margherita. It may help you and there is are a couple of good restaurant recommendations that aren't expensive. My apologies if you've come across this already:
http://www.postgazette.com/travel/20...fino0810p1.asp
Sep 2nd, 2006, 04:34 PM
#8
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I don't know if any of you will see this or not. My system crashed and I just got it back up. Thanks again to everyone for your humorous stories and experiences. I'm really excited abou the Great story about the staying at the Relais du Louvre. I'm all confirmed with Rome Shuttle Limousine. They say they will meet us at the arrival area....Does anyone know where that is? Where did you meet them, when you de-planed? Well, I hope to add to the stories and travel tips when we return. We are trying to finalize our dinner reservations in Paris. We love good food but aren't the most adventuresome so perhaps we will expand our culinary tastes. We have to narrow this down but here's what we have so far. Looking for good french "bistro" type fare that's not too pricey. We are staying clear of the Croissant Nazi!
*Le Petit Troquet
*La Bastide Odéon
*Le Bistrot d'Opio
*La Table de Joel Robuchon
* Au Bon Accueil
* Le Caveau de l’Isle
* Au Pied du Cochon
*Iolanda's (Italian)
*Le Petit Troquet
*La Bastide Odéon
*Le Bistrot d'Opio
*La Table de Joel Robuchon
* Au Bon Accueil
* Le Caveau de l’Isle
* Au Pied du Cochon
*Iolanda's (Italian)
Sep 2nd, 2006, 06:20 PM
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Just wanted to add that we also liked our brief stay at Teatro Pace 33. However, there was no one there to let us in when we arrived, which was a little bit of a pain. We had to wait for about 10 minutes while the reception guy was on an errand. Also, we loved having the coffee maker in the room. We had a room with a tiny but very nice balcony.
