Paris hotel- Timhotel des Plantes or Hotel St. Pierre?
Feb 20th, 2008, 01:09 PM
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Paris hotel- Timhotel des Plantes or Hotel St. Pierre?
Hello all,
I appreciate all the great threads here about cheap Paris hotels. Judging from the results of julies' survey, I doubt many are as budget-oriented as I room-wise but thought I'd try anyway.
It's my and spouse's first trip to Paris (3 nights at beginning of July, after conclusion of Cosmos tour- yes, I know, yuck). Priorities: Louvre, Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, the usual suspects. We love to walk and need AC (yes, we are wimps). We have little to spend on food- need area with cheap eats, not necessarily French.
Thus, I booked Timhotel Jardin des Plantes on outskirts of Latin Quarter with breakfast for $424 for 3 nights, only to later find Hotel St. Pierre- better location for $346 with no breakfast.
Spouse eats like every meal is the last, so I thought the bountiful and highly rated included breakfast at Timhotel a better idea than exorbitant a la carte at cafes necessary with St. Pierre. But St. Pierre is a closer walk (or shorter Metro) to attractions than Timhotel!
Tripadvisor reviews about equal. What do you think?
I appreciate all the great threads here about cheap Paris hotels. Judging from the results of julies' survey, I doubt many are as budget-oriented as I room-wise but thought I'd try anyway.
It's my and spouse's first trip to Paris (3 nights at beginning of July, after conclusion of Cosmos tour- yes, I know, yuck). Priorities: Louvre, Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, the usual suspects. We love to walk and need AC (yes, we are wimps). We have little to spend on food- need area with cheap eats, not necessarily French.
Thus, I booked Timhotel Jardin des Plantes on outskirts of Latin Quarter with breakfast for $424 for 3 nights, only to later find Hotel St. Pierre- better location for $346 with no breakfast.
Spouse eats like every meal is the last, so I thought the bountiful and highly rated included breakfast at Timhotel a better idea than exorbitant a la carte at cafes necessary with St. Pierre. But St. Pierre is a closer walk (or shorter Metro) to attractions than Timhotel!
Tripadvisor reviews about equal. What do you think?
Feb 20th, 2008, 02:02 PM
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You don't say where the St Pierre is, but if it is in St Germain where I think it is, I'd definitely choose it. First, I don't care about breakfast, so that is meaningless to me, I'll admit. But I would not want to be where the Timhotel is located that much, and I've read that hotel really went downhill when Timhotel bought it.
It sounds like your main reason for choosing the Timhotel is that your spouse wants to eat a lot for breakfast. You can eat reasonably at Paul's or even takeout fast-food places (Brioche Doree etc) if you just want to eat a lot -- you don't have to eat at exorbitant cafes for breakfast. I don't understand your figures though, as the difference in cost is about $78 to stay at the Timhotel, or over $20 a night difference -- so you can eat a "free" breakfast? That's a lot of chow. So you are thinking you'd spend $30 or more each day for breakfast? It is possible, I know -- 10 euro a piece. But that then makes them equal in cost.
It sounds like your main reason for choosing the Timhotel is that your spouse wants to eat a lot for breakfast. You can eat reasonably at Paul's or even takeout fast-food places (Brioche Doree etc) if you just want to eat a lot -- you don't have to eat at exorbitant cafes for breakfast. I don't understand your figures though, as the difference in cost is about $78 to stay at the Timhotel, or over $20 a night difference -- so you can eat a "free" breakfast? That's a lot of chow. So you are thinking you'd spend $30 or more each day for breakfast? It is possible, I know -- 10 euro a piece. But that then makes them equal in cost.
Feb 21st, 2008, 04:37 AM
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Christina, you're a gem. I love to read your no-nonsense advice and this time I get to take it!
Your logic is perfect. I cancelled the Timhotel and booked Hotel St. Pierre (which is indeed where you thought- between Odeon and Sorbonne metro stations).
Thank you so much for your help.
"That's a lot of chow." Still LOL.
Your logic is perfect. I cancelled the Timhotel and booked Hotel St. Pierre (which is indeed where you thought- between Odeon and Sorbonne metro stations).
Thank you so much for your help.
"That's a lot of chow." Still LOL.
Feb 21st, 2008, 06:53 AM
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yosenut,
i'm really interested in this Hotel St. Pierre - sounds great for a budget hotel.
but i'm having difficulty to make the reservation..can i have the website that you've made your booking?
thanks
i'm really interested in this Hotel St. Pierre - sounds great for a budget hotel.
but i'm having difficulty to make the reservation..can i have the website that you've made your booking?
thanks
Feb 21st, 2008, 07:15 AM
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I was going to say some nice things about the TH JdP, but I see you've moved!
Yes, it is a bit east of the main Latin Quarter, but still only one long block from Seine, some real nice restaurants nearby, Arene de Lutece around corner,etc... I walked to Blvd St Germain from there in 10-15 mins.
Enjoy your trip!
Yes, it is a bit east of the main Latin Quarter, but still only one long block from Seine, some real nice restaurants nearby, Arene de Lutece around corner,etc... I walked to Blvd St Germain from there in 10-15 mins.
Enjoy your trip!
Feb 21st, 2008, 08:20 AM
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A friend of mine had a dreadful experience with Hotel St. Pierre. She booked it for the rate and a/c and charming photos on the web. When she and her daughter arrived, they were given a room on the 4th (5th in Paris) floor. When they got to the elevator, there was an "out of order" sign on it. The desk clerk hadn't said anything! He couldn't tell her when it would be working, and added "Don't expect me to help you with those bags!" They left. She had a heck of a time finding alternate accomodations because place after place was booked for the Saturday night during her stay and ended up paying much more than she planned.
In the same neighborhood, have a look at Hotel Saint Jacques.
In the same neighborhood, have a look at Hotel Saint Jacques.
Feb 21st, 2008, 10:16 AM
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Olie, I booked it using http://www.0800paris-hotels.com/, a site I checked out beforehand for legitimacy. With continental breakfast (a package found today and not available on other sites, including hotel's own), it came to 274 euros for 3 nights in a double/twin. If I cancel, I will be charged 15 euros.
Michel_Paris, thank you for your input. I had read of your experience on another thread and appreciate your comments here. Timhotel JdP does seem very nice- it was a hard choice to make. I guess I prefer a location even closer to the big sites, and cheap places to eat in the Latin Quarter.
djkbooks, that does sound very inconvenient. I had read of that very incident in other (angry) reviews around July 4 and 6 of 2006. (I do hope it is the same one.) As I am obsessive, I read all reviews I could find, even translating the French, German, and Spanish ones so that I was able to discern that-
1) this hotel has already had a major renovation in the past 2 years
2) the building next door had a major renovation in the same period
3) elevator breakdown occurred (confirmed by you)
Each of these events sparked angry reviews as patrons complained of not being told in advance. Since the renovations are over and I do not believe in bringing more than 1 small bag per person, we are keeping our fingers crossed. Thankfully, spouse and I are young and reasonably spry, if that should happen to us.
But I really appreciate the time you took to tell me. The Hotel St. Jacques looks charming and nicely located. If only the spouse didn't beg for AC. (I still "owe" for all the rustic Yosemite cabins with no toilet facilities I subjected spouse to. This is my of making up for it.)
Michel_Paris, thank you for your input. I had read of your experience on another thread and appreciate your comments here. Timhotel JdP does seem very nice- it was a hard choice to make. I guess I prefer a location even closer to the big sites, and cheap places to eat in the Latin Quarter.
djkbooks, that does sound very inconvenient. I had read of that very incident in other (angry) reviews around July 4 and 6 of 2006. (I do hope it is the same one.) As I am obsessive, I read all reviews I could find, even translating the French, German, and Spanish ones so that I was able to discern that-
1) this hotel has already had a major renovation in the past 2 years
2) the building next door had a major renovation in the same period
3) elevator breakdown occurred (confirmed by you)
Each of these events sparked angry reviews as patrons complained of not being told in advance. Since the renovations are over and I do not believe in bringing more than 1 small bag per person, we are keeping our fingers crossed. Thankfully, spouse and I are young and reasonably spry, if that should happen to us.
But I really appreciate the time you took to tell me. The Hotel St. Jacques looks charming and nicely located. If only the spouse didn't beg for AC. (I still "owe" for all the rustic Yosemite cabins with no toilet facilities I subjected spouse to. This is my of making up for it.)
