UNCalum

I would appreciate any ideas for a hotel in Paris suitable for a professor traveling with 15-18 students. Room cost should be no more than $75 per student--thus about $150 per twin room. Available triples would be nice in case of an uneven number of kids. We would like to be as central as our budget will allow for the six nights we will be in the city.

Proximity to a metro is important as kids do stay on the move. Since we will use the RER to and from CDG, nearby public transport would help in that regard as well.

The group will be receiving some academic credit for this trip and can be counted on for appropriate manners and good behavior.

I have done some searches and have found several hotel possibilities. However, since traveling with these kids is a huge responsibility, I would appreciate some specific suggestions as to which hotels might be best from the standpoint of safety and also for a group of this size.

Thank you for any suggestions you can offer.

Shanti

When my daughter went to Paris with a junior college group, they stayed at the FIAP Jean Mannet.

Here's their website:
http://www.fiap.asso.fr/index-en.html

It's set up for visiting students - college and younger. A group of your size would be run of the mill there.

It's nothing fancy and it's in the 14th arrondissement so it's not in the very center of Paris, but it's close enough via the Metro. Prices vary from 35 to 60 € per person, depending on how many kids to a room. That's for half-board. The breakfast was ok. I ate there once or twice - cereal and yogurt is all I remember. My daughter said that dinner wasn't anything special.

StCirq

With a group that size I think you should be looking for some sort of auberge de jeunesse. If you do want a regular hotel, you might look into the Hotel de France on the Boul.de la Tour Maubourg in the 7eme. Their prices are about what you're looking for, and they have some triples and even a quad or two.

Gretchen

Since you seem to be a UNC arranger, I suggest you may need to have the help of a professional travel agent. It is very concerning to me you would try to do this on a travel site such as this on your own. And since you seem to have no personal knowledge of hotels and areas I would love to know under what auspices you are doing this. I find this very interesting. If you are a prof looking for a free ride (nothing wrong with that) you can still do it with much better arrangements, and the assurance that it will be there and someone to appeal to if not. YOU OWE the parents of these students this.

StCirq

Agree with Gretchen, and would add that I do hope you're not the only adult chaperone for a group of that many.

I used to take student groups to Paris all the time and can tell you no matter how mannerly they are or how organized YOU are, you can't handle more than about 6 kids at once on the streets, in the metro, in a cafe or restaurant, etc.

And I assume you speak French.

cw

There have been two recent trip reports of student groups visiting Paris and elsewhere (high school students).

Do a search for teachercanada and Mamaw to find their reports and details of their hotels.

ira

Hi Un,

I suggest http://www.hotelbonaparte.fr/

It is just areond the corner from St. Sulpice.

Very close to metro and buses.

Well within your budget.

Christina

I have been to Paris several times in a study program that was for adults but did arrange for rooms in some hotels and residences, if people wanted that. So there are hotels used to dealing with some student groups, academic conferences, etc. Also, some residence halls have rooms for groups like that at certain times of the year (notably summer) but not others as the regular students are in them.

So you need to give a little more information on this -- exactly when are you going to be there? A lot of hotels won't book student groups like that, they are too noisy and can create problems a lot of the time.

A lot of student groups stay at the MIJE hostels in the Marais area so they are used to them. I think you should check them out. www.mije.com

Christina

oh, I thought of a brilliant idea, a hostel like/cheap hotel right in the Latin Qtr which is fairly large and probably would book your group. I bet it would work for you -- the Hotel Marignan.

http://www.hotel-marignan.com/

kerouac

Lots of student groups in the chain hotels, usually Ibis or Campanile (47 Ibis and 7 Campanile inside Paris).

www.accorhotels.com
www.louvrehotels.com

PalenQ

A lot of student groups stay at the MIJE hostels in the Marais area so they are used to them. I think you should check them out. www.mije.com

Christina mentioned the MIJE hostels - actually called youth hotels, but - in the Marais area

I have put student groups up in the four youth hotels such as the Maubison and Fourcy, etc. that are clustered together - up to 4-person rooms - not sure if doubles, etc. but worth the enquiry

these are ancient townhouses bought by the city of Paris (they told us) and leased out to the MIJE to help youth travelers stay in central Paris cheaply.

Not a hotel however.

UNCalum

To respond to your concerns, I briefly lived in Paris, return at least once a year, and have taken students there many times. My French is fair and though I did attend UNC, I teach at another university. I have the help of our International Center as needed for planning. We do have some existing options for hotels; however, given the number of students involved, I was hoping to expand our options with suggestions of others that might be willing to accomodate so many young people. Since these students are 20 and 21 years old and most live in their own apartments, I hardly think multiple chaperones are needed.

I don't think I am obligated to pay for travel that is part of my job, so no rude remarks are necessary.

The travel potion of the class will take place during Spring Break in mid-March.

To those who have offered helpful suggestions, I offer many thanks.

bozama

Oh my those student are adults, and I agree with you, one person can easily lead such a small group of adults if they are capable, organized and have the langauge.
Seems to me you need 7-10 rooms ( various triple and doubles) ,, so I think if you plan now you can do this.
I also suggest when making inquiries to hotels you mention these are ADULT students as some hotels do not like groups of children students,, they are noisier and tend to do annoying things like play in elevators, I do not think your students will do this.

YOu could inquire at the Hotel Des Mines. It is right beside the RER/metro Luxembourg station, so you can come right in from the airport, and use it for all your transport needs.
It is cheap, and clean, but I will tell you, the rooms are small. They do have a few triples, but my hubby( 6"4) , son(5'11') and hubbys friend( (fat, lol) stayed in one and found it tight, so I suggest putting females in them as opposed to three males. I have stayed in a double and found it fine, clean , nice bathrooms, but small. Easy walk to many sites, and metro right there, and best of all, a small grocers next store to buy snacks!

kerouac

With the budget you have, I do believe that a hotel is more in order than a hostel.

I would particularly recommend Ibis because they have a buffet breakfast worthy of the name (8€ in the rest of France, but I have never stayed in one in Paris, so I can't guarantee the price!), and getting sufficient food for breakfast is of prime importance for that age group. Small individual hotels would charge about the same for insignificant offerings.

bardo1

UNC,

Try these - you may need both depending on how booked each is.

http://www.parishotelherseor.com/
Triples - €99

http://www.hotel-les-argonautes.com/...rameset-3.html
Triples - €80

DeborahAnn

UNC,

the Hotel Le Home Latin located on rue Sommerard in the 5th is a good location. There are triple rooms as well as twin beds, doubles and singles. It is a two star with about 40 rooms as I remember. We were there in 2001 so I hope the room rates are within your budget.

Deborah

bozama

Yes, I guess I will mention it, but I am sure your remember.. you definately do not want " doubles" but "twins".. Most people do not like to share beds!!

teacherCanada

UNCalum

What a fantastic opportunity for your lucky students. As mentioned in an earlier post, I escorted 36 students to France and Spain in March 2008.

While in Paris we stayed at Ibis Gare de l'Est. It is a 2 star, but met all our needs quite nicely. Breakfast choices were excellent. It is literally 1 block from Gare de l'Est and of course access to the Metro at that station. We found it to be quite convenient for our purposes.

If you would like to contact me for any further information you can email me at cooperfam1 at yahoo.ca and I wil be pleased to offer you any assistance I can.

tC

Gretchen

We stayed in the Gare de l'Est many years ago (it had just been renovated at that time) and it was quite good, especially for the price. The hotels facing the Gare du Nord are also 2* and very acceptable, and cater to large groups (as we were on that trip) because the buses tours use have plenty of room. The Ibis hotels would be good--squeaky clean and inexpensive. We stayed in one near Bastille and were very pleased (since we NEEDED a place to stay).They had a nice breakfast also that was reasonable, particularly for the amount offered. The Ibis price would be about right (in Euros). The staff is very helpful, at least where we have been.
If you are referring to my comment about a free trip, I think that is a very common occurrence for the tour director, and as I said, nothing wrong with that. I am glad you clarified the age group, etc. They are not minors.

apersuader65

UNCalum:

Sorry for any confusion from previous posters. Your statement that you were a professor clarified in my mind exactly that you were involving college age students, not minors. Also the academic credit issue tipped me off. IAE, the recommendations by the other professor above sounds to be the best recommendation. My son, a college student at the time, organized a day/night trip from Florence to Paris on an off-day in the middle of his 24 day university trip to Rome and Florence. He had eight takers and they did fine. I'm sure you will too.