Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley In January
Jul 26th, 2004, 09:06 AM
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Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley In January
I am planning a trip for three adult couples and would love any advice about places to stay, eat, see in the area. I am a little concerned about the D-Day stuff being closed down at this time of year...has anyone gone in winter? Also any help on budget hotels/hostels in any of these areas would be nice. By budget I mean under 60 Euros a nightfor a private room with bath. I realize this may be hard to find in Paris. Any help/tips/links would be appreciated.
Jul 26th, 2004, 10:17 AM
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There is a very nice hotel in Bayeux named, appropriately, Hotel Bayeux. I think it was 45E/night. The room and bath room were quite large and all is VERY clean--nice upstairs breakfast room and a secure car park next door. It is a 5 minute walk to the Tapestry and in the shadow of the cathedral. We also had the best meal of our trip that year at the Petite Bistro, across from the cathedral. You can undoubtedly check on the internet when the various sites will be open. The weather will be quite raw, I imagine.
For a Paris hotel in that price range you will need to look for a 1* I think. The air fares right now for that time period are ROCK bottom.
For a Paris hotel in that price range you will need to look for a 1* I think. The air fares right now for that time period are ROCK bottom.
Jul 26th, 2004, 12:39 PM
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We were very happy with Gites de France B&Bs in the range of 35 to 50 euros per night for two--breakfast tended to be light. I name some in my trip report, that can most easily be found by doing a search for <i>Vasterival</i>. You can reserve ahead of time and no deposits are required.
Aug 6th, 2004, 04:59 PM
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Here is a one-star in Paris that has some good comments. It is not very central but the Metro and bus connections are very good, and the neighborhood is quite nice, interesting and quiet. There is a Monoprix (grocer), a market street (rue Daguerre), a few small parks/squares, plenty of cafes and shops in the nearby area (ave du General Leclerc, place Denfert Rochereau).
Hotel de Blois * http://www.hoteldeblois.com/
5, rue des Plantes Paris 75014
Tel: (0)1 01.45.40.99.48 Fax: (0)1 01.45.40.45.62
Metro: Mouton Duvernet (Line 4; connects with Line 6 at one stop north)
Doubles & Twins w/ bathroom 49-65 Euro
www.paris.org comments
"I just love this little family-run hotel. The owner is delightful and helpful. It is simple and clean, no elevator and the owner is constantly upgrading the property. I have stayed there about 4 times and will be back in Oct. It is inexpensive and a great neighborhood location . . . .
I have stayed at this hotel 4 or 5 times. It is a wonderful small hotel. The price is great. It is very clean and the owner, Madame Fontage is very nice and goes out of her way to help and give suggestions. . . .
Hi everybody! I've stayed in the Hotel de Blois for 3 nights and I was very glad being there. It's a comfortable cosy place with very warm atmosphere and polite people. It surprised me greatly that the Hotel had only 1 Star. It deserves min. 3!! If i have chance, i'd like to stay there more. .."
Hotel de Blois * http://www.hoteldeblois.com/
5, rue des Plantes Paris 75014
Tel: (0)1 01.45.40.99.48 Fax: (0)1 01.45.40.45.62
Metro: Mouton Duvernet (Line 4; connects with Line 6 at one stop north)
Doubles & Twins w/ bathroom 49-65 Euro
www.paris.org comments
"I just love this little family-run hotel. The owner is delightful and helpful. It is simple and clean, no elevator and the owner is constantly upgrading the property. I have stayed there about 4 times and will be back in Oct. It is inexpensive and a great neighborhood location . . . .
I have stayed at this hotel 4 or 5 times. It is a wonderful small hotel. The price is great. It is very clean and the owner, Madame Fontage is very nice and goes out of her way to help and give suggestions. . . .
Hi everybody! I've stayed in the Hotel de Blois for 3 nights and I was very glad being there. It's a comfortable cosy place with very warm atmosphere and polite people. It surprised me greatly that the Hotel had only 1 Star. It deserves min. 3!! If i have chance, i'd like to stay there more. .."
Aug 8th, 2004, 01:08 PM
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Thanks for the tip on the hotel. I found some cheap hotels on venere.com, but my mother in law says she is "leery" of one star hotels in Paris. The hotel suggested by travelnut looks like it might be nice enough for her but cheap enough for me. Anyone have any info on venere.com?
Aug 9th, 2004, 06:59 AM
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Here are a few more budget options I found (but have not stayed in)...
Hotel Opera Saint Georges * * 65E/double
Area: Opera - Madeleine
7, rue Navarin - 75009 Paris
Metro: Notre-Dame-De-Lorette
www.hotel-opera-saintgeorges.com
Webs with comments:
http://www.venere.com/cgi/templates/...amp;htid=14425
http://www.hotelinnparis.com/english...id=90&re=1
Copy/paste from Fodor's forum:
Author: Jayelle
Date: 04/23/2002, 08:06 pm
Message: "I'm not familiar with your particular hotel, but I did find your street on the map. I stayed in and took French classes in this same general area of the 9th several years ago. You're actually situated in between the more upscale area of the 9th with the large department stores (Blvd. Haussman) to the south, and the more working class areas around Place de Clichy and Pigalle just to the north. I'll mention that the areas to your immediate north are not the nicest(peep shows, etc. around Pigalle), and some folks prefer to avoid them in the evenings. I'd have to say that I never felt unsafe in that area, its just not very attractive. A little further north you'll find Monmartre, which is one of my favorite areas. You shouldn't have any problems in this area. You are within easy walking distance of the major department stores as well as Monmartre, and the metro can take you anywhere else that you want to go. However, if you have other hotel choices and still have time to make a change, there are other areas of the city that would probably be more fun for you on your first visit."
Hotel Excelsior * (5th) http://www.excelsiorlatin.com/
Plain but clean: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...01197775707075
http://www.123france.com/123/en/hotel.php?id_hot=885
65-70E + 6.5E/breakfast p.p. (78-82 on hotel's website)
Author: crepes_a_go_go
Date: 06/15/2004, 09:47 pm
Message: "I am a one-woman advertisement for Hotel Excelsior in the 5th on rue Cujas. My teenage son and I loved it when we stayed there last year. There are loads of students staying there because it is a hotel used by many student travel agencies. And if you are missing your pet from home, you can use the owner's big tortoise shell cat who lives in the lobby/reception and may take up with you if he chooses. . . .not a hotel I'd recommend to someone wanting a 3 star with quaint, French ambiance. . ."
location, right across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens
Hotel Studia** (5th)
http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...09147775707075
http://en.federal-hotel.com/hotel_ho...paris_1574.htm
60E + 5E/breakfast p.p.
On very busy street (blvd St Germain)
Lux Hotel Picpus ** (12th)
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75012lux.htm
44-55E + 6E/breakfast p.p.
Very-well liked; comments: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...21197775707172
From Fodor's:
Author: subcon
Date: 04/05/2004, 03:04 pm
Message: "There is the lux hotel picpus on blvd. picpus that is near the gare de lyon that i can recommend highly. as a matter of fact, i stay there every trip to paris. The value and service are excellent. it has both a convenient metro stop (virtually across the street) and an easily walkable RER stop at place de la nation for convenient access to CDG.
The neighborhood is upscale residential with lots of wonderful shops and authentic cafes and restaurants. however, as it is residential, be aware that there is little night life. most of the local cafes close by 2300."
Hotel de la Porte Doree ** (12th)
http://www.paris-hotels-paris.com/index.htm
64-72 E double/twin
Nice but not central hotel: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...09127775707172
Hotel Opera Saint Georges * * 65E/double
Area: Opera - Madeleine
7, rue Navarin - 75009 Paris
Metro: Notre-Dame-De-Lorette
www.hotel-opera-saintgeorges.com
Webs with comments:
http://www.venere.com/cgi/templates/...amp;htid=14425
http://www.hotelinnparis.com/english...id=90&re=1
Copy/paste from Fodor's forum:
Author: Jayelle
Date: 04/23/2002, 08:06 pm
Message: "I'm not familiar with your particular hotel, but I did find your street on the map. I stayed in and took French classes in this same general area of the 9th several years ago. You're actually situated in between the more upscale area of the 9th with the large department stores (Blvd. Haussman) to the south, and the more working class areas around Place de Clichy and Pigalle just to the north. I'll mention that the areas to your immediate north are not the nicest(peep shows, etc. around Pigalle), and some folks prefer to avoid them in the evenings. I'd have to say that I never felt unsafe in that area, its just not very attractive. A little further north you'll find Monmartre, which is one of my favorite areas. You shouldn't have any problems in this area. You are within easy walking distance of the major department stores as well as Monmartre, and the metro can take you anywhere else that you want to go. However, if you have other hotel choices and still have time to make a change, there are other areas of the city that would probably be more fun for you on your first visit."
Hotel Excelsior * (5th) http://www.excelsiorlatin.com/
Plain but clean: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...01197775707075
http://www.123france.com/123/en/hotel.php?id_hot=885
65-70E + 6.5E/breakfast p.p. (78-82 on hotel's website)
Author: crepes_a_go_go
Date: 06/15/2004, 09:47 pm
Message: "I am a one-woman advertisement for Hotel Excelsior in the 5th on rue Cujas. My teenage son and I loved it when we stayed there last year. There are loads of students staying there because it is a hotel used by many student travel agencies. And if you are missing your pet from home, you can use the owner's big tortoise shell cat who lives in the lobby/reception and may take up with you if he chooses. . . .not a hotel I'd recommend to someone wanting a 3 star with quaint, French ambiance. . ."
location, right across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens
Hotel Studia** (5th)
http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...09147775707075
http://en.federal-hotel.com/hotel_ho...paris_1574.htm
60E + 5E/breakfast p.p.
On very busy street (blvd St Germain)
Lux Hotel Picpus ** (12th)
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75012lux.htm
44-55E + 6E/breakfast p.p.
Very-well liked; comments: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...21197775707172
From Fodor's:
Author: subcon
Date: 04/05/2004, 03:04 pm
Message: "There is the lux hotel picpus on blvd. picpus that is near the gare de lyon that i can recommend highly. as a matter of fact, i stay there every trip to paris. The value and service are excellent. it has both a convenient metro stop (virtually across the street) and an easily walkable RER stop at place de la nation for convenient access to CDG.
The neighborhood is upscale residential with lots of wonderful shops and authentic cafes and restaurants. however, as it is residential, be aware that there is little night life. most of the local cafes close by 2300."
Hotel de la Porte Doree ** (12th)
http://www.paris-hotels-paris.com/index.htm
64-72 E double/twin
Nice but not central hotel: http://www.paris.org/Hotels/hotel.cg...09127775707172
Aug 9th, 2004, 07:15 AM
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Hello!!!
I agree with Travelnut on the hotel Opéra Saint Georges...A two star hotel, with very low price for what they offer...And in my opinion you can trust what it is said on that forum...
I agree with Travelnut on the hotel Opéra Saint Georges...A two star hotel, with very low price for what they offer...And in my opinion you can trust what it is said on that forum...
Aug 9th, 2004, 12:55 PM
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Going back to Hotel de Blois*, I have stayed in that area recently. It's quite nice, residential, less traffic congestion, no peep shows around (some up by M: Gaite, but you'd have to be looking for them!). Avenue du General Leclerc is a tree-lined avenue, with cafes and shops, at least 2 bus lines, and Metro Line 4, which meets at Denfert Rochereau with Metro Line 6 and the RER-line B. You can be up in St Germain in 10 minutes, Eiffel Tower in 15 minutes. Metro Alesia is about 400 meters from the hotel (1/4 mile).
I don't really know the hotel, however. Maybe someone here does...
I don't really know the hotel, however. Maybe someone here does...
Aug 9th, 2004, 04:21 PM
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Don't know how long you'll be in Paris (or whether this is something you'd be interested in), but for 3 couples in January for a week or longer in Paris, I'd look into renting an apartment. Check out the rental reviews on the Slow Travelers website (the France page)--I think it's slowtrav.com.
When on a budget with a group of friends, renting an apartment has always been a great experience for me.
When on a budget with a group of friends, renting an apartment has always been a great experience for me.
Aug 9th, 2004, 06:51 PM
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Thanks to everyone for the Paris hotel info. We are planning on staying about 3 days in Paris (we have been there before) and 7 days elsewhere, such as Loire Valley, Normandy, Brussells. I think Normandy may just be a day trip, as the beach area won't be inviting in January, but we really want to see the D day sites. We are unsure of what village/town we want to base out of in the Loire, so any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I am a little sad we won't be seeing the area in a better season, but I am excited about seeing France in "off" season. Anyone have a suggestions about our itinerary so far?
