BillT

After a 10 year hiatus from Europe- we may be thinking of heading back. I'm thinking Paris but I have a few issues to work out.
1) I need a list of good hotels in the 150 euros range. Now these must be close to a metro, not far from the city center, and most importantly have decent bathroom features. The wife needs plenty of lighting in the bathroom, plumbing that is not shall we say "unusual" and the rooms can't be compared to a closet.
2) Restaurants- ok we are as about as far removed from gourmet as one can get. We love french bakery items, cheese, etc but we are not wine drinkers and are really looking for places that serve regular food- please no organ meats, "delicacies", simple food- ok now please no griping about how we are not bonding with the french culture- we are in fact more tourists than travelers.

Thanks for the advice! I'm sure we will love Paris if we can work out the hotels and restaurant issues to our satisfaction.

sandi_travelnut

Have you looked through the last 100 or so threads posted here? There's probaby several on this very subject. You can also search using "paris restaurants" or something like that in the search field. Have you started any kind of list from other research on hotels yet?

BillT

None really adress specifically my issues.

sandi_travelnut

I think people are more willing to help someone who has attempted to find some information on their own as well. I typed in Paris Restaurants, Paris on a budget, Paris hotel, etc in the search field and came up with these. There are hundreds out there. lease take a look at the threads already posted and look at the links that are always talked about in these threads so you can help find the info you need.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34805996

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34803621

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34806185

BillT

OK- now I am a veteran Fodorite- mostly on the Asia forum. I can research all the hotels and restaurants till the cows come home but it won't tell me a thing about the bathrooms, plumbing, and the restaurants won't give me what I need to know either. What I need is some advice from folks who have been to some hotels/cafes and can answer-specifically my questions on those issues. We have been to Europe in the past and had problems in these areas because we were not able to connect with people who frequented these places and could address our specific needs.These types of questions are asked and answered frequently on the Asian forum.

Travelnut

We're not foodies, either. My method is to get a food glossary and learn the terms for things I -don't- want to eat, and then some for things I would eat. Then I try to find online menus for places to see if I'd like to try them.

All restaurants will have menus posted outside, so you can review them and then decide if you want to eat there. You can generally find chicken and veal dishes, often with a nice sauce sometimes with mushrooms. Also don't overlook ethnic places, such as Italian or Asian. And most 'corner cafes' will have roast chicken/frites, big salads, etc. We do like to try wine, but if not then I order bottled water.

You can see online menus and make reservations at this site:
http://www.bestrestaurantsparis.com/

Here is a food glossary:
http://www.intimatefrance.com/glossary.html

I can't really comment on hotels, as your budget is more generous than mine and I haven't had any problems with bathrooms in our hotels. I do think it is still a 'toss up' as many hotels are in older buildings and the room configurations can vary quite a bit within the same hotel.

A really good website for 'hotel shopping' is www.parisby.com as they post a lot of photos.

got1tiel

eur150 range with modern bathroom plumbing in a good location: try an ibis (seriously)

SuzieC

OK, I'll give a try. In 2002, a friend and I stayed at the Lyon-Mulhouse on Beaumarchais Blvd. in 11th. You mentioned big baths and it tweeked my memory. The Lyon-Mulhouse had the biggest, brightest bathroom I have seen in Paris. (Very nicely appointed, if I remember, a tub and shower with glass doors) Also, a VERY nice big bedroom with 2 double beds that That said, in 2002 it was about 70E's a night.
Bofinger's was right down the street; and we found a local mom&pop for dunner that was even better, but I can't remember its name to save me.
But, I can recommend that from experience.

BillT

Travelnut- thanks your advice will help!

SuzieC

Ooops, I posted THEN went to do a quick search - in your budget still .. "just" (I'm saying this kindly, its in MY budget range too! but it no longer is 70E's!!!)...and also, this hotel was a VERY easy walk to all the restos' around the Place de Vosge

bill_w

Bill, don't miss this place..Restaurant Chartier..Go early 6 pm or you will have to wait in line. still worth it and no better prices anywhere in paris.www.bouillon-chartier.com A note of interest: all servers there must have at least twenty years of experience before being they can work for this rest..

sandi_travelnut

How do you know that the hundreds of other posts won't answer your question if you don't read them? And what in the WORLD do you need to know about the plumbing other than it's clean and it works? The are many posts that describe in great detail about the rooms, beds, views and of course the restrooms. Tripadvisor.com does as well.

There are also hundreds of posts that give incredible details about restaurants. The only helpful post you want is one where someone makes the decision for you.

BillT

sandi_travelnut:

Give me a break- go bother someone else!

francophile03

I'm sorry. I don't think sandi_travelnut said anything wrong. If you read the various comments at Trip Advisor you will get an idea of what to expect from all types of hotels. Go to the forums and there are discussions about all types of restaurants and hotels. There is not going to be any hotel and restaurant that will be perfect. Maybe it would help if you research some hotels and restaurants on your own and return to ask opinions about them. In all honesty, as you are familiar with European hotels, most likely for 150 euro you cannot expect a huge bathroom with excellent lighting. I'm not sure what you mean by 'unsual' plumbing however.

Travelnut

Well.. I can say that we heard all kinds of whooshing and sloshing through the plumbing system at Hotel St Chistophe when we stayed there, much more so than anywhere else we've ever stayed. Maybe that's what BillT means. And maybe he wants a shower that doesn't run out all over the floor, which I've heard others mention.

BowenLinda

Just returned from a week's stay at Hotel St. Thomas D'Aquin in Paris, on the border of the 6e and 7e. Recently renovated, on a quiet side street, about 2 blocks from the Seine and 2 blocks from Bldv. St. Germaine (with two metro stops close by).

Bathroom was large'ish for Paris, and sparkling clean. Combination shower/tub, fixed shower head, good lighting, separate register to dry out your "laundry".

Our twin room had two night tables, desk and chair, separate arm chair, and a large armoire for bags and clothing storage. Not a huge room, though, but we really enjoyed it. Also had large windows opening over wrought iron flower box and a roller canopy for sun or rain.

You can read my lengthier review at TripAdvisor if you like.

E130/ni for a twin.

BillT

On our last trip to Europe we had hotels where there was no shelf space to put things in the bathroom- the lighting was really mimimal and we had a hard time figuring out how the plumbing worked- none of this was apparent from the research we did about the place- only from people who have actually stayed at the places will we be able to get the specific concerns addressed. My wife is VERY particular about these things and I have benn able to stay marfried to her for 19 years because I am cognizant of these needs!
Some women out there will understand- for all the others well....
Suffice to say when we go to Asia we have none of these issues to contend with!

Travelnut

Look into these:

Hotel Ecole Centrale
3, rue de Bailly, Paris, 75003

Hotel les Jardins du Luxembourg
Impasse Royer Collard, Paris, 75005

Hotel Minerve
13, rue des Ecoles, Paris, 75005

Robespierre

BillT - if you insist on getting only the answers <u>you</u> want, you may wind up not getting any at all.

sandi_travelnut

I too have had issues with loud plumbing in the cieling over a bed..or a toilet that constantly ran. That would be a very logical question to ask about. I was wondering what your comment about &quot;plumbing that is not shall we say &quot;unusual&quot; meant.