Somewhere to stay near Paris to travel in to Paris
Jul 17th, 2015, 02:19 PM
#1
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Somewhere to stay near Paris to travel in to Paris
Hello, I am looking for advice on somewhere to stay near Paris, preferably to the north or west, where we can get a train into Paris for the day. Our group consists of two families each with one 11 year old. we will be travelling down from Calais and afterwards over to Normandy.
We are happy with more budget type accommodation and have stayed in hotel F1 and ibis budget etc before. We will probably stay for two nights. We will also need somewhere where we can leave two cars whilst in Paris.
Many thanks for any advice.
We are happy with more budget type accommodation and have stayed in hotel F1 and ibis budget etc before. We will probably stay for two nights. We will also need somewhere where we can leave two cars whilst in Paris.
Many thanks for any advice.
Jul 18th, 2015, 03:15 AM
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Public transportation is cheap in Paris compared to most cities, but by the time you start adding up the costs of getting X people into and out of Paris, it might make staying in the city a reasonable choice.
I will admit to having 0 knowledge of parking prices in the city, though I do know that on street parking is essentially non-existent.
I will admit to having 0 knowledge of parking prices in the city, though I do know that on street parking is essentially non-existent.
Jul 18th, 2015, 04:13 AM
#3
We did this once and can recommend St Germain en Laye [a town to the west of Paris] as having a very good connection with Paris via the RER. it has a large parking under the RER station if your hotel cannot not oblige.
Versailles, because of its popularity with Paris tourists, also has a very good RER service. it has a Kyriad and an Ibis which are both reasonably close to the Saint Cyr RER stop as well as other options closer to the centre.
St Germain en laye has fewer choices but has a Campanile near the station.
There are plenty of restaurants in both places but with a group, you might want to book.
Good luck!
Versailles, because of its popularity with Paris tourists, also has a very good RER service. it has a Kyriad and an Ibis which are both reasonably close to the Saint Cyr RER stop as well as other options closer to the centre.
St Germain en laye has fewer choices but has a Campanile near the station.
There are plenty of restaurants in both places but with a group, you might want to book.
Good luck!
Jul 18th, 2015, 04:20 AM
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I think parking in Paris now can run around 30-40 euro a day, not sure, in a public garage. I don't think the transportation tickets cost that much more for a day (eg, Mobilis) if you are in a suburb vs. in the city, just a few euro more.
I'd suggest St-Germain-en-Laye. It's on the west side of Paris so convenient for going to Normandy. And it's right on the RER line in zone 4, very easy to get straight into Paris. A Zone 4 ticket doesn't cost that much more than the one you would need for central Paris (zone 1-2). St Germain is a pleasant town and has a few things of interest to see in itself.
For example, the Campanile chain has a hotel there and it appears rooms are only around 80 euro, it has AC and free parking. http://www.campanile.com/fr/hotels/c...ermain-en-laye
You'd have to check about the access to Paris, it appears it is 4 km from the RER stop, so you'd have to find out if there is a parking lot there or whatever.
Hotels right in the middle of cities usually don't have free parking, of course.
They do have an Ibis in Poissy, also, which is over in that general direction, also, a bit more to the NW. It has AC and is less than 100 euro and a parking lot, but you have to pay something for it. It's within walking distance of the Poissy RER A stop which goes right into Paris, also. It's in zone 5 which costs a little more than zone 4, of course.
There are many places you could stay, so those are just a couple ideas. there is a big Ibis right on the peripherique in Clichy which also has AC and a paying car lot (19 euro a day). It's right on the RER and metro lines and wouldn't cost you anything extra for metro tickets than being in the center of the city. ibis Paris Berthier. http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-...hy/index.shtml
I'd suggest St-Germain-en-Laye. It's on the west side of Paris so convenient for going to Normandy. And it's right on the RER line in zone 4, very easy to get straight into Paris. A Zone 4 ticket doesn't cost that much more than the one you would need for central Paris (zone 1-2). St Germain is a pleasant town and has a few things of interest to see in itself.
For example, the Campanile chain has a hotel there and it appears rooms are only around 80 euro, it has AC and free parking. http://www.campanile.com/fr/hotels/c...ermain-en-laye
You'd have to check about the access to Paris, it appears it is 4 km from the RER stop, so you'd have to find out if there is a parking lot there or whatever.
Hotels right in the middle of cities usually don't have free parking, of course.
They do have an Ibis in Poissy, also, which is over in that general direction, also, a bit more to the NW. It has AC and is less than 100 euro and a parking lot, but you have to pay something for it. It's within walking distance of the Poissy RER A stop which goes right into Paris, also. It's in zone 5 which costs a little more than zone 4, of course.
There are many places you could stay, so those are just a couple ideas. there is a big Ibis right on the peripherique in Clichy which also has AC and a paying car lot (19 euro a day). It's right on the RER and metro lines and wouldn't cost you anything extra for metro tickets than being in the center of the city. ibis Paris Berthier. http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-...hy/index.shtml
Jul 18th, 2015, 12:10 PM
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This is what I love about Fodor's! I'm not even the OP, and I got great information!
We were going to St Germain-en-Laye on our next trip (my father was billeted there in 1944) but had never thought of staying there!
We were going to St Germain-en-Laye on our next trip (my father was billeted there in 1944) but had never thought of staying there!
Jul 18th, 2015, 12:30 PM
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how weird that Annig and I were posting at the same time and has the same suggestion! I took so long to compose I didn't see it.
I don't know if you are interested in classical music, Ackislander, but Debussy's home is in St Germain-en-Laye and is now a charming small museum. Of course they have an art museum and the chateau, also. I just love Debussy and have visited his home twice (he's buried in Passy cemetery, which is kind of a wreck IMO, very small and crowded).
see http://www.transilien.com/static/tou...claude-debussy
I don't know if you are interested in classical music, Ackislander, but Debussy's home is in St Germain-en-Laye and is now a charming small museum. Of course they have an art museum and the chateau, also. I just love Debussy and have visited his home twice (he's buried in Passy cemetery, which is kind of a wreck IMO, very small and crowded).
see http://www.transilien.com/static/tou...claude-debussy
Jul 18th, 2015, 01:13 PM
#7
how weird that Annig and I were posting at the same time and has the same suggestion! I took so long to compose I didn't see it.>>
Christina - the time-lag is often quite long; I have often found myself repeating information that someone else has posted above me that wasn't there when I was posting. I assumed that that had happened with your post.
Thanks for the info about Debussy, BTW. I enjoy his music too, and when I was learning the piano played quite a few of his pieces [very badly]. We ended up in St Germain en Laye when we were trying to find somewhere to stay in a Parisien metro strike and Versailles was "complet". It's has a nice "bourgeois" feel to it [or it did about 12 years ago] and the RER into Paris is very quick.
Christina - the time-lag is often quite long; I have often found myself repeating information that someone else has posted above me that wasn't there when I was posting. I assumed that that had happened with your post.
Thanks for the info about Debussy, BTW. I enjoy his music too, and when I was learning the piano played quite a few of his pieces [very badly]. We ended up in St Germain en Laye when we were trying to find somewhere to stay in a Parisien metro strike and Versailles was "complet". It's has a nice "bourgeois" feel to it [or it did about 12 years ago] and the RER into Paris is very quick.
Jul 19th, 2015, 08:01 AM
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Thanks, Christina, for the information about Debussy's house.
I love to visit the houses of artists, composers, writers, etc.
My favorite so far was Handel's house in London.
There was a Sonia Rykiel boutique on the ground floor ( which will become part of the museum when the lease runs out) and a suite of Garrett rooms once occupied by Jimi Hendrix -- something for everyone!
I love to visit the houses of artists, composers, writers, etc.
My favorite so far was Handel's house in London.
There was a Sonia Rykiel boutique on the ground floor ( which will become part of the museum when the lease runs out) and a suite of Garrett rooms once occupied by Jimi Hendrix -- something for everyone!
Jul 19th, 2015, 08:11 AM
#9
I know several people who love the Ibis La Défense which is on metro line 1 at the Esplanade station. Its rates start at 74 euros for a room.
http://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-...re/index.shtml
http://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-...re/index.shtml
Jul 19th, 2015, 08:14 AM
#10
There is also an excellent Ibis Budget in Issy-les-Moulineaux right on the T2 tramway line that goes to Porte de Versailles in Paris. Rooms cost less than 50 euros.
http://www.ibis.com/fr/hotel-2596-ib...ux/index.shtml
http://www.ibis.com/fr/hotel-2596-ib...ux/index.shtml
Jul 19th, 2015, 09:50 AM
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Ibis in La Defense is better than the Novotel next door imho but I get neurasthenic staying in La Defense in the evening...
Whatever you choose, just avoid 93 (Aubervilliers and such) and maybe some other places.
Last time I was in Paris I just parked on the street - it was a week-end, free.
Honestly, I4ve always found parking on the street, albeit not necessarily close to my hotel.
Whatever you choose, just avoid 93 (Aubervilliers and such) and maybe some other places.
Last time I was in Paris I just parked on the street - it was a week-end, free.
Honestly, I4ve always found parking on the street, albeit not necessarily close to my hotel.
Jul 19th, 2015, 01:51 PM
#12
My favorite so far was Handel's house in London.>>
Ackislander, the Haendelhaus in Halle [eastern Germany] is excellent - not just things about his life [it's where he was born] but also his work and a facsimile of the Alleluia Chorus no less. And there's a great micro-brewery down the street too.
other composer-linked places I've visited have also been interesting - the Beethoven summer house in Grinzing with a lovely Heurige next door, Liszt's House in Budapest where you can see Beethoven's piano, and Dvorak's house in Prague.
Sorry for the diversion!
Ackislander, the Haendelhaus in Halle [eastern Germany] is excellent - not just things about his life [it's where he was born] but also his work and a facsimile of the Alleluia Chorus no less. And there's a great micro-brewery down the street too.
other composer-linked places I've visited have also been interesting - the Beethoven summer house in Grinzing with a lovely Heurige next door, Liszt's House in Budapest where you can see Beethoven's piano, and Dvorak's house in Prague.
Sorry for the diversion!
Jul 19th, 2015, 02:24 PM
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If the OP means further out near the trajectory of a Calais to Normandy drive I'd consider Rouen - a large city that is sweet in its own right and about an hour from Paris by train - even driving to S G-Laye can be time consuming and a hassle at times I would think but if for close into Paris that's a good choice as would be Versailles if wanting to also see that. Regional trains serve Rouen and they are reasonably priced on a walk up basis - check www.voyages-sncf.com for rail schedules and possible early booking (for a specific train however) discount - for lots of good info on French trains check www.seat61.com - great advice on discounted tickets and for general info www.ricksteves.com and www.budgetuerope travel.com.
Giverny - and Monet's popular house and gardens could well be a stop en route to S-G-en Laye, a leafy generally nice bourgeoise suburb of Paris with speedy RER train service into town.
Giverny - and Monet's popular house and gardens could well be a stop en route to S-G-en Laye, a leafy generally nice bourgeoise suburb of Paris with speedy RER train service into town.
Jul 19th, 2015, 02:28 PM
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I have been to Dvorak's, and of course Bach's and Mendelssohn's in Leipzig, and Mozart's in numerous cities (he got around). I also visited Haydn's home in Vienna which has a Brahms' room with some of this items. But this goes with my interest in their music, I'm sure, I have never been to a composer's house whose work I don't like (whoever that may be who has one, I can't think of one right now).
Oh, one wonderful trip I did a few years ago was to Ravel's home in a small village (Montfort l'Amaury) outside Paris. YOu have to take the train to a nearby small town (Mere) and then walk about 3-4 kilometers. I hitched a ride with some local guy into center of town. That was my favorite because I adore Ravel (I'm a pianist and play a lot of French composers like Debussy and Ravel)--what was thrilling was the guardien actually let me sit at Ravel's piano!!! This is a small private home, it is so cute because he was small and the entire house is kind of small, also. It is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. That was my favorite one.
Oh, one wonderful trip I did a few years ago was to Ravel's home in a small village (Montfort l'Amaury) outside Paris. YOu have to take the train to a nearby small town (Mere) and then walk about 3-4 kilometers. I hitched a ride with some local guy into center of town. That was my favorite because I adore Ravel (I'm a pianist and play a lot of French composers like Debussy and Ravel)--what was thrilling was the guardien actually let me sit at Ravel's piano!!! This is a small private home, it is so cute because he was small and the entire house is kind of small, also. It is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. That was my favorite one.
