minnesota_nice

Thank you for all of your posts. We have reservations at a hotel near the start/finish of the marathon blocked/booked through our running group. The hotel is near Arc de Triomphe (Marathon start) and Champs-Elysees. It's name is Hotel Le Villiers located at 133 Avenue de Villiers.
Since we have never been to Paris before we are taking th word of our running group on the location of this hotel.
My next question is trying to figure out if we should stay all 6 nights st this hotel or break it up a bit to be in a "better" location for the tourist sights. Maybe this hotel is in a good location and we would be fine. Tripadvisor.com has only one review of the hotel.
Thoughts on the hotel?
Location of the hotel?
Staying all 6 nights there vs. just the night of the marathon (to be close to the start/finish)?
Thank you and sorry for thinking 6 nights in Paris was going to be too much. I didn't think so but it is hard to convince my husband to stay in one place when traveling for too long!
Thanks,
Katie

tod

Beg to differ Christina - Paris is not a big city like any other city -
well for this gal anyway!

amelie

I would definitely stay the 6 nights in Paris, but that is me. We are going to stay 7 nights.

You could do a day trip to Versailles, which we plan on doing.

Seamus

The hotel website states it is a 15 minute walk to the Arc and on Google maps it looks to be about a mile or so from the Arc. You could take the metro or RER and make one connection. (Note: metro is the city subway, RER is the regional system but within the city they essentially function as one and your ticket is good for both. You can check out the map at www.ratp.fr/)
It looks like a nice 2 star hotel - might even get another star if it had an elevator. (The French star system for hotels is not simply a rating of the "poshness" but rather based on room size and the availability of specified features.) The rooms are probably pretty small by American standards but not by French and appear to be comfortably furnished. The site mentions a nice breakfast but does not specifically say whether it is included in the rate. Technically, French hotels are supposed to charge separately for breakfast (so that those who do not want it do not have to pay) but there are some places that get away with including it in the rate. The site says it is "offered" which leads me to believe there is a separate charge. Ask about the charge and be sure to let them know to not charge you for any days you do not eat their breakfast.

The location is not especially wonderful in terms of being close to traditional tourist sites; it is out toward the edge of things near the peripherique. That doesn't mean it is in the boonies, just not in the central area. There is a metro stop nearby but (Line 3, Porte de Champerret) and an RER station a short walk away (Line C, Pereire - Levallois) that you could use to get around.
All things considered, it probably is a decent choice for your needs. Be sure to come back and let us know how it works out!

manonm

I will be going to Paris for 12 nights in April and had to eliminate a lot of things to do and see, as 12 days is not enough !!!!

kerouac

In French, "offered" means "included free".

CRose10328

I ran the Berlin Marathon last fall, spent 4 nights there and then a few days down the Rhine and 4 days in Paris, just to give you some idea where I'm coming from.

I have no idea where you are staying there, but do remember that you need to have some time to get your clock adjusted to be able to run your best. I arrived on a Friday and ran on Sunday and that really wasn't too much time. I didn't run what I had hoped, and I think jetlag/time difference had something to do with it. It was different counting kilometers instead of miles as well. But it was oh, so exciting!

I don't know about you, but the night before and even the afternoon before is spent picking up your packet, eating maybe a pasta dinner and getting off your feet at a reasonable time to be rested for 26.2 miles. No easy feat (for me anyway). And then after the marathon I always move a little slower for a day or two. So 6 days will go by in a flash.

My experience with Paris is that public transportation was great there. Walking is wonderful (albeit maybe a little slow after the marathon but great to stretch out and recover). It's a beautiful city and you can see from the responses that it is well loved, deservedly.

If you're with a running group, that does help figuring out how to get to the expo, the start and back to your hotel, all nice things. And as far as moving, I think it's just nice to unpack and stay in one place, but that is just my personal opinion.

Whatever you decide, good luck on the marathon. You will have a great time. It's so interesting to run a marathon outside the USA I think. It's like a running city tour.

Have fun!

Seamus

kerouac -
that's not what I have found with Paris hotels and breakfasts. In fact, on one of the other booking sites for tis property it states that breakfast is not included in the room rate.

deedeezee

NONONONONNO!!! Take every minute you can get in Paris. I would like to recommend to the person looking for a hotel in London that they should stay in Paris!!!!!

Advice from a Russian cab driver on my last trip....."Ah, madam, you love Paris, Paris loves you."

It's a state of mind.

deedeezee

ANd PS....take the train to Chartres for the day...Malcolm Miller does tours in English most days..call in advance to check. In six days you will just sharpen the point for more of Parisian life...dont miss the chance to carb up at the fabulous
Laduree bakery!

And did someone say they hated Vienna????????????

gard

Hi

No, 6 days in Paris is not too much at all. I have been there a couple of times and I have stayed there for a week both times

Here is my Paris trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . You should also check out my Paris Google map on http://gardkarlsen.com/paris_france_map.htm . I have marked where some of the attrations are located and you can click on the various markers for more info

Good luck with the marathon...have a great trip

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Gretchen

Not nearly enough time in Paris.

KL467

Gard, I have thoroughly enjoyed your website. You gave us great travel advice. You seem like you love life!

gard

Hi

Thanks...I try my best to enjoy the trips we go on

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Travelnut

If you are running the Marathon, you hopefully have already registered, as a blurb in my newsletter states the race is 'full' (35,000 runners).