Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

anyone stayed at Novotel ladefense, or knows the area well?

Search

anyone stayed at Novotel ladefense, or knows the area well?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 29th, 2003, 12:32 PM
  #1  
lol
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
anyone stayed at Novotel ladefense, or knows the area well?

hi
anyone stayed at this hotel? how far is nearest RER station. is it a safe neighborhood, any possible walkable places of interest.
thank you
lol is offline  
Old May 29th, 2003, 05:22 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
La Defense is just outside of Paris. It is the premier french business district with a bunch of glass towers a la americane. I have not to the hotel but have been to La Defense. There is a shopping center and a big RER terminal which I dont think is too far from the hotel. You could go up on top of La Grande Arche for a view of paris but that is about all that is of interest there. I wouldnt stay there if you can stay elsewhere inside paris.
MorganB is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 04:48 AM
  #3  
lol
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thank you Morgan
anyone else???
lol is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 05:10 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree w/ MorganB. Doesn't seem much like Paris at all, at least not what a new visitor would want. The ride back into Paris-central is too inconvenient to make it worthwhile. I don't have personal experience with la Defense at night, but it seems to be all businesses, doubtful much is stirring at night.
Travelnut is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 06:32 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree with other posters. La Défense is an enormous business complex, NOT the Paris visitors are seeking. It's too far out, it's not attractive, and there are SO many other choices!
StCirq is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 08:36 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

You might as well be in downtown Dallas if you stay in La Defense! If you want to stay at a Novotel, go to the one in the 1st arrondisement (I think the address is Place Marguerite de Navarre). Excellent location - literally a stone's throw from the Chatelet les Halles metro station and easy walking distance from major attractions (Louvre, Place Rue St. Honore, Ile-de-la-Cite and everyhting on it, Ile-St.-Louis, D'Orsay Museum, Pompidou Center, Boulevard St. Michel, etc...).
resipsaloquitur is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 08:39 AM
  #7  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi lol,

La Defense is a huge, sterile business complex. Don't stay there if you don't have to.
ira is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 09:03 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Last spring my husband was on a business trip we stayed in La Defense for 2 weeks. The metro/RER station is directly under the large shopping centre by the Grande Arche. Although this part of Paris is not what tourists would call "Paris", the architecture is amazing. The metro system in Paris is so good that there is never a problem getting to central Paris to see whatever sights you would like.
The only real draw back is that many restaurants in the La Defense area were not open on the weekend (Sat & Sun nights), because of course there are not the numbers of business people that are there all week long.
I am returning there with the husband on June 14th and staying again in La Defense. It's not going to ruin my trip to Paris & France.
Adelle is offline  
Old May 30th, 2003, 04:08 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was a little disappointed in May. My Dad and I went all the way out to La Defense to see an antique car museum only to find out it is no longer open.

We wandered around a bit and the rest of the posters are right. It's very business-like and wasn't that appealing. I do certainly like Adelle's take. If it's La Defense or nothing, I'd take La Defense everytime.
indytravel is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Susanita25
Europe
17
Sep 3rd, 2017 07:10 AM
barbmc
Europe
15
Jul 23rd, 2009 01:50 PM
phyllis_stein
Europe
5
Jun 9th, 2008 07:15 AM
vistas
Europe
9
Oct 15th, 2007 01:37 PM
dw0201
Europe
10
Oct 14th, 2003 05:31 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -