Thought I'd post an overall assessment of the budget accommodations we stayed in during our recent trip to Europe. My friend and I are late 20s-early 30s backpackers, and we look for convenient, comfortable, clean and safe accommodations, but beyond that we aren't into luxury--not planning to spend much time in our rooms, we'd rather put our money on other things. We found some good bargains and learned a few things on this trip, so here are impressions... It's *LONG*, sorry! <BR> <BR>Paris: the Hotel Henri IV, Place Dauphine, Ile de La Cite. Location, location, location is this hotel's #1 asset. It's on a beautiful, quiet little tree-filled square (saved a horse chestnut as a souvenir) right around the corner from the Pont-Neuf. Spitting distance from the Palais du Justice (Conciergerie, Ste-Chapelle) and only a block further to Notre Dame. The Louvre is minutes away by foot across the P-N, as is the Samaritaine dept. store with its breathtaking 9th floor panorama. <BR> <BR>And you can't beat the rates: we paid 210 francs per night for a room with two beds (one double, one single), reasonably spacious, window overlooking the square. There were even hangers in the closet. <BR> <BR>The negatives were all plumbing-related. I'm used to non-ensuites, as a budget traveler, but it's a little un-fun to have to climb a very winding staircase in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (no toilet on our floor). The showerheads are the handheld kind and no place to attach them on the wall. A bit awkward. <BR> <BR>Nonetheless, for the bargain rates we were paying and the convenient, safe and clean location, I think we got an amazing deal. If one wants to pay a little more, rooms with bath on the same floor are available--I'm not sure if they have any ensuites. Don't come looking for luxury, but as a budget deal for Paris it cannot be beat. <BR> <BR>Chamonix: the Red Mountain Lodge, rue Vallot. Easily my favorite accommodations of the trip. The Rue Vallot is one of Chamonix's central roads; walking up from the train station, you'll make a right at the city's central intersection and walk up probably about 4 US city blocks. <BR> <BR>It's like a little Swiss chalet, run by a very friendly transplanted Aussie/Londoner. The inside is almost all lovely wood paneling; our room was under sloping eaves, two neat little beds with blue and white comforters, our own shower, toilet *right* outside the door to our room, and a skylight with a beautiful mountain view. (Of course, ain't nothing *but* beautiful mountain views in Chamonix...) We paid 120 F per person per night, I believe (already getting hazy on things)--again, a real bargain. The guy who runs the place even offered to pick us up at the train station when I called to reserve (unnecessary--it's easy walking distance--but nice!). They know a lot about Chamonix, have all kinds of cool info and recommendations, and are very helpful. Free breakfast--oh, and the Henri IV has free breakfast as well. <BR> <BR>Venice: Casa Gerotto, Campo San Geremia. Near the train station, just off Lista Di Spagna. As you walk into the Campo, it's to your left, just next to the bookstore (a couple other hotel names, like Calderan, are also on the building--don't be confused). 110,000 lira per night for a very spacious room with two beds (again, one double, one single), very high ceilings, lots of light, big shuttered windows with views of the campo. <BR> <BR>My buddy was kept awake at night by chattering folks in the campo, but I wasn't--your mileage may vary. You *will* be awoken by the 7 am church bells, though, unless you're in a coma. <BR> <BR>This place does have a curfew--12:30 am the doors lock, not to be opened again until 7. Since there's not a lot of nightlife in Venice that may not be an issue for most folks, but it's worth being aware. No breakfast. The older lady who runs the place seems quite friendly most of the time but I get the feeling she'd be tough as nails if you crossed her... <BR> <BR>Munich: the Hotel Blauer Bock, 7 Sebastianplatz, right by the Viktualienmarkt (yum!) and just a couple blocks from the Marienplatz. Walking distance (a lengthy walk, but more than doable) from the Wies'n. 125 DM per night for a lovely room with its own bathroom, shower upstairs. They don't raise their rates during the Oktoberfest, something that may be entirely unique. Nice, comfortable; has nonsmoking floors; lovely free breakfast; friendly and helpful staff; fluffy featherbedlike comforters. <BR> <BR>The Rhine: Burg Liebenstein, Kamp-Bornhofen (the "wrong" side of the Rhine--i.e., the inconvenient side). If you do not have a car, do *not* stay here. We thought it would be cool to stay in a castle, but didn't think about the *serious* uphill climb to get to this (and probably most) castles. Plus, Liebenstein is located in Bornhofen, about a 20-minutes walk from Kamp, where the train station, post office, K-D ferry dock, and everything else of importance to travelers, are. Bornhofen has no little bakery to take away, only a few castle-oriented hotels and a couple of small restaurants plus a convenience store (the sweet little old lady who runs it stocks lesbian porno magazines along with candy bars, postcards and soda) (swear to God). So one does a *lot* of walking to get to anywhere/anything, or pays a fairly pricey taxi service (nice people, but it adds up). The castle itself also doesn't seem too well maintained, and the folks running it, while nice, were a bit strange. When we returned at 9:30 pm, it was locked up and dark; when we left in the morning at 8:30 am, the same. We left our 85 DM for one night on the counter and hoped they'd find it. From my research, I know there's much better budget accommodation on the Rhine, and the "we stayed in a castle" thing just isn't much of a thrill. <BR> <BR>Amsterdam: The "Get Lucky."
http://www.xs4all.nl/~getlucky. Check out their Web site and you'll get a sense of the place. It is *unique* and you need to be prepared. It's half guesthouse, half commune, with a lot of friendly people but a very...um...Amsterdam atmosphere. If for some reason they don't have a room (the front rooms all appear very spacious, bright, canal views, lovely) they'll ask someone who lives there to shift rooms and let you bunk in one of the "apartments." ("You can have Danny's room, he can sleep over here...") Very laid back; if you are a budget and flexible traveller, it's a heck of a lot of fun, but *FLEXIBLE* is the absolute watchword. The people are very kind and helpful, especially housemom Gabe. Confirm three days ahead of time or THEY WILL GIVE YOUR ROOM AWAY, even if you've absolutely confirmed in advance that you're coming. They will also bend over backward to make space for you somewhere else in the house if you come and the room's gone, but it may not be what you expected. An adventure. We paid 70 guilders per night for a very small room in one of the "apartments" when we fell prey to not confirming. I liked the people very much, though.
