Europe Trip Sabotage!
 

My ex-BFF took a dive.

Air France changed the second leg of our flight back to the USA from Rome and my ex-BFF took that as an opportunity (I'm sorry..."sign") that she should not travel. This would have been okay, but we were due to travel in September and almost everything has been paid for or reserved as double occupancy.

Needless to say, I am probably stuck with double occupancy accommodations in London, for sure in Paris and waiting to hear back from Rome. All three accommodations are too much for me as a single traveler to pay on my own.

No monies have been paid, only credit card (mine) to hold so I don't think I will have a problem dumping the rooms, its just that they were in great locations.

Bottom line, I am having a hard time seeking accommodations within my budget so close to my travel dates in Paris and Rome. Has anyone ever heard of Residence du Palais in Paris? Comments?

Can anyone recommend reasonable budget accommodations in Paris (Pont Neuf/Notre Dame) and Rome (Piazza Navona). I think I'm okay for London (LSE Northumberland).

Arrrrgh! I usually travel alone, I think this just made me painfully aware that I will probably be a solo traveler until the day I die. Which according to my ex-BFF it might be on the flight from Paris back to the USA!

If you can't help me, thanks for letting me vent anyway!

<<my ex-BFF took that as an opportunity (I'm sorry..."sign") that she should not travel.>>

That's ridiculous, changing a leg of a flight isn't unusual; she may have been looking for an excuse to bail.

Why can't you change your accommodations to singles? Of course it would be best if you could find another friend to go with you.

I had not heard of the Residence du Palais and googled. The price is right and the location is good, but I hope you hear from someone who knows more.

I was going to suggest the Hotel Hospitel next to Notre Dame, which used to be a good bargain, but is now $109 for a single so about $173 a night. I hope you can find something for less.

You might have to bite the bullet and look outside your preferred areas.

Sorry about your friend pulling out I'd be terribly disappointed too.

Would you mind posting your exact dates for each city? It would help us to possibly recommend hotels that are available rather than just a long list of frustration.

I assume she is now your FBFF???

So sorry you had to deal with this, but good for you for going forward with your trip. You'll have wonderful memories and I have no doubt that the day after you leave she will be wishing she had gone!

I'd recommend posting your budget for accommodation, as well.

Sorry to hear about this. On the bright side, you'll probably have a much more enjoyable trip.

Oh, and in case you're not already familiar with it, check out eurocheapo.com

Hi dwebb,
I feel for you, I can imagine a friend of mine backing out for similar reasons.
My parents stayed in Rome at the convent Santa Guiliana Falconari right of the Piazza Navonna. It's about 40 Euros a person, so it's definetly reasonable.

Dwebb, so sorry to hear about that. I had the same thing happened to me last year when a friend I was traveling with to Europe would not apply for her passport 2 months before we were schedule to leave and had the nerve to get very angry at me when I kept pressing her to get it. Fortunately, I was able to get someone else to fill her slot otherwise, it would have cost me more to get single occupancy...needless to say we're no longer friends and I'm now traveling solo and love it.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

jdc

dwebb - I feel your pain as I've "been there, done that". My ex-BFF backed out on our trip 2 weeks before we were to leave. I was scrambling to find someone to go in her place - then she changed her mind and decided to go anyway. I never should have agreed as it turned out to be one of the worst trips of my life.

So I hope you find accommodations as you'll have a much better time without her.

What the heck kind of BFF is that? I hope you find some way to let her know that her behavior just wasn't cool.

A friend of mine went on her trip of a lifetime with her BFF who left her after the first week in Ireland. It took myu friend a year to speak to her again but they are now getting there relationship back together again.

Good luck with your trip.

BF= best friend? BFF=?

Best Friend Forever

Someone might have mentioned this already, but if you can't change the double occupancy accomodations (that she agreed to originally) to singles, then she still owes you for her portion of the room rate.

Count yourself extremely lucky. Better that you find out now than have her ruin the trip. I once traveled with a woman (I have difficulty describing her as a "friend" now) who managed to do precisely that. And despite my best efforts to remain friends afterwards has snubbed me.

Don't worry, you'll find lovely accomodations and you'll have a great time. Much better than you otherwise would have, I'm guessing.

Hi D,

>No monies have been paid, only credit card (mine) to hold ...<

Make sure that you will not be charged one-night's rental if you cancel.

I hope that you have learned to never commit to any bookings until the other person(s) have given you the money in advance.

In Paris:
The Hotel Bonaparte has singles from 97E.
www.hotelbonaparte.fr/ang/accueil.htm

The Picpus has been recommended by another poster. It is not central, but is close to a metro stop - singles from 49E.
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75012lux.htm

Good luck

((I))

I recommend Hotel Andrea for Paris. Great location for walking to many attractions. I'm going in September and will be paying 66 euro per night for a single.

Wow! Thanks Everyone. I really thought I was over-reacting, but I feel much much better! Yes, I knew she was looking for an excuse to bail. I had a feeling before Air France canceled out flight!

Our (My) travel dates are Sept 12 - 22 2008.

My budget for rooms are now 100 USD per night (I know, pitch a tent under the Pont Neuf bridge)

I have great news. LSE Northumberland gave me single accommodations. I'm okay for London.

Hotel Hospital Dieu: We are booked there and the pain of letting this room go is too much to bear. Unfortunately, the entire accommodation is close to 600USD for three days. It is very hard to get accommodations there. I have tried for three years and I finally got accommodations, so it's bittersweet that I finally got it and I have to let it go!!!

The room is booked for the 16 - 19th.

On the bright side, with her not going I will save money because we were going to do the HOHO tours because of her, as well as lot of other pampering because she had difficulty walking. I'm a strict and die-hard bohemian traveler and can now just take the tube/metro everywhere.

Geeze!!! letting hotel hospital dieu go is killing me!

Thanks again guys

That is incredibly irritating of your "friend" - I would not do that to someone! Still, imagine if she ended up going with you and was difficult and didn't want to be there the whole time....maybe its a blessing in disguise.

Naxos

<<Geeze!!! letting hotel hospital dieu go is killing me!>>

I can understand that but you can stay there another time. Find something for less for this trip.

Just go and have a wonderful time and make sure your former friend hears about how great the trip was when you get back.

You are better off without her. Saving money by sharing accommodations is not always a good idea.