First Time in Paris Dec 26 - Jan 2 any suggestions - hotel, restaurants
Subscribedinafirsttime, I almost always agree with annhig, but with your budget you could probably get a really lovely apartment with an agency that does include some concierge-type services>>
lol, leely, you're too kind.
i would normally agree with you too, but the impression I get from the OP is that her BF would only be comfortable in a hotel - an apartment would be a "bridge too far" for a first trip, though the sort that you describe are very good. although the service of the firm you used are very good for a rental agency, picking up the phone is just not the same as being able to ask in reception for the directions to...or recommendations for...
but if that's the way she decides to go, then she has a great place to start.
lol, leely, you're too kind.
i would normally agree with you too, but the impression I get from the OP is that her BF would only be comfortable in a hotel - an apartment would be a "bridge too far" for a first trip, though the sort that you describe are very good. although the service of the firm you used are very good for a rental agency, picking up the phone is just not the same as being able to ask in reception for the directions to...or recommendations for...
but if that's the way she decides to go, then she has a great place to start.
Annhig and leely2 you both seem to have a handle on the situation. The bf has never been on vacation as an adult, he likes to be pampered. annhig you said it perfectly he would feel more comfortable picking up a phone for directions. I am just concerned that when he gets into a small hotel room he will be very unhappy. I don't plan to spend tons of time in the hotel but I want him to feel comfortable which is not really easy for him. I will look at the links provided
Dinafirsttime, we were not there over NYE (there over Christmas).
Completely understand the desire to stay in a hotel the first time, but please note that many great Paris hotels do have small rooms!
Last winter we stayed at Hotel Louis II...they do have a junior suite on the top level which may be a better choice than a standard room because it was small.
We have stayed at the Le Grand (Hotel Intercontinental previously and it is larger...your boyfriend may be happier there). It is a lovely hotel right across from the Opera Garnier and very close to Galleries Lafayette and the place de Madeleine. The location is great, but I am just a left bank girl.
Completely understand the desire to stay in a hotel the first time, but please note that many great Paris hotels do have small rooms!
Last winter we stayed at Hotel Louis II...they do have a junior suite on the top level which may be a better choice than a standard room because it was small.
We have stayed at the Le Grand (Hotel Intercontinental previously and it is larger...your boyfriend may be happier there). It is a lovely hotel right across from the Opera Garnier and very close to Galleries Lafayette and the place de Madeleine. The location is great, but I am just a left bank girl.
Thanks guenmai
You're welcome. And if you scroll to Dec 31,2010, I have organized the entire list of recommended hotels by district. They were all of the hotels that posters and I recommended. Happy Travels!
There are larger hotel rooms in Paris, try any of the hotels on rue Jacob, we've stayed in all of them and have always had good sized room Du Danube, D'Angleterre, des Marroniers, Deux Cntinents. Millesime . Or the Madison right across from the St Germain metro station. Apts are nice but for a first time visitor I'd chose a hotel for the conciergie service. We both love Chez Fernand, try le Reminet. Both should have a NYE menu.
Some ideas:
www.paris-hotel-lutece.com
www.hotelpasdecalais.com
www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com
Agree that the 4th-6th would be good areas to stay for a first time visit.
I would not go to Normandy, you don't really have much time in Paris, part of first day or so will be lost to jet lag, and part of first and last day are lost to airport transit.
Good time for Xmas lights. Champs Elysee would be nice for this , as well as the area of Grands Magasins such as Galeries Lafayette. The Xmas windows at the stores are also magical.
www.paris-hotel-lutece.com
www.hotelpasdecalais.com
www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com
Agree that the 4th-6th would be good areas to stay for a first time visit.
I would not go to Normandy, you don't really have much time in Paris, part of first day or so will be lost to jet lag, and part of first and last day are lost to airport transit.
Good time for Xmas lights. Champs Elysee would be nice for this , as well as the area of Grands Magasins such as Galeries Lafayette. The Xmas windows at the stores are also magical.
We always stay at the Hotel des Saintes Peres on the Rue des Saints Peres. The rooms are larger than many 3 stars, the baths are quite large and modern, the staff is lovely and very helpful, the location can't be beat and after 7 stays there, it feels like home.
You will need to double-check this hotel as our stay (and our first trip to Paris) was in 1999:
http://www.hotelceramic.com/index.php
The building front had vines carved on it and the inside was very deco-ish. Our room and bath were good size and not the most expensive in the hotel. The street is one which radiates from the Arc de Triomph and is only a couple of blocks from it. The Metro/RER station Etoile there is extremely convenient for train trip to Versaille.
The location denisea suggests is wonderful and, across the Seine, Michel_Paris's Lutece suggestion is also superb and would put you in another excellent area.
Paris is small enough that you can get around easily no matter where you stay.
http://www.hotelceramic.com/index.php
The building front had vines carved on it and the inside was very deco-ish. Our room and bath were good size and not the most expensive in the hotel. The street is one which radiates from the Arc de Triomph and is only a couple of blocks from it. The Metro/RER station Etoile there is extremely convenient for train trip to Versaille.
The location denisea suggests is wonderful and, across the Seine, Michel_Paris's Lutece suggestion is also superb and would put you in another excellent area.
Paris is small enough that you can get around easily no matter where you stay.
