We are coming by train from Paris, will be in Toulouse for 3 days ( with 1 day trip to moissac and albi) and then flying to Pisa. What would be the best location closer to airport or in center of city?

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/na-c...out=2011-04-12

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/aliz...out=2011-04-12

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/appa...out=2011-04-12

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/fast...out=2011-04-12

We took the train into Toulouse and stayed at the Hotel Riquet near the train station. It was an easy walk from the train to the hotel and then back again to catch the airport shuttle bus that runs from the station. (cheaper than a cab)

I would never stay out at the airport, in Toulouse or any city. If you look here, there should be a thread about my experience at Riquet. I left a hat in a nearby restaurant and the owner of the hotel went to retrieve it for me and mailed it back to the States. They were wonderful people!

Though the hotel is not right in the thick of things, it was an easy walk into the center. There are some good restaurants and a grocery store nearby and the price/location ratio was right for us.

Just don't stay in one of the small rooms on the top floor. We did the first night and I was miserable. We upgraded to a large room on the second floor and it made a world of difference.

I'm not going to even look at the hotels, because it doesn't matter. I also would never stay in an airport hotel when visiting a city except possibly for one night if I had to leave very early the next day by air or something like that. Or if it were a layover for one night before I traveled by air some place else. Toulose center isn't that far from the airport, and doesn't even cost that much by cab to/from the airport.

Toulouse is not big enough for the trip to the airport to be a problem. Stay in town

Seems unanimous! Center of town it is. Thank you Amy I will check out hotel Riquet.

I stayed at the Mercure place Wilson when I was in Toulouse a couple years ago and enjoyed it very much. It has a great location just a short walk to the main square and metro station, shopping, and place Wilson itself has cafes and a little park. I don't recall exactly the taxi fare from the airport, but I think it was only around 20 euro. Also, it is off on kind of a pedestrian area so was pretty quiet (I asked for a room not looking out front, though.

hi Kay,

we stayed at the hotel Albert 1er in the centre of Toulouse and it was fine. a few other fodorites have stayed there too and had good reports of it. it's just off the main square and a 10-15 minute walk to the railway station.

Here's the website:

http://www.hotel-albert1.com/index_uk.php

In August (thanks to Fodors) we stayed in Mercure place Wilson. There were 3 of us so we got the Jr Suite. Excellent location, especially for one night. In the morning, we walked to the Best Western about four minutes away and caught the airport shuttle for 5 euros.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I checked the mercure but unfortunately it is out of our price range.

I stayed at the Hotel des Beaux Arts, right next to the Pont Neuf. The room I stayed in had a terrace overlooking the Garonne River and the Hotel Dieu.. A lovely hotel with a restaurant right around the corner..

I have stayed at the Hotel Le Grand Balcon, very centrally located on the Place due Capitole in a historic building recently renovated. http://www.grandbalconhotel.com/index.php/flash

I have also stayed at the Hotel Albert 1er mentioned above, just a couple of blocks off the Place du Capitole.

Both were good.

Le Grand Balcon and Les Beaux Arts are both expensive too. An alternative, very central, not charming, but clean and comfortable is the IBIS Centre. A few minutes walk to everywhere, and it has parking nearby for those with cars.
http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-14...re/index.shtml

We stay there when we just want a room for a night or two. We're usually out during the day, and so a romantic hideaway isn't necessary!

Certainly no need to stay at the airport.

I have found a very useful website for booking rooms; hotelscombined.com. Select the city you are interested in along with the dates and it takes you to a listing of hotels in a given city. Upon choosing a hotel, it shows you a list of consolidators and their prices for a room along with available options.

thanks for the great suggestions!

Carlux:: i was also looking at the ibis center and was a little hesitant about booking it. you've just made my decision much easier!!