Hi all,

We plan to stay 4 days (07/21 - 07/24) in Paris and 3 days (07/25 - 07/27) in Rome. This will be our first time to visit both cities. For major attractions, which areas are good for us? 'cause we have no ideas right now.

Thanks a lot!!

budget is no more than $200 per nite.
Thnx!

Very generally speaking:
Most first-time visitors will be satisfied with a hotel in
1- Paris: in arrondissements 1-7 (closer to the Seine)
2- Rome: in the central/historic area, say between Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Forum and train station.

A good website to get ideas for hotels is www.venere.com; it will cover both Paris and Rome. You can also see customer reviews to help you develop a short list of hotels in your price range. Then you can search here on the forum for additional feedback (and also www.tripadvisor.com).

A quick way to identify sites of interest would be to use this site's destinations feature, or Frommer's online site, or Rick Steve's book.

Don't try to cram everything in to your visit, leave room for relaxing/people-watching/cafe-sitting.

Hi jz,

Good advice from travelnut.

You don't have near enough time for either city.

Have you looked at the miniguides at www.fodors.com.

How's the location of 'Le Meridien Etoile' hotel in Paris for first timer?

I just got it from priceline @$110 per night. I think it's a pretty good deal.

thanks, guys!

Not my idea of good:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/H48063.html

jz166, from my research, it's not too bad. You can easily take the Air France bus from CDG to that hotel, as it stops right outside. Plus, you are near a metro stop. However, you are not within walking distance of anything, except possibly the Champs Elysees. However, many reviewers have been happy there. And you got a good price for a 4* hotel.

Hi
You're really going to have about 2.5 days in Rome assuming you are flying there on the 25th.
Buy two city maps now, either in your local bookstore or from amazon.com
Streetwise Paris and Streetwise Rome are good for short stays and basic locations, and metro stops. The Paris Mapguide is also good, and it includes a bus map.

just got back from rome. stayed at the hotel navona. 130 a night. very clean, big room 13a or 13b, english speaking staff.

paris, i always stay at hotel theresa. english speaking staff albeit unfriendly, but 99.00 a night for a clean room with private bath in a great location.

good luck

Considering the time you're going, just make sure the hotel has air conditioning!

..i stayed at the meridien etoile yrs ago..(i was at a conference at the palais de congress which is close)..you have a terrific price for this hotel..and although not in the heart of "tourist land" is very close to a line 1 metro stop..so go for it! if you are flying into roissy, the air france bus stops very near to this hotel.

I think there are about 1500 hotels in Paris. Out of all of them, I would not choose the Meridien Etoile, not by far. I think you need to do a little research as to what you want to see and general idea of what areas are like. Most guidebooks give you a run-down, but I would suggest a fairly central area. You could like that type of hotel (I think that one is the largest in France, or close to it), but you might want something more central and/or perhaps smaller or a different style. You need to specify a few things (budget, type of hotel preferred, etc) for people to give good suggestions.

I think chris1234 may be referring to the Hotel Therese.

I agree 100% with Christina's comments about the Meridien Etoile. My husband and I stayed there on our second visit to Paris. It is just a very large, impersonal hotel. And the room we got was small and had outdated decor. There was nothing memorable about this hotel. Also the location at Porte Maillot is convenient to the metro because you'll need it. There is nothing closeby of interest.
I never heard of a Hotel Theresa either. There's a Hotel Therese but I never saw a rate for 99 euros there and staff (via email) sure seemed to take the time to answer queries not like you know how some staff just gives you a sentence or two in their replies. Chris, where is Hotel Theresa located?

Jz166 has to make the best of it, though, as he got the hotel on Priceline and now has a nonrefundable booking. That being the case, it will have air conditioning and be of good quality.

I went to Europe a few years ago with the "less time in each city means you get to see more cities" logic. I spent 3 days in Rome and almost 4 days in Paris. Just as I was getting acclimated to Italian culture I was whisked away to Paris. Just as I was starting to enjoy Paris, it was off to home. I felt like I was ticking off a list of "must see" treasures so I could race to the next one. I just got back from Europe and decided to stay in one country. I felt much more relaxed and was able to enjoy the trip. Perhaps choose one city and then an excursion into the countryside. In Rome, we stayed at the Smeraldo. It is in the center of the historic distinct blocks from Campo de Fiori. It was also very reasonable at 135 Euros a night. Enjoy!

I have stayed at Le Meridien Etoile on business trips ( one of our corporate hotels ) . . It is a big ( 850 or so rooms ) business hotel that also has a lot of tours . . can be problematic checking out in the mornings if you get behind a group of 200 tourists.

Metro is a 3 minute walk and it will take you right down Champs Elysees and is a great way to get into the Louvre and avoid the lines up top.

Several bus lines also stop at the circle where the Metro station is and is a good way to see the city when your feets get tired. I use buses much more than the Metro.

Many good restruants close by and even a Irish Pub one block over if you need a Guiness fix.

Try to get a room with a view of the Arch and Tower . . the other side is just businesses and traffic.

Concierge service is efficient and can help you with hints and tours if you like that.

Enjoy . . Rich

We have stayed twice at the hotel de Avenir at Rue madame, once briefly, and last year for a two week immersion into Paris. It is a simple hotel in an ancient house and has a helpful, pleasant staff. The rooms are comfortable, if somewhat spartan, and the baths practically luxurious by French standards. The rooms on the top floor apparently offer nice views and balconies, but I could only recommend them to the young and fit. Breakfast in the foyer was always cheerful with excellent coffee and croissants, good fuel for a mornings exporation. As for location, I can hardly imagine a better spot for central Paris, mere moments to the St Germaine, Ile de la Cite, Louvre, Cluny, etc. but still very quiet and out of the way. The perfect balance

i have seen same bad review about hotel smeraldo in Rome
by Author: PhilF24
Date: 08/02/2003, 03:26 am
Message: Thank your lucky stars that the Smeraldo didn't reply. You missed the hotel from hell. You could touch both walls of the room standing in the middle, chaotic atmosphere, courtesy of the constant street noise, and staff that seriously needs anger management classes. Terrible, terrible place.