my husband and i are planning a honeymoon vacation in december/january to Belgium and Paris. We need help with where to book hotels. We will arrive in Belgium on December 30th and are there until January 2nd and then we fly to Paris from January 2-5th. Any suggestions? We are looking for nice, moderately priced hotels. We don't want to spend too much money--we are looking for nice, clean- maybe bed and breakfasts or something? ideas?

Hi ohkay,
I recommend that as a starting point, you do a search on this forum for 'paris hotel'. You will get as an enormous amount of information, since this is a common question. The you can tell us your budget, area (arrondisement), special needs.etc..and we can guide you from there.

Mike

You don't say where you'll be in Belgium..if Brussels, we really like the Welcome Hotel..http://www.hotelwelcome.com/

It would help to know what "moderate" means to you for Paris.

I tried posting this before and got an error message, so apologies in advance if this posts twice.

Bruges is a great place to start your honeymoon and the place I'd recommend hands down is the Number 11 bed and breakfast. www.number11.be
Rooms range from 115 to 140 euro and the beautiful suite is 215 euro.

As for Paris, what does moderate mean? Under 200 euro? Under 150? We need a range to give you the best advice. Also, what's your taste? Quaint and charming? Stylish, modern, maybe even trendy? A touch of formal glamour? And what neighborhood would you like--quiet and residential but near the main sights (i.e., 7th or 16th)? Lots of nightlife (Marais, 5th, 11th)? Surrounded by galleries, elegant shops? (6th, Ile St. Louis)?

For Paris, if you give a specific price range, part of the city you wish to stay in (if you know that), etc. you will get better more specific recommendations.

Would you pay more to be centrally located? Or don't mind taking the Metro each day for sight-seeing to save money in a hotel on the outskirts.

Have a look at Hotel Lord Byron for Paris. It is within a couple of minutes walk of the Arch de Triumph. We stayed there in August and found it good value for money. Our room was fairly small, but the bathroom was a good size. We paid E110 a night, which did not include breakfast. Each morning we walked around the corner onto the Champs Elysee for breakfast.

By the way, did you know that you can get from central Brussels to central Paris in an hour and 25 minutes by train?

That compares favorably with getting to and from airports and hassling with checkin and luggage.

That is an interesting point; I don't think there even ARE any flights left between Brussels and Paris except for one on SN Brussels Airways which is operated by Axis Airways, a low cost carrier only 3 years old. AF "flights" between the two cities are actually Thalys train rides. AF runs a checkin desk at Brussels Midi.
All other flights (that I know of) require a connection in other cities...London, Frankfurt...the most ludicrous is on Alitalia where a flight from Brussels to Paris requires you to change planes in Milan!
And if you're planning a Ryanair flight, that will be a time-waster--you'd have to go to Charleroi, an hour south of Brussels to pick up a flight to Beauvais, about an hour from Paris.

In Paris, I would advice you to stay in Latin Quarter, 5th or 6th for exple, these are lively areas and very recommended for staying in Paris.
My choice in the 5th would be hotel Vendome Saint Germain, a 2 star hote, moderated prices, well-located, nice and very clean. Staff was friendly and profesional! We have a room with balcony that was also great!
http://www.paris-hotelvendome.com
have a nice trip!