teacherlady

Just came back from these cities and these hotels...I would definitely have advice and comments about many places, tours, etc. if you want to know. I am very grateful to many of you who offered invaluable information. We had a fabulous time.

London--Westland Hotel
Rouen--Hotel Cathedrale
Bayeux--Hotel D'Argouges
Paris--Hotel Porte Doree
Varenna--Hotel Du Lac
Lucerne--Hotel Goldener Stern
Prague--Cloister Inn
Dresden--Marthahospiz Hotel
Berlin--Hotel Astoria
Amsterdam--Hotel Agora
Bruges--Hotel Prinsenhof
London--Westland Hotel again

elaine

comments on the hotels are always useful

welcome back

janebell

What were the hilites for your teenager?

gb

Same here, and I almost didn't survive the the trip. The oldest one thought it was a good time to "individuate. She found her parents and her sister very annoying.

teacherlady

Highlights for the teenager? There were many. She loved the Mt. Pilatus tour in Lucerne. She absolutely loved Varenna on Lake Como (we all did) along with the Hotel Du Lac. Varenna is a town where teenagers can wander on their own, even use the ferries easily. She also loved the taped commentary at the Mauritshuis gallery in The Hague where "The Girl With The Pearl Earring" is along with other fabulous Rembrandts and Vermeers. Also, we were amazed at how many hotels provided internet use, either free, or during certain hours, or coin operated, or not limited at all. That helped her to feel like she was still connected to her friends. As for the hotels, the only one I wouldn't stay in again was the Hotel Goldener Stern in Lucerne, for various reasons. For that matter, I wouldn't return to Lucerne, not that it wasn't nice, but it was different from what I expected it to be.

McBetsy

What did you think of the Porte Doree? I was thinking of staying there again in the Spring, but wondered where they were on their remodel.

Travelnut

Teacherlady, I have two hotel questions:
1. I am reserved at Goldener Stern in September, so I would be interested in your specific feedback on that
2. I would like a description of the immediate neighborhood around Hotel de la Porte Doree (well-kept or run-down, cafes near, etc), and ease of access to Metro.
Thanks for your comments. It looks like you visited some really interesting places.

marsman

Hi teacherlady, I'd be interested in your impressions of the Cloister Inn in Prague. We're booked there for a week in early October. It seems like a good value and nice location, but it's always nice to hear a firsthand account.

francophile03

One day our teens will appreciate these great European trips their parents have provided for them!

teacherlady

With pleasure I will answer some of your questions. McBetsy and Travelnut, here's the scoop on the Porte Doree. It is far away from everything BUT that's okay because the metro is right outside the front door. I wanted to stay there because I heard the owner was from my hometown (and married a Frenchman and now manages the hotel with him) but we never met her. So because of that we were a little out of the way. However, it's really not that far. We wanted to see the Pere Lachaise cemetery (worth the trouble) and we were also leaving from the Paris Bercy train station (both close to the PD) so for us it was convenient. The interior of the hotel was lovely, wood floors with nice carpets, a nice sitting room, motion sensor lighting, friendly reception. The room itself was as nice as any room I've stayed in in Paris. (I've stayed at the Argenson and also the Muguet...the Porte Doree is right up there with them.) Potential problems are an evangelical church next door that had sing-alongs until very late at night (although it looked like fun and the people were nice), the hotel is over a subway and my husband swore he could hear it at night. The neighborhood is fine, there are lots of restaurants, a laundromat, fruit stands, etc. One thing there is not is any internet cafe. Travelnut, we didn't care for the Goldener Stern in Lucerne because the staff was not particularly friendly, there was no air conditioning (although we wondered if the expensive places like the Des Balances had AC either), the first and second floors had restaurants and friends of the owners sat there and smoked literally all day. I chose it because everything else was so expensive but it ended up that we could not sleep due to street noise, smoke, and heat. Marsman, we loved the Cloister Inn. Our room was huge, the breakfast was great, it has free internet, our bed was pretty hard though. It's close to the old town but quiet at night. A great restaurant is across the street and a lady who will do laundry for you is right around the corner. If I had it all to do over again I would stay on the Old Town Square because it was so beautiful, but it probably would have been out of our budget.

gb

You know, I think the appreciation of the trip is there, just not appreciation of her mother ;-). She didn't want to go home when I suggested that I could make arrangements. "They" say that comes when they have their own children. I hope I live that long

teacherlady

GB, I know what you're saying. I would have been less patient with my teenager if I hadn't been absolutely horrible (along with my sisters) in Mexico City 30 years ago this summer. My parents are laughing that things have come full circle. I consider it one of the great regrets of my life that I didn't pay more attention that summer and appreciate it more. I tried to talk to her about that before we left on this trip and it went over like the proverbial load of bricks, but I know she had fun. You just have to eat a lot of ice cream, allow some McDonalds now and then, and have the attitude that you are going to have fun in spite of their poopiness.

ira

Glad it went well, teacherlady.

Travelnut

Thanks for that assessment of Goldener Stern. I feel your pain, and hope that my visit during cooler September temperatures will mitigate some of your issues. I'd better pack the Febreze, eh..?

gb

You're right. In a few weeks, I'll forget her attitude and remember the interesting things we saw. (well,maybe a few months) On the other hand, I am crying (only slightly) because I took her to her college orientation today. But, I ask myself, why did she pick a trip where we were together day and night to "individuate"?

Travelsmile

Wonderful information. Many thanks and welcome back. gt;

wren

GB, not a travel related post, but it will get better. My daughter is now 21, and when I look back through the high school years, I can actually almost laugh now, because our relationship has improved so dramatically. I bet you are in for a real treat the next few years, just wait and see how much intelligence your daughter thinks you have acquired in such a short time!

teacherlady

Thanks for all the nice comments. I felt that this trip was very well researched largely due to what I learned on this forum. A few years ago I didn't know the difference between Varenna and Vernazza and now I feel that I've learned so much. Nothing can prepare you for everything, though, but that's part of the fun of travelling. I would like to say, now that I have a little more time, that Europeans treated us very kindly and most of the time went out of their way to help. In Bayeux we needed a doctor for my daughter who had a sinus infection. An employee of the D'Argouges found us a doctor close to the hotel. He examined her and gave us several prescriptions and bent over backwards to make sure we understood the dosages. A man in the Milan train station helped us navigate the subway since the train from Varennna didn't go to Milano Centrale and our train to Lucerne left from there. The only hassles we had were the train strike in France which necessitated an expensive taxi ride from Rouen to Bayeux. Once in Paris we had a very rude taxi driver who was furious when we pointed out we had said "Musee Marmottan" and not "Montmartre". Also, we arrived in Brussels on July 13 ready to take the Eurostar to London and found out it wasn't running that day. They transported us in a bus through the Eurotunnel which was very interesting but it would have been nice to have been notified. They had our e-mail address and our phone number. But other than that and the unexpected heat, the trip went very smoothly. ATM's are everywhere except Bruges! If you're going to Europe soon pack more shorts than I did!

VictoriaK

teacherlady,

We will be staying at the Hotel D'Argouges next month-your impressions would be most welcome!

Intrepid

Hold everything! What train did you take from Varenna that "didn't go to Milano Centrale"??????? All the trains from Varenna go there unless you happend to get one that ended at Lecco or Monza. Tell me more, please!