Paris 2-star hotels
Feb 18th, 2005, 07:28 PM
#21
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wow, great memory by Travelnut, that is important information for you. yes, RATP does say Gobelins station will be closed through April 22nd, so that does make it less convenient for metro. That basically says it is closed for renovations ("est un chantier vert" just means they are doing the renovations in as unobtrusive or ecologically correct manner as possible for the neighborhood, in terms of noise, pollution, etc.).
There is a convenient bus that runs east-west right near there (no. 91) which goes over to near Gare de Lyon and then place de la Bastille, and then the other direction along bd Port Royal all the way to Montparnasse tower. You won't be as easily able to hop on the metro though, which is more versatile in many cases.
The next closest stop is Censier on the same line. That is not terribly far, but is about 5 blocks or so away. I believe the Porte Doree is within only a block or so from that metro station. That line is a lot farther out and you'll have to transfer most likely anyway, so I'm not positive you'll really save a lot of time, if any, by being much nearer to that metro than to Censier. If it were me, given your friend is maybe somewhere near the Sorbonne (do you know where your friend actually resides? that could help a lot), I think the Res. des Gobelins would still be a more convenient location.
There is a convenient bus that runs east-west right near there (no. 91) which goes over to near Gare de Lyon and then place de la Bastille, and then the other direction along bd Port Royal all the way to Montparnasse tower. You won't be as easily able to hop on the metro though, which is more versatile in many cases.
The next closest stop is Censier on the same line. That is not terribly far, but is about 5 blocks or so away. I believe the Porte Doree is within only a block or so from that metro station. That line is a lot farther out and you'll have to transfer most likely anyway, so I'm not positive you'll really save a lot of time, if any, by being much nearer to that metro than to Censier. If it were me, given your friend is maybe somewhere near the Sorbonne (do you know where your friend actually resides? that could help a lot), I think the Res. des Gobelins would still be a more convenient location.
Feb 19th, 2005, 06:25 AM
#22
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Thanks, Christina. My friend is actually living with a family, and I am not sure where he is. He mentioned it is a suburb. But being closer to his school would allow me to meet him say after his classes during the weekdays.
Probably a basic question, but what time does the metro start to run?
By the way, thanks very much Travelnut for alerting me to the closing of that metro station. That does impact my decision. Again, thanks to everyone for your responses.
Probably a basic question, but what time does the metro start to run?
By the way, thanks very much Travelnut for alerting me to the closing of that metro station. That does impact my decision. Again, thanks to everyone for your responses.
Feb 19th, 2005, 12:12 PM
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Keren, would you please mind elaborating a bit more about nevers? For me, the fact of no elevator would not be a big deal (I'd have a duffle), and although the TV of Porte Doree or Gobelins is certainly nice, it isn't essential. What about it did you find basic and not to like as much? The price difference is only about 5 Euros, but multiplying that by five nights is a bit of a difference, plus the Metro access seems pretty good. Thank you.
Feb 19th, 2005, 12:36 PM
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If your friend is staying in a suburb on the northeast side of Paris, then Porte Doree would be close for that. It could even be a suburb near the 12th.
The Sorbonne has buildings and classes in many parts of Paris, so he is not necessarily having classes in the main older building of it near place de la Sorbonne. When I went there, I didn't have a single class in that location, they were in the 13th near Nationale metro stop (not far from Gobelins), near Raspail metro stop and near St Julien le Pauvre church.
The Sorbonne has buildings and classes in many parts of Paris, so he is not necessarily having classes in the main older building of it near place de la Sorbonne. When I went there, I didn't have a single class in that location, they were in the 13th near Nationale metro stop (not far from Gobelins), near Raspail metro stop and near St Julien le Pauvre church.
Feb 19th, 2005, 10:19 PM
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Hi Joe,
I would not pay too much attention to the negative comment regarding the Résidence on tripadvisor.com. I had a talk with Philippe, the owner, who wanted to know how I'd heard about the hotel. I mentioned all the recommendations on the web and in tourist guides, and also that one negative report. He said he knew who had written this, an American family who during their stay had constantly complained about everything (he showed me some letters from them, too). For me, reading this comment: "Pay the extra 20 Euros and stay at the Eiffel Tower Holiday Inn" doesn't make much sense. All I can say is I enjoyed my stay, I felt like coming back home each night, and got a 10% reduction without even asking (like I said, it was a long stay - 13 nights).
About the Nevers (Travelnut - I think Joe is referring to the one in the 11th, which is a quite well known budget hotel. The one on Rue du Bac is much more expensive):
Stained capret in the corridor, dim lights, old washbasin (fine shower, though, albeit small, but I'm petite), tiny towels. It just felt too old. Thin walls, so I could hear some talking (gladly nothing else) in the next room (but this might happen in other hotels, too). The Lebanese restaurant across the street was open most nights, so I had a hard time trying to sleep, even though I closed the windows, so like I said before, ask for a top-floor room. There IS an elevator, but staying on the 2nd floor, I didn't need to use it. The owners are very nice, you can check your e-mail in the foyer. Métro access is indeed very good, with République and Oberkampf stations very nearby, plus there's a fabulous boulangerie on the corner of rue de Malte and blvd. Voltaire.
I would not pay too much attention to the negative comment regarding the Résidence on tripadvisor.com. I had a talk with Philippe, the owner, who wanted to know how I'd heard about the hotel. I mentioned all the recommendations on the web and in tourist guides, and also that one negative report. He said he knew who had written this, an American family who during their stay had constantly complained about everything (he showed me some letters from them, too). For me, reading this comment: "Pay the extra 20 Euros and stay at the Eiffel Tower Holiday Inn" doesn't make much sense. All I can say is I enjoyed my stay, I felt like coming back home each night, and got a 10% reduction without even asking (like I said, it was a long stay - 13 nights).
About the Nevers (Travelnut - I think Joe is referring to the one in the 11th, which is a quite well known budget hotel. The one on Rue du Bac is much more expensive):
Stained capret in the corridor, dim lights, old washbasin (fine shower, though, albeit small, but I'm petite), tiny towels. It just felt too old. Thin walls, so I could hear some talking (gladly nothing else) in the next room (but this might happen in other hotels, too). The Lebanese restaurant across the street was open most nights, so I had a hard time trying to sleep, even though I closed the windows, so like I said before, ask for a top-floor room. There IS an elevator, but staying on the 2nd floor, I didn't need to use it. The owners are very nice, you can check your e-mail in the foyer. Métro access is indeed very good, with République and Oberkampf stations very nearby, plus there's a fabulous boulangerie on the corner of rue de Malte and blvd. Voltaire.
