Paris and Rome question
Mar 3rd, 2008, 06:26 AM
#1
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Paris and Rome question
Hello all. We are planning a family trip leaving for Paris on Christmas day, travelling by train to Rome on the 30th and staying until January 3rd.
Are most of the museums and attractions open in Paris and Rome that time of year, or do some close for the holidays?
Aslo, does anyone have any feedback about the Hilton Paris La Defense and/or the Kolbe Hotel in Rome?
Are most of the museums and attractions open in Paris and Rome that time of year, or do some close for the holidays?
Aslo, does anyone have any feedback about the Hilton Paris La Defense and/or the Kolbe Hotel in Rome?
Mar 3rd, 2008, 07:56 AM
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This website http://www.paesionline.com/europe/fr...is/museums.asp will give you the information you need about when the museums are closed.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 09:32 AM
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No I haven't timed the train travel. My husband wanted to do the train trip to relive a trip he made in the late 60's. We are in the early planning of this trip and are trying to do it ourselves.
After reading some more reviews about Hilton La Defense, I think we will consider Sofitel Arc de Triomphe. Any feedback on this hotel?
After reading some more reviews about Hilton La Defense, I think we will consider Sofitel Arc de Triomphe. Any feedback on this hotel?
Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:01 AM
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nolefan are who are you traveling with? Are you planning any stops between Paris and Rome? I trained from Paris to Rome but made stops in Switzerland and Florence.
It is a long train ride from Paris to Rome - and I have not heard a lot of positive feedback.
Btw, we will be in Paris the same time as you
It is a long train ride from Paris to Rome - and I have not heard a lot of positive feedback.
Btw, we will be in Paris the same time as you
Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:25 AM
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The trip will include myself, husband, 24yr old son and 16yr. old daughter. Another family of 3 adults is going also.
My husband was a teenager when he and his brother took this train trip and he said it was the most beautiful scenery he had ever witnessed. This was a bold statement coming from a teenage boy that normally does not care about things like that. He said it was an overnight trip and the berths were somewhat uncomfortable but he still enjoyed it.
Will his now 59yr old body enjoy it as well? Who knows, but since he is being such a dear to give us this trip, I'll go along. We will probably end up using a travel agency, since I have never booked train travel and don't know where to begin.
My husband was a teenager when he and his brother took this train trip and he said it was the most beautiful scenery he had ever witnessed. This was a bold statement coming from a teenage boy that normally does not care about things like that. He said it was an overnight trip and the berths were somewhat uncomfortable but he still enjoyed it.
Will his now 59yr old body enjoy it as well? Who knows, but since he is being such a dear to give us this trip, I'll go along. We will probably end up using a travel agency, since I have never booked train travel and don't know where to begin.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:34 AM
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nolefan - I am giggling... yes, I think he might have a different experience this time, but totally understand if this is the thing he wants to do by all means.
I booked all our train travel through Paris, Switzerland and Italy from here - it was not an issue - and I was very happy to have it all. I got a lot of GREAT advice on how to do it (thank you Ira!) here or would have been lost.
We stayed in a lovely room at the Hotel Du Lourve which was a suite for dh and I; a corner lovely room, with a connecting door through the bathroom to our daughter's rooms. I believe if memory serves me correctly that it had two twins in it. The second room was 50% off. The staff was fantastic and the breakfasts were our daughters (10 and 14 then) favorite part of Paris LOL.
It is in the first and we walked everywhere in Paris. Now, at Christmas time it might be too cold.
I booked all our train travel through Paris, Switzerland and Italy from here - it was not an issue - and I was very happy to have it all. I got a lot of GREAT advice on how to do it (thank you Ira!) here or would have been lost.
We stayed in a lovely room at the Hotel Du Lourve which was a suite for dh and I; a corner lovely room, with a connecting door through the bathroom to our daughter's rooms. I believe if memory serves me correctly that it had two twins in it. The second room was 50% off. The staff was fantastic and the breakfasts were our daughters (10 and 14 then) favorite part of Paris LOL.
It is in the first and we walked everywhere in Paris. Now, at Christmas time it might be too cold.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:43 AM
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Thanks dawn. My daughter and I were in Paris in November and it was cold, gray and the metro and buses was on strike. We bundled up and walked everywhere and had a blast! I'm going to check out the Hotel Du Louvre; that connecting room you mentioned sounds perfect.
I'll be asking for lots of help from ira and all the in the know fodors.
I'll be asking for lots of help from ira and all the in the know fodors.
Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:50 AM
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nolefan - I emailed the Hotel Du Lourve upon the suggestion of someone on an AOL travel board who recommended it. It got mixed reviews on Tripadvisor but we were very happy with the arrangments. They also arranged a car to pick us up at the airport and it went without any hitches.
We got delayed in Dallas and then were re-routed through Chile (yes you read that right) and I was a day late checking in. I emailed the hotel from the airport in Chile and they were very accomadating, canceling our rooms, resturant reservations and car pick up...with no charges incurred. I was very pleased.
We generally stay in middle of the road accomadations, Marriotts (see: points) or Starwood properties (see: again points) and I would say this was along those lines - nice but not luxury. Our bed was very comfortable and I was very happy about that after traveling for a few days to get there...
We got delayed in Dallas and then were re-routed through Chile (yes you read that right) and I was a day late checking in. I emailed the hotel from the airport in Chile and they were very accomadating, canceling our rooms, resturant reservations and car pick up...with no charges incurred. I was very pleased.
We generally stay in middle of the road accomadations, Marriotts (see: points) or Starwood properties (see: again points) and I would say this was along those lines - nice but not luxury. Our bed was very comfortable and I was very happy about that after traveling for a few days to get there...
Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:15 AM
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Well it sounds fine to me. I have been reading up on all the hotels we are considering on TripAdvisor and all are mixed. We also stay middle of the road since not much time is actually spent in the hotel. As long as it isn't noisy and is clean...that is our main concerns. The added breakfast, a definite plus!
Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:39 AM
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It was actually pretty - very Paris . I will see if I can dig up any photos from the inside of the rooms... I am not good about taking those.
I do not rely very much on Tripadvisor. I mean if it ALL bad then so be it. The hotel we stayed in Montruex also got very mixed reviews and we loved it. (So much I have forgotten the name!)
. I will see if I can dig up any photos from the inside of the rooms... I am not good about taking those. I do not rely very much on Tripadvisor. I mean if it ALL bad then so be it. The hotel we stayed in Montruex also got very mixed reviews and we loved it. (So much I have forgotten the name!)
Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:46 AM
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http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/e...etrip07090.jpg
This is the only one I can find of any of the inside of the hotel room.
This is the only one I can find of any of the inside of the hotel room.
Mar 4th, 2008, 11:58 AM
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OK, I just have to ask...if it was an overnight train, how did he see all that beautiful scenery? 
And I have to also add that if he found he berths uncomfortable then, I doubt he'll enjoy them much now!
That aside, that hotel in Rome isn't in the best location. Not real bad, but you would be closer to a lot more if you looked in the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area.
And I have to also add that if he found he berths uncomfortable then, I doubt he'll enjoy them much now!
That aside, that hotel in Rome isn't in the best location. Not real bad, but you would be closer to a lot more if you looked in the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area.
Mar 4th, 2008, 01:29 PM
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It wasn't all overnight and he got to see the sunrise. Thanks for the tip on the hotel, I'll check in the areas you suggested.
I guess DH is willing to put up with some aches and pains. Oh well, it will be an adventure!
I guess DH is willing to put up with some aches and pains. Oh well, it will be an adventure!
Mar 4th, 2008, 03:07 PM
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am not sure what route you are taking from Paris to Rome. I am assuming the spectacular scenery your husband is remembering is through the Alps. When we lived in Germany and took our first (train) trip to Italy my husband insisted on doing a daylight trip over the Brenner Pass and I have to admit it was spectacular. We were going on the first leg from Munich to Trent, and Paris to Rome is of course much longer.
We both enjoy train travel and took many overnight trips when we lived in Europe. I first traveled in Europe with a Eurailpass and took many overnight trips w/o couchettes, so any trip with a berth still seems quite luxurious to me
We both enjoy train travel and took many overnight trips when we lived in Europe. I first traveled in Europe with a Eurailpass and took many overnight trips w/o couchettes, so any trip with a berth still seems quite luxurious to me
Mar 4th, 2008, 03:34 PM
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When my sister and I did the train trip from Paris to Rome years ago, it was 18 hours long. I will grant that the length varies depending on the route. Suffice it to say, however, that regardless of the route, the trip will be long. Why not break it up with a stop for a day, or overnight, at some in-between spot? We stopped in Annecy int he Frency Alps, but there are any number of wonderful towns and cities along the way.
As Vttraveller says, you will appreciate the scenery best during daylight hours, so plan accordingly.
Re: Hilton Paris La Defense - if this is the family's first trip (other than your husband) to Paris, I would not stay in the outskirts of Paris. Although transportation is available (metro line 1), first it will take some time to get to and fro. Second, this is a commercial and office area, so there is not much activity at night. Better, I think, to be in a more central location "where the action is", as it were.
As Vttraveller says, you will appreciate the scenery best during daylight hours, so plan accordingly.
Re: Hilton Paris La Defense - if this is the family's first trip (other than your husband) to Paris, I would not stay in the outskirts of Paris. Although transportation is available (metro line 1), first it will take some time to get to and fro. Second, this is a commercial and office area, so there is not much activity at night. Better, I think, to be in a more central location "where the action is", as it were.
