Paris B & B help
 

We are 5 adult female family members traveling together. This is not our first trip, but our first trip all together.
We are trying to decide between an apartment or a B & B.
We are planning our trip for April 08 and price is an issue-- I would like to keep the cost for accomodations under $500 per person for the week.
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of "Alcôve & Agapes" ? Some accomodations look nice.

Thanks in advance for any info you can share with me.

Linda

You posted this twice . . .

Not familiar w/ Alcôve & Agapes, but w/ as generous a budget as you have, I'd be looking for a 2 or 3 bdrm, 2 bath apartment.

Yes. Sorry. I was trying to post in "Paris" I'm a little rusty on this board.
The budget seems good, but it seems every apartment I look at has a bed in the kitchen or bunk beds or some detriment. The only site that appears to take $$ rather than euros is Vacation in Paris. There was one other but it was way out of our price range. With the rates in euros,at 43 - 45% above the dollar the price inches up. Plus it seems many of the apartments with 2 bedrooms don't have 2 baths.I think with 5 women we need 2 baths or we will never get out of the aprtment!LOL Therefore, I've started to look at B & Bs. I didn't mention our dates are 4/19/08 - 4/26/08 which appear to be high season.

I don't understand the logic of needing to pay in $. Unless a $ rate was set many months ago when the exchange was better - the $ and € rates should come out the same net amount.

Don't think I've ever seen an apartment w/ a bed in the kitchen.

I'd start w/ vrbo.com and homelidays.com - and don't worry too much which currency is quoted. Just do the calculation. Both of these websites, you deal w/ the owners so save a bit w/o agency management fees.

thanks. will take a look

Two hotel rooms would work nicely. I am so not a fan ofan apartment in a lot of ways.

We stayed in a Paris B&B under Alcove etc in September. Very nice home and hostess, Alcove very thorough in its instructions and descriptions. I recommend it.

thanks.
Our party has now grown to 6. I don't think we can afford a three bedroom apartment and I don't see anyone agreeing to sleep -two people- on a pullout sofa.
I did see a B & B in the 13th-- La Villa Paris. Perhaps we could get three double rooms. I don't know very much about this area. Is it difficult to travel from?

I would recommend finding something directly from owners:
www.abritel.fr

I think you will definitely need two bathrooms. I've been in a room with two others and it's not good with one bathroom. You're right, it will take forever for all of you to get ready.

ladylyn915,
La Villa Paris gets great reviews on Trip Advisor. Looks like the #67 bus goes right near it. I have never stayed in that area, but it's probably closest to the 5th arrondissement. Looks like it's located off the rue Bobillot, which goes right off the Place d'Italie. You could walk straight down from there -- according to www.viamichelin.com, it's about a half hour walk from 134, rue Mouffetard. That's the address of the Androuet cheese shop on rue Mouffetard, which is further than the Place d'Italie. The #67 bus goes from Place d'Italie to Rungis in 6 minutes, and it's a 1 minute walk from there to the B&B.

Sandy

ladylyn915,
According to the La Villa Paris website, I was right about the #67 bus. It's stops right by La Villa Paris and goes to Notre Dame and the Louvre, so not difficult to get from there to where you'd want to go. Good luck!

Sandy

Check my math, but $500/week per person comes to $1000/week for a twin room, which averages out to a 110Euro/twin. That isn't too difficult if you act fast. These all sound like acceptable budget hotels on Tripadvisor.

Hotel Familia - 5th arr. 111E/twin
http://www.hotel-paris-familia.com/

Hotel Louvre Forum - 1st arr. 105E/twin
http://www.paris-hotel-louvre-forum.com/

Hotel Madeleine Opera - 8th arr. 92E/twin
http://www.hotel-madeleine-opera.com/us/p1.html

Thanks for all the replies. I will look at the website. If at all possible, I was looking for an alternative to a hotel room. Part of the appeal of this trip was to hang out together--mothers and daughters etc before my daughter's wedding.
I'm thinking that a budget hotel room would not afford us this.
I really like the B & B; I'm just concerned we are going to spend a lot of time getting to various points of interest.

And if course,if an apartment with only one bathroom would be impossible-- we'd never get out of the dwelling with Four twenty something girls.

We travelled as a family to Paris--3 children, spouses/girl friend, and parents. Each couple had their own room and we were quite able to get together and visit--either in a room, or in the lobby and breakfast room of the small hotel.

Not sure how a B&B would provide more room for gatherings... they are usually rooms in homes, or apartment-type places. If you are picturing an American-style B&B, with a garden, patio, lounge or such, I don't think you'll find that in Paris B&Bs. But I could be wrong.

Small hotels may permit you to gather in the breakfast room in off-hours.

Travelnut,
One B&B that ladylyn was talking about is inspired by a Cape Cod B&B. It does appear to have a room where guests can get together -- La Villa Paris. One of the reviews on tripadvisor had photos.

Sandy

Paris doesn't have hardly any B&Bs, but if you've found one that had some common room where you can all hang out, that's good if you like it.

I think any agency headquartered in the US accepts USD as payment, there are certainly more than vacationinparis. But that is really irrelevant in terms of it making things cheaper, it doesn't. It's just math to convert one rate to another. As someone else said, unless the owner set a rate a year ago and must stick to it for a long period, it really doesn't matter how the exchange rate is going as any agency can just change the USD price for the rental to accommodate the owner.

I've seen an apt. with a bed in the kitchen, I thought it was tacky as I commented on another post (it is one of Vacationinparis' apts). But other folks thought it was useful for teens (or maybe Cinderella).

'La Villa Paris' does look nice and is in a charming area, although you will be traveling from there to anywhere you want to sightsee, since it's quite a bit 'south' of center. The room rates put you over your budget though... 130E/night for a week puts you at about $650 per person.

OK - 1 apartment w/ a bed in the kitchen :)

But there are hundreds of others w/ no beds in the kitchen.

ladylyn915: I would not stay in a B&B in Paris unless it is in a very convenient location and saves money. Most will not meet both of those criteria (or either one). In country villages, B&Bs are a whole different thing. Houses/cottages/villas w/ gardens, etc. In Paris they are mostly just rooms in apartments. For the money I'd reather stay in a centrally located hotel. Many hotels also have residents lounges BTW.

But for a group that size I'd really rather rent a nice flat w/ a living room, a kitchen (even if you don't plan on cooking, a kitchen is a real convenience), and 1.5 or 2 baths.

As someone else mentioned above I would check out VRBO again. I have seen rentals quoted in US $ and owned by Americans: phone # in USA, also I do recall seeing one fellow who owned 5 apartments in the same building next to each other,within your budget, which might do for 3 in each apartment. I'd check that site again. Good luck.

And thanks to all for info for future trips.

Trvelnut, you are right! It would actually be $720 per person after the exchange-- and that's without the CC fees. Definetely out of our budget. Oh well....
I will go back to vrbo and some of the other apartment sites.

And -- don't limit yourselves to properties w/ $US rates. € or $ makes no difference re cost . . . . .

If you get two triple rooms (you said 6 people, right?) at the Hotel Familia (good value hotel in the 5th arr linked above), you will pay just a smidge over $500 per person for a week.

If nobody wants to sleep on a pullout sofa in an apartment, that's going to be your best bet imho -- can find a budget hotel with two triple rooms available.

www.hotel-paris-familia.com

janisj


"And -- don't limit yourselves to properties w/ $US rates. € or $ makes no difference re cost . . . "

I'm not getting this. If the cost is €2000 for the week or $2000 for the week how is there no difference?


cheryllj
I think this may have to be what we wind up with, but its not my first choice.

I wll keep looking at apartments. I did see some 3 bedroom ones on vrbo.com and www.abritel.fr
as suggested.

thank you all for taking the time to help

I think what she meant was, don't look only for quotes in $$. Quotes in €€ will be the equiv. of $$, of course the numeric value will be different.

ok now I get it. But, from what I have seen, that doesn't seem to be the case. So, I think I should go back to homelidays and vrbo and look more closely. thanks

&quot;<i>But, from what I have seen, that doesn't seem to be the case.</i>&quot;

OK - let's say an apartment is &euro;900 a week. That would = approximately $1295. Or &euro;1000 = approx $1440

Of course we aren't saying &euro;1000 = $1000. A $1500-ish apartment would be the same quality/size loctaion whether it costs $1500 or &euro;1040.

You really need to just think in the net cost no matter which currency is used.

We have rented from Claudette of France: Homestyle
http://www.francehomestyle.com/prope...ionrentals.asp

and would rent from her again. There are a couple of apartments that may serve you well.

Its been a couple of weeks and we are still deciding... ( and let me tell you its becoming tedious) seems way too much time to make a final decision. But, I suppose its my own fault--I'm trying to be democratic and give everyone in our party a say. That soon, may have to change!!
I have one more question for the board. Does anyone have first hand info on the apartment offered by Hotel Muguet? It is called Financiere Muguet. I tried to find its location and distance from the Hotel on a map, but I couldn't find the street the hotel is on for a comparison. I don't know if it is available for our April dates, but if so,we may opt for two double rooms with a view of ET for four and the two room studio for the other two.( the &euro;190 is too high for two of the group). Otherwise the less expensive double at &euro;135 will have to do although I remember some posts stating that these room are very tiny.
As always, any insights appreciated.

Any thoughts?

Well I booked my stay with my friends at http://www.all-paris-apartments.com, i found it via a blog called http://accommodatieparijs.blogspot.com

Perhaps you could take a look at the first url. I think they both offer b &amp; b 's and apartments.

Thanks Suzanne!
The group has definitely moved away from the apartment option. But the website is great. I have saved it for perhaps a future trip.

So did you look at the 3 hotels I listed above that meet your budget..?

I know you said you've given up on the apartment idea, but for $3000 for the week, ($500 x 6 people) you could find a really great apartment. I wish I had that budget, but I try to spend less than that for a month! Here's a 3 bedroom apartment on Rue Cler with great reviews from people who stayed in groups of 6 or 7. And it has 2 bathrooms.

http://www.homelidays.com/paris-07/a...at99496en1.htm

I hope you find something great that meets your needs.

I thought they only had $2500 for the week not $3000 (5 people, 250 each). I agree you could find something in an apartment for that rate, but the one listed from homelidays isn't available in April, anyway. But it would be in that budget.

I didn't know Muguet had an apt, that's interesting. It's on rue St Dominique, around the corner of Ave Bosquet. The hotel is on rue Chevert, a bit south of ave de la Motte Piquet and near bd de la Tour Maubourg.

It's about four blocks away.

Travelnut, I did and I like the Familia and her sister hotel the Minerve. However, I have already stayed in the 5th and would like to stay elsewhere this time. But the price is definetely good. I'm keeping it in mind if the current option does not work out. The other two hotels are in the 1st and 8th and they are not my favorite either. I really like the Left bank.
As the trip evolves, we now have 4 people staying 5 nights and my daughter and I will stay the original week. Alhough I attempted to split up the cost of the apartment by day and by person, the apartment concept just didn't work- very few had 3B/2B. As mentioned no one wanted to sleep on the sofa. Most apartments required a large sum up-front which we felt would require trip insurance. And the other gals weren't overly excited about an apartment--guess they don't want to make their own beds!!!
The Muguet is in the 7th; the rooms vary in price. Therefore, we could actually reserve one of the &quot;view&quot; rooms ( the two with all the money! he he) and a superior room and then two of us ( my daughter and I) could rent the 2 room flat for the week. Seems like a good plan. However, this may not work either since the flat may not be available until Sunday, 4/20 or Monday, 4/21. But it does look nice enough. And thank you Christina, it would be close enough to go back and forth with my relatives. So we'll see. We could also rent the queen room or another superior room in place of the flat. And... meanwhile the airfare continues to creep up.

Thank you all very much. I know I have been all over the place with planning this trip. Trying to watch everyone's budget, knowing the type rooms they are used has been a challenge.

Went to Paris for a week last fall and you need to be careful when booking because the hotels are not what they are represented as on the hotels websites. Go to venere.com for hotel reviews. We stayed in a charming hotel in the area surrounding the Louvre. What a super area. Many, many, cafes, restaurants, shops, etc. the subway terminal was on our street and we could walk to the Louvre. There is a Best western in this area that people we met raved about. Excellent location for everything. If you can find something for $5oo a week , more power to you. We paid almost $300 a night for a &quot;quaint&quot; place. Next time we'll check out the Best Western. Planning to go back on our 40th ann. in a few years. Most Band B's are not in the city centre and you have to factor taxi costs and time wasted getting to city centre ares into you costs. Highly recommend the City Illuminations tour by night. Your hotel, etc. can book it for you. A boat ride down the Seine after dark was amazing. went the next morning and did it again in the daytime. Have fun.

Have you priced Hotel Muguet? Doubles are 130E and twins are 170E. It isn't cheap anymore.

You want to stay on the RG but not in the 5th. The 6th isn't going to have a nice option for your rate*. That does leave the 7th, or a further-out arrondissement. Are you interested in the 13th or 14th? Or the 15th on the other side of the Eiffel?

*there are a couple but check the reviews:
&lt;&gt;Hotel Rive Gauche
Doubles/twins 85-110&euro;
http://www.hotelrivegauche.com/

&lt;&gt;Hotel des Canettes
Doubles/twins 112-123 &euro;
http://www.parishotelcanettes.com/
their price list also shows several apartments 162-208&euro;

I've stayed in one of the smallest rooms at Muguet and it was VERY small. Maybe some doubles at that 139 euro rate would be bigger than what I had, as I was alone and they stick singles with the smallest rooms even if you tell them you don't care about cost, you'll pay more (which I did). They just do what they want there, although at least now you can reserve the view rooms. I didn't pay 130 euro, that's for sure, although it was a couple years ago. They had a couch or two in the lobby, if you wanted to talk to others there, though.

But there are other budget hotels in that area, that everyone wouldn't have to be at the exact same hotel. Hotel Champ du Mars, France Invalides, Grand Hotel Leveque, Turenne, Royal Phare are all probably around that range. The Hotel de l'Empereur is just on the corner down from the Muguet, and I read they recently renovated. Actually, I think all of those hotels are cheaper than the Muguet, some by quite a lot, if that's really a consideration. They are all 2* hotels.

http://www.hotel-leveque.com/
http://www.hoteldefrance.com/
http://www.hotel-du-champ-de-mars.com/
http://www.hotel-royalphare-paris.com
http://www.hotelempereur.com/

The St Dominique and Turenne aren't too far away, either
http://www.hotelstdominique.com/

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75007turenne.htm

Thanks for the tips on that flat, actually, I was looking at the photos and it looks pretty nice and the price is reasonable for vacation apts (135 euro a day). I didn't like staying at the Muguet myself, I prefer something with more amenities and bigger rooms, but that apt. isn't bad. It doesn't mention size, so I imagine it's small but it would be good for one person, as a lot of rental apts are over 150 euro, even if very small. I don't think I'd want two people in there who weren't a couple, unless it has a foldout sofabed (it doesn't say it does). The bed appears to be just a regular double bed, or they'd say queen or king (the Muguet uses the term queen bed in its hotel, so I'm sure they would). I'd want to know more about that apt. if I were going to book it, though (like size and what floor it's on).