Paris hotel for a group of 70+s
Jan 16th, 2008, 07:58 PM
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Paris hotel for a group of 70+s
A guy at work today came up to me and asked me how I choose a hotel when I travel.
It was revealed that his parents want to travel to Paris as a group of 16 in their 70s for their first and only trip of a lifetime.
It became apparent that they would need 8 rooms together, want to travel together and would need help with their luggage.
Is recommending a tour company the way to go? If so any recommendations on a company from Vancouver Canada?
It was revealed that his parents want to travel to Paris as a group of 16 in their 70s for their first and only trip of a lifetime.
It became apparent that they would need 8 rooms together, want to travel together and would need help with their luggage.
Is recommending a tour company the way to go? If so any recommendations on a company from Vancouver Canada?
Jan 17th, 2008, 03:08 AM
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If they are pretty independent, I don't think they need a tour company, though a good travel agent would be a big help. If they want guided tours of the city or out to Giverny or Rheims in mini-busses, a good travel agent can arrange all that.
1. They need to be prepared to pay for taxis from CDG to their hotel in Paris. I would not book a van service because we have found them sufficiently unreliable that the savings over a taxi for people that age don't make up for the anxiety after an overnight flight.
2. In looking for a hotel, they should look for modern and efficient rather than quaint and charming. I think a Hilton in the 7th has gotten good ratings on here (and I think it has been available on Priceline) and we have stayed at a Holiday Inn in the 6th with good results (Holiday Inn St Germaine des Pres, 92 Rue de Vaugirard). This hotel is air conditioned, across the street from the Metro, has a cash machine just outside, and there is a good cafe across the street.
They should, however, be counseled that overseas hotels of American brands are locally owned and may not have things (like ice) that they would expect at home. At the same time, they are often more upscale (i.e., Best Western) than the same brand at home. But possibly still no ice.
If they have big bucks and want to spend them, then they should certainly deal with a travel agent who can put them in classic hotels in the most famous parts of the city.
Why not just go on a tour? We have given up on tours, even expensive ones, because ours have had us fly back to the US at ungodly early hours in the morning (leaving the hotel at 4AM in Venice and Barcelona). Never again.
1. They need to be prepared to pay for taxis from CDG to their hotel in Paris. I would not book a van service because we have found them sufficiently unreliable that the savings over a taxi for people that age don't make up for the anxiety after an overnight flight.
2. In looking for a hotel, they should look for modern and efficient rather than quaint and charming. I think a Hilton in the 7th has gotten good ratings on here (and I think it has been available on Priceline) and we have stayed at a Holiday Inn in the 6th with good results (Holiday Inn St Germaine des Pres, 92 Rue de Vaugirard). This hotel is air conditioned, across the street from the Metro, has a cash machine just outside, and there is a good cafe across the street.
They should, however, be counseled that overseas hotels of American brands are locally owned and may not have things (like ice) that they would expect at home. At the same time, they are often more upscale (i.e., Best Western) than the same brand at home. But possibly still no ice.
If they have big bucks and want to spend them, then they should certainly deal with a travel agent who can put them in classic hotels in the most famous parts of the city.
Why not just go on a tour? We have given up on tours, even expensive ones, because ours have had us fly back to the US at ungodly early hours in the morning (leaving the hotel at 4AM in Venice and Barcelona). Never again.
Jan 17th, 2008, 05:22 AM
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The fact that a tour had you leave your hotel at an early hour may have nothing to do with a tour. you might have needed to do it alone too.
I think a tour provider might be needed for this group, just for safety of having someone to call in case of a snafu.
They should shop for someone. Tell them their budget--for example, we want hotel rooms in the $150/night range. If they can't provide that, then move on to another.
The other possibility is to buy a package through one of the airlines, dealing with a rep on the phone, explaining that they need everyone to be in the same hotel. The "problem" with packages is that if you are a couple you are paying double for the hotel room, in essence. But there are times when fares are high, that packages become the most economical possibility.
If they wanted to do it on their own, they could opt for a chain hotel like IBIS and get rooms that are very very clean, pedestrian, little "soul", but very cheap--under $100.
Taxis from CDG would be as good a solution as any--4 per cab, and the price per person will be less than $15 with door to door service and without the angst of the shuttles .
I think a tour provider might be needed for this group, just for safety of having someone to call in case of a snafu.
They should shop for someone. Tell them their budget--for example, we want hotel rooms in the $150/night range. If they can't provide that, then move on to another.
The other possibility is to buy a package through one of the airlines, dealing with a rep on the phone, explaining that they need everyone to be in the same hotel. The "problem" with packages is that if you are a couple you are paying double for the hotel room, in essence. But there are times when fares are high, that packages become the most economical possibility.
If they wanted to do it on their own, they could opt for a chain hotel like IBIS and get rooms that are very very clean, pedestrian, little "soul", but very cheap--under $100.
Taxis from CDG would be as good a solution as any--4 per cab, and the price per person will be less than $15 with door to door service and without the angst of the shuttles .
Jan 17th, 2008, 06:31 AM
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Gretchen, good idea to suggest airline packages. They certainly advertise some very interesting deals in the newspapers, and many of them offer extensions on the ground.
On your other point, I never have to get up before dawn to take an early plane when we travel on our own. We do not try to sightsee until the last minute. We spend the night before the flight at a boring airport hotel, an option tours have not offered in our experience.
They also try to get everyone on the earliest possible flights to the US on the assumption that people want to get home that night and may have long domestic flights to make. This is a reasonable assumption, except for those of us on the East Coast, who live in places with direct flights to LHR, LGW, CDG, FCO etc. I realize that we are the exception, but I find that losing sleep has been the biggest disincentive to travel after I turned 60.
On your other point, I never have to get up before dawn to take an early plane when we travel on our own. We do not try to sightsee until the last minute. We spend the night before the flight at a boring airport hotel, an option tours have not offered in our experience.
They also try to get everyone on the earliest possible flights to the US on the assumption that people want to get home that night and may have long domestic flights to make. This is a reasonable assumption, except for those of us on the East Coast, who live in places with direct flights to LHR, LGW, CDG, FCO etc. I realize that we are the exception, but I find that losing sleep has been the biggest disincentive to travel after I turned 60.
Jan 17th, 2008, 10:51 AM
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A couple of questions:
What do you mean by help with their luggage? do they not want to touch it at all except for carry-ons? Or can they get it from the airport to the bus or cab themselves on luggage carts.
Eight double rooms - with staff that will deal with luggage - means they can;t do B&Bs, small boutique hotels or very modest places - since it seems they may need 24 hour help.
Are they comfortable dealing with cab drivers? Bus drivers? Taking the Metro by themselves?
Without knowing them - where they live, are they used to large cities, how mobile/energetic they are without luggage - and how adaptable/adventurous they are it's hard to say.
Maybe they're all Elderhostel material and ready/willing to be adventurous and explore new situations. If not - a tour is probably a good idea.
What do you mean by help with their luggage? do they not want to touch it at all except for carry-ons? Or can they get it from the airport to the bus or cab themselves on luggage carts.
Eight double rooms - with staff that will deal with luggage - means they can;t do B&Bs, small boutique hotels or very modest places - since it seems they may need 24 hour help.
Are they comfortable dealing with cab drivers? Bus drivers? Taking the Metro by themselves?
Without knowing them - where they live, are they used to large cities, how mobile/energetic they are without luggage - and how adaptable/adventurous they are it's hard to say.
Maybe they're all Elderhostel material and ready/willing to be adventurous and explore new situations. If not - a tour is probably a good idea.
Jan 17th, 2008, 11:17 AM
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I think a tour group could be a good idea for these folks, as it seems they basically want a tour. Otherwise, as an independent person, you are going to have trouble booking 8 rooms without prepaying. Hotels just won't let you reserve 8 rooms without paying unless they have experience with a particular business.
I don't really know any special ones from Canada, actually, but since they have their own group already (it seems), they might find some travel agent or something who could put a personal tour together. I wouldn't do that myself, I'm just saying it is possible. I think a tour group in business usually knows the ropes, the vendors, has contacts with local guides, etc.
I've done a couple tours and there wasn't anything unusual about the hours we had to get up that would have differed if I'd done it on my own. Tours don't usually make you get up at 5 am for literally no reason. Flights back from Europe leave at pretty regular times, so in order to get one, you may indeed have to get up pretty early. ONe tour I was on made us get up early, but it was to catch a particular train to go far south, and if I had been on my own, it would have been the same schedule only I would have had to arrange everything myself and probably have gotten up even earlier to do everything. On the tour, I knew everything was handled and all I had to do was put my bags outside my door for them to pick up and throw on some clothes and get some coffee--then get on a bus at the front door of the hotel which took us directly to the train station and right onto it as we didn't have to worry about getting the tickets, reserving cabs, making sure they arrive, figuring out where to go, etc.
I don't travel in tours any more as I know more how to travel, but I think they have a lot of advantages for certain kinds of people.
I don't really know any special ones from Canada, actually, but since they have their own group already (it seems), they might find some travel agent or something who could put a personal tour together. I wouldn't do that myself, I'm just saying it is possible. I think a tour group in business usually knows the ropes, the vendors, has contacts with local guides, etc.
I've done a couple tours and there wasn't anything unusual about the hours we had to get up that would have differed if I'd done it on my own. Tours don't usually make you get up at 5 am for literally no reason. Flights back from Europe leave at pretty regular times, so in order to get one, you may indeed have to get up pretty early. ONe tour I was on made us get up early, but it was to catch a particular train to go far south, and if I had been on my own, it would have been the same schedule only I would have had to arrange everything myself and probably have gotten up even earlier to do everything. On the tour, I knew everything was handled and all I had to do was put my bags outside my door for them to pick up and throw on some clothes and get some coffee--then get on a bus at the front door of the hotel which took us directly to the train station and right onto it as we didn't have to worry about getting the tickets, reserving cabs, making sure they arrive, figuring out where to go, etc.
I don't travel in tours any more as I know more how to travel, but I think they have a lot of advantages for certain kinds of people.
Jan 17th, 2008, 05:48 PM
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As someone in my 70's, I want to announce to you all that we don't drool, can navigate (probably) and can handle our own money!! I think the OP needs to say if this is true.
another possibility for this group is something like ABC tours--they make the the land and air arrangements, and the rest is up to the person.
And it reallydoes depend on how travel savvy ALL the people are--or if some aren't, then who will be their buddies.
Since it was billed as "their first and only trip of a lifetime"--that says TOUR to me--no doubt about it. Or it will be the trip from H L .And a waste.
another possibility for this group is something like ABC tours--they make the the land and air arrangements, and the rest is up to the person.
And it reallydoes depend on how travel savvy ALL the people are--or if some aren't, then who will be their buddies.
Since it was billed as "their first and only trip of a lifetime"--that says TOUR to me--no doubt about it. Or it will be the trip from H L .And a waste.
Jan 17th, 2008, 11:18 PM
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I'm looking forward to still travelling when I am in my 70's. Knees and hips allowing!! I hope they all have a fabulous time, and that if this is the trip of a lifetime that they can afford somewhere gorgeous to stay. If they delegate a couple of the group to work out an itinerary they should be just fine on their own. I would agree with the comment from Ackislander about modern rather than quaint hotels.
Jan 18th, 2008, 04:12 AM
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You will notice that Ici the Cat has NOT come back... I vote that we stop giving advice (or bragging about how fit and savvy all of US 70+ folks are) until we hear from him.
Me, I listen carefully to wordings ... the words "First" shows us they haven't felt much wanderlust until now which makes me wonder how well they deal with change and strangeness, and "only" may speak to how they feel about their relative fitness. "Together" not only for rooms but getting there, shows anxieties not only about being in a foreign environment but maybe about air travel as well. To me this spells "leader/Trip Mommy". If they need this help simply for accommodation, how would they cope with planning daily activities, manuevering about the city, and findng restaurants?
Tours can be bad or excellent. This guy's goal should be to find the best possible tour for their needs.
Me, I listen carefully to wordings ... the words "First" shows us they haven't felt much wanderlust until now which makes me wonder how well they deal with change and strangeness, and "only" may speak to how they feel about their relative fitness. "Together" not only for rooms but getting there, shows anxieties not only about being in a foreign environment but maybe about air travel as well. To me this spells "leader/Trip Mommy". If they need this help simply for accommodation, how would they cope with planning daily activities, manuevering about the city, and findng restaurants?
Tours can be bad or excellent. This guy's goal should be to find the best possible tour for their needs.
Jan 18th, 2008, 04:29 AM
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True, we don't know anything about the group but I had to chuckle at some of the responses here - making it sound as if the aged & decrepit were going to hit Paris. My parents are in their 70s and we travel together all the time, and trust me none of us are the type who have go back to the hotel to rest mid day or need a taxi to get to the end of the block; this may shock a lot of you but it's nothing for us to leave the hotel before 8 am and not return until almost midnight. Obviously many are not as fortunate health-wise but I think before we write this group off as barely able to function that we wait for the OP to supply more info. A combination of independent travel and guided tours might be the way to go. This group is in their 70s, they are not DEAD!
Jan 18th, 2008, 08:57 AM
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I don't know why some people on here have to be so defensive about their age, it shows they have issues with it, not others.
This is a group of 16 people who want to travel together, and all apparently for the first time. It boggles my mind. And while all you 70 year olds on here who get offended by almost anything, a lot of people (70 or not) are not going to be up at 8 am and not returning to a hotel until midnight. Most people don't do that. My parents were very able and in very good health, and when they traveled alone to Europe in their early 70s for the first time, my Mom said they enjoyed it, but they did get tired and had problems and definitely were not on the go from 8 to midnight.
I get real tired of the complaints on here by some older folks who want to try to pretend they aren't a certain age or ignore reality, and get offended by nothing.
This is a group of 16 people who want to travel together, and all apparently for the first time. It boggles my mind. And while all you 70 year olds on here who get offended by almost anything, a lot of people (70 or not) are not going to be up at 8 am and not returning to a hotel until midnight. Most people don't do that. My parents were very able and in very good health, and when they traveled alone to Europe in their early 70s for the first time, my Mom said they enjoyed it, but they did get tired and had problems and definitely were not on the go from 8 to midnight.
I get real tired of the complaints on here by some older folks who want to try to pretend they aren't a certain age or ignore reality, and get offended by nothing.
Jan 18th, 2008, 09:31 AM
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The other side is: why is it that so many seem to feel that over 60, over 70 people are almost helpless, unable to travel alone!!That is most certainly wrong!!
I know 40 yr. olds who act like what must be thought of as a 100 year old!
As far as up early and up late..that is not true for most. I am an early person..always have been..I also have always wilted early. Old saying..can't burn candle at both ends!
Numbers have nothing to do with your stamina..it is all a matter of how healthy you are.....
I know 40 yr. olds who act like what must be thought of as a 100 year old!
As far as up early and up late..that is not true for most. I am an early person..always have been..I also have always wilted early. Old saying..can't burn candle at both ends!
Numbers have nothing to do with your stamina..it is all a matter of how healthy you are.....
Jan 18th, 2008, 02:06 PM
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Christina you are missing the point - I was only using my parents as example and I mentioned that they are fortunate to enjoy good health and therefore are very active. I was simply trying to state that this group of 70 year olds are most likely not helpless and can probably function.
I have no clue what you were babbling about with "I get real tired of the complaints on here by some older folks who want to try to pretend they aren't a certain age or ignore reality" HUH?
I think Gretchen has summed it up quite nicely, maybe you should re-read her post.
I have no clue what you were babbling about with "I get real tired of the complaints on here by some older folks who want to try to pretend they aren't a certain age or ignore reality" HUH?
I think Gretchen has summed it up quite nicely, maybe you should re-read her post.
Jan 18th, 2008, 03:14 PM
#18
Well, I'm quite a bit shy of 70 but I have parents and in-laws in their late 80's and know a lot of seniors in my line of work. 70 is just not that old! Paul Newman is 82 I think and just decided to retire last week. Bet he gave up the race car driving after 70.
My father painted the exterior of our 2 story, 5 BR house alone at 84. Okay, he had one slip on the ladder but was right back up there the next day after some Advil. (Please note we did not condone this activity.)
I had a 94-year-old patient who was still sailing his boat solo from NYC to Bermuda every spring. He was pretty annoyed to have to spend a few nights in the hospital when his blood sugar got funky.
Last summer I picked up a 92-year-old hitch-hiker by the boat landing on Block Island. He had sailed there for the weekend alone from NY and said his wife was getting a bit tired of him leaving her alone and taking these trips
(My kids were horrified when I told them the story, "Mom, you told us never to pick up hitch hikers!!")
I have been danced off many a dance floor by the 70+ crowd...and they have better moves out there than I do too.
I am 47 and need my little nap at 4 pm so I can stay out late. And sometimes if it's a really good nap I do drool a bit...
Yup, with so many people living independently into the 100s, 70 is the new 30....
My father painted the exterior of our 2 story, 5 BR house alone at 84. Okay, he had one slip on the ladder but was right back up there the next day after some Advil. (Please note we did not condone this activity.)
I had a 94-year-old patient who was still sailing his boat solo from NYC to Bermuda every spring. He was pretty annoyed to have to spend a few nights in the hospital when his blood sugar got funky.
Last summer I picked up a 92-year-old hitch-hiker by the boat landing on Block Island. He had sailed there for the weekend alone from NY and said his wife was getting a bit tired of him leaving her alone and taking these trips
(My kids were horrified when I told them the story, "Mom, you told us never to pick up hitch hikers!!")I have been danced off many a dance floor by the 70+ crowd...and they have better moves out there than I do too.
I am 47 and need my little nap at 4 pm so I can stay out late. And sometimes if it's a really good nap I do drool a bit...
Yup, with so many people living independently into the 100s, 70 is the new 30....
Jan 18th, 2008, 04:40 PM
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I don;t think anyone is trying to denigrate 70 year olds. I think a lot of us are responding to the fact that it is a large group (always trickier), that it is their first trip to europe, and they would need help with their luggage.
(My parents are in their 80's and still travel - in the US - and don't need help with their luggage - it's all wheeled and they know how to pack light. But they've from NYC - so not overfaced by big cities or subway systems and have been traveling a LOT since they retired 20 years ago. And - it's just the two of them - not 16 people.)
(My parents are in their 80's and still travel - in the US - and don't need help with their luggage - it's all wheeled and they know how to pack light. But they've from NYC - so not overfaced by big cities or subway systems and have been traveling a LOT since they retired 20 years ago. And - it's just the two of them - not 16 people.)
Jan 18th, 2008, 04:57 PM
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Now I'm almost sorry I posted the question, but I did enjoy reading the arguments.
As told to me, the hotel would need
carts for luggage and an elevator, not stairs. That cuts out anywhere I would stay and seems to put them out of walking range of the sights. I find a couple Ibis on the far side of Bastille.
Metro stops with long stairways are out. Is there a way to tell which stops have functioning escalators? If not this would limit them to buses and taxis.
The logistics of taxiing to an Ibis would seem simple enough. Getting 16 people to agree on what to do at what time would drive me to drinking. I was thinking an organized ( by someone else ) itinerary would solve that problem.
As told to me, the hotel would need
carts for luggage and an elevator, not stairs. That cuts out anywhere I would stay and seems to put them out of walking range of the sights. I find a couple Ibis on the far side of Bastille.
Metro stops with long stairways are out. Is there a way to tell which stops have functioning escalators? If not this would limit them to buses and taxis.
The logistics of taxiing to an Ibis would seem simple enough. Getting 16 people to agree on what to do at what time would drive me to drinking. I was thinking an organized ( by someone else ) itinerary would solve that problem.
