Paris Hotels - The final contenders?
Jan 18th, 2005, 10:26 AM
#21
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annaj -- what type of room did you book? I just booked a room facing the park which is described as "a double room, facing the garden,
rate 230 Euros per night. I think it's our luminous and romantic room's category, overlooking the
park."
Did you book the same type of room, and if so, did it seem very small?
rate 230 Euros per night. I think it's our luminous and romantic room's category, overlooking the
park."
Did you book the same type of room, and if so, did it seem very small?
Jan 18th, 2005, 10:41 AM
#22
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Awbaker: Please look at the hotel's website: www.luxembourg-paris-hotel.com where you will find some pictures of the rooms. The rooms are nicely sized and very well appointed with fine details. You will be very pleased with your choice.
Jan 18th, 2005, 10:57 AM
#23
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annaj -- Yes, I have seen the rooms on the website -- and they do look very well-appointed! The hotel looks very lovely.
I was just curious if you had found the room to be VERY small at the 230 rate, OR to be of average size for a Parisien hotel room OR if you had stayed in one of the larger rooms facing the courtyard. I would RATHER have a view of the park than of the courtyard, but not if we are going to be tripping over one another.
I was just curious if you had found the room to be VERY small at the 230 rate, OR to be of average size for a Parisien hotel room OR if you had stayed in one of the larger rooms facing the courtyard. I would RATHER have a view of the park than of the courtyard, but not if we are going to be tripping over one another.
Jan 18th, 2005, 04:17 PM
#25
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Wow, thanks to all those who've replied to our plea for help so far. I've learned alot in the last 24 hours! Luxembourg Parc is looking like the favorite. Good news since we've secured 2 rooms at 245 and 1 room at 230 so far.
BTilke and annaj: Can you comment on a couple more questions? The location seems to be quiet and safe for walking around at night. How convenient is the Luxembourg Parc to the places we want to visit (see original post)? Is the neighborhood in the charming category, and will we find good restaurants and such close by?
I got a sense that the courtyard rooms were preferable for some reason Is that right? Most of the 245E rooms face the courtyard). Can we count on a good shower and a couple of comfy, non-desk chairs?
Ok, before I wear out my welcome... Thank you all very much. Can you tell I'm excited about our first trip to Paris!
BTilke and annaj: Can you comment on a couple more questions? The location seems to be quiet and safe for walking around at night. How convenient is the Luxembourg Parc to the places we want to visit (see original post)? Is the neighborhood in the charming category, and will we find good restaurants and such close by?
I got a sense that the courtyard rooms were preferable for some reason Is that right? Most of the 245E rooms face the courtyard). Can we count on a good shower and a couple of comfy, non-desk chairs?
Ok, before I wear out my welcome... Thank you all very much. Can you tell I'm excited about our first trip to Paris!
Jan 18th, 2005, 10:05 PM
#26
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iwannago2, the Luxembourg Parc is not that far of a walk to St. Germain but Notre Dame is a bit further, possibly 20-30 minutes depending on how fast or slow you walk. It's a pretty long walk to the Musee d' Orsay and the Eiffel Tower though. It would be better to take the metro.
Jan 19th, 2005, 01:45 AM
#27
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I found the neighborhood very convenient. The street (rue de Vaugirard) right in front of the hotel is quiet at night, but you are a short walk away from St. Sulpice, St. German, the Boulevard St. Michel, etc.
I wouldn't call the walk from the Lux Gardens to the Eiffel Tower "easy," but it's not hard either. On one of our trips, we stayed on the Avenue de la Bourdonnais in the 7th, close to the Eiffel Tower, and we walked to the St. Germain area and back several times. It's time consuming, but not hard. You can take the metro all over town (although I recommend the buses, too, since you get to SEE the city as you go from place to place).
I would prefer a room with a view of the Gardens to a courtyard view. The only real street noise I remember is the early morning garbage pickup (which passes quickly) and possibly the thunk-thunk-thunk of tennis balls from people playing in the gardens' tennis courts. I guess it depends on how sensitive you are to noise. We are city people, so the street seemed quiet compared to what we're used to.
I wouldn't call the walk from the Lux Gardens to the Eiffel Tower "easy," but it's not hard either. On one of our trips, we stayed on the Avenue de la Bourdonnais in the 7th, close to the Eiffel Tower, and we walked to the St. Germain area and back several times. It's time consuming, but not hard. You can take the metro all over town (although I recommend the buses, too, since you get to SEE the city as you go from place to place).
I would prefer a room with a view of the Gardens to a courtyard view. The only real street noise I remember is the early morning garbage pickup (which passes quickly) and possibly the thunk-thunk-thunk of tennis balls from people playing in the gardens' tennis courts. I guess it depends on how sensitive you are to noise. We are city people, so the street seemed quiet compared to what we're used to.
Jan 19th, 2005, 03:55 PM
#28
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BTilke and francophile03,
Thanks for giving me some perspective on where things are. The bus option isn't one I would have considered right off. Would you recommend a "pass" of some sort for the buses or metros. We'll be there for 4 days, so it may not be worth it.
Thanks for giving me some perspective on where things are. The bus option isn't one I would have considered right off. Would you recommend a "pass" of some sort for the buses or metros. We'll be there for 4 days, so it may not be worth it.
Jun 12th, 2005, 08:16 AM
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Fisrt of all Thanks again to everyone who helped us narrow our hotel choices for our Paris Trip.
My family and I decided to stay at the Hotel Luxembourg Parc and we've just returned. Here is the review I posted on Trip Advisor today.
My family and I stayed at this super charming, well priced hotel for 4 nights with 3 separate rooms. 1 @ 230E and 2 @ 245E. We would be very happy to return to this lovely and relaxing hotel and enthusiastically recommend it!
Rooms: All rooms were beautifully decorated with large comfortable beds and gorgeous bedding, window treatments, furniture and wood rafters; tall, sound-proof, double windows that open with flowers in the window box; and nice sized marble bathrooms with great showers, nice towels, wash cloths, hairdryer and lighted makeup / shaving mirror. Super clean with complete housekeeping service (fresh towels - morning and night). Our favorite was room 21 (31 would have a similar position). #21 was on the small inner courtyard with a fountain, plants and flowers (exterior elevator is in the courtyard but very quiet). The room had a small sitting area in front of the bed with 2 comfortable chairs and a desk. The other 245E room (#17) was on the first floor at street level and well sound proofed, but we wouldn’t open the windows on this busy street. The 230E room (#32) was charming and perfectly fine for 1 person, but would have been a little cramped for 2. It was positioned on pretty side street with a view of a well maintained building next door which had flower boxes on the facing window. I'd recommend spending the extra 15E and reserve early with a request for 21 or 31 (of the rooms we saw).
Staff: Always happy and quick to help, including the day we checked out when our travel plans required a complete overhaul due to one of Paris’s frequent train strikes. Prior to our arrival, they were very prompt to answer my email questions. Miguel, in particular, went out of his way to welcome us each day and anticipate our every need. Like bringing us a snack while we lounged in the cozy library or walking us to our taxi and making sure the driver knew where to go. Miguel also provided excellent restaurant recommendations that were close by and in our price range.
Breakfast: convenient and fresh, with pastries, fruit, cereal and omelets that were just OK. The omelets seemed a bit of a hurdle for the staff to manage but they worked hard and were always charming so we found ourselves not minding too much. I’d recommend finding a great patisserie in the neighborhood and saving the 17E for later in the day.
Location: Charming neighborhood. 5 - 10 minute walk to the Seine. Right across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens (don't expect to see in to the garden from your room). The entrance to the garden is a minute up the street and a great place to unwind after a busy sightseeing day. The bus stop and metro are an easy stroll around the outside of Luxembourg Gardens. It cost 5 – 10 euros to take a taxi just about anywhere we went.
My family and I decided to stay at the Hotel Luxembourg Parc and we've just returned. Here is the review I posted on Trip Advisor today.
My family and I stayed at this super charming, well priced hotel for 4 nights with 3 separate rooms. 1 @ 230E and 2 @ 245E. We would be very happy to return to this lovely and relaxing hotel and enthusiastically recommend it!
Rooms: All rooms were beautifully decorated with large comfortable beds and gorgeous bedding, window treatments, furniture and wood rafters; tall, sound-proof, double windows that open with flowers in the window box; and nice sized marble bathrooms with great showers, nice towels, wash cloths, hairdryer and lighted makeup / shaving mirror. Super clean with complete housekeeping service (fresh towels - morning and night). Our favorite was room 21 (31 would have a similar position). #21 was on the small inner courtyard with a fountain, plants and flowers (exterior elevator is in the courtyard but very quiet). The room had a small sitting area in front of the bed with 2 comfortable chairs and a desk. The other 245E room (#17) was on the first floor at street level and well sound proofed, but we wouldn’t open the windows on this busy street. The 230E room (#32) was charming and perfectly fine for 1 person, but would have been a little cramped for 2. It was positioned on pretty side street with a view of a well maintained building next door which had flower boxes on the facing window. I'd recommend spending the extra 15E and reserve early with a request for 21 or 31 (of the rooms we saw).
Staff: Always happy and quick to help, including the day we checked out when our travel plans required a complete overhaul due to one of Paris’s frequent train strikes. Prior to our arrival, they were very prompt to answer my email questions. Miguel, in particular, went out of his way to welcome us each day and anticipate our every need. Like bringing us a snack while we lounged in the cozy library or walking us to our taxi and making sure the driver knew where to go. Miguel also provided excellent restaurant recommendations that were close by and in our price range.
Breakfast: convenient and fresh, with pastries, fruit, cereal and omelets that were just OK. The omelets seemed a bit of a hurdle for the staff to manage but they worked hard and were always charming so we found ourselves not minding too much. I’d recommend finding a great patisserie in the neighborhood and saving the 17E for later in the day.
Location: Charming neighborhood. 5 - 10 minute walk to the Seine. Right across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens (don't expect to see in to the garden from your room). The entrance to the garden is a minute up the street and a great place to unwind after a busy sightseeing day. The bus stop and metro are an easy stroll around the outside of Luxembourg Gardens. It cost 5 – 10 euros to take a taxi just about anywhere we went.
Jun 12th, 2005, 08:52 AM
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So glad you had a good time and enjoyed the Luxembourg Parc! That building had been boarded up for many years before it was turned from a budget 2 star hotel to a 4 star boutique hotel. (And I see my old foyer next door also has closed and is being converted--luxury apartments, I think).
Jun 12th, 2005, 09:12 AM
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Thanks for posting your comments about the Luxembourg Parc. I haven't gotten a chance to stay there yet. Hopefully I can do so someday soon. I was impressed with the staff via emails. I think I would prefer visiting in summer when the rate during their summer promotions are 25% less.
Thanks again, I knew the hotel seemed excellent, and you confirmed it.
Thanks again, I knew the hotel seemed excellent, and you confirmed it.
Jun 12th, 2005, 09:43 AM
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We've stayed at the Madison a number of times and just keep returning to it. As for rooms with a view, if you get a boulevard room you will look directly across the Blvd. St-Germain to the church of the same name, along with some leafy trees.
Ask for room 23, which has large French doors opening to a tiny balcony with germaniums in window boxes. You can't go out on the balcony, but it's a nice touch.
You can read my detailed review of our stay at the Madison last September at tripadvisor.com.
Ask for a twin room; by French law, those rooms must be larger than doubles, and usually it means two twin beds pushed together and made up as one.
The Madison does a fine buffet breakfast, as well as a continental type in your room, but we usually go over to Paul's Boulangerie, about 2 blocks away toward the Seine.
Ask for room 23, which has large French doors opening to a tiny balcony with germaniums in window boxes. You can't go out on the balcony, but it's a nice touch.
You can read my detailed review of our stay at the Madison last September at tripadvisor.com.
Ask for a twin room; by French law, those rooms must be larger than doubles, and usually it means two twin beds pushed together and made up as one.
The Madison does a fine buffet breakfast, as well as a continental type in your room, but we usually go over to Paul's Boulangerie, about 2 blocks away toward the Seine.
