Paris Questions
 

After a 10 year hiatus from Europe- we may be thinking of heading back. I'm thinking Paris but I have a few issues to work out.
1) I need a list of good hotels in the 150 euros range. Now these must be close to a metro, not far from the city center, and most importantly have decent bathroom features. The wife needs plenty of lighting in the bathroom, plumbing that is not shall we say "unusual" and the rooms can't be compared to a closet.
2) Restaurants- ok we are as about as far removed from gourmet as one can get. We love french bakery items, cheese, etc but we are not wine drinkers and are really looking for places that serve regular food- please no organ meats, "delicacies", simple food- ok now please no griping about how we are not bonding with the french culture- we are in fact more tourists than travelers.

Thanks for the advice! I'm sure we will love Paris if we can work out the hotels and restaurant issues to our satisfaction.

Have you looked through the last 100 or so threads posted here? There's probaby several on this very subject. You can also search using "paris restaurants" or something like that in the search field. Have you started any kind of list from other research on hotels yet?

None really adress specifically my issues.

I think people are more willing to help someone who has attempted to find some information on their own as well. I typed in Paris Restaurants, Paris on a budget, Paris hotel, etc in the search field and came up with these. There are hundreds out there. lease take a look at the threads already posted and look at the links that are always talked about in these threads so you can help find the info you need.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34805996

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34803621

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34806185

OK- now I am a veteran Fodorite- mostly on the Asia forum. I can research all the hotels and restaurants till the cows come home but it won't tell me a thing about the bathrooms, plumbing, and the restaurants won't give me what I need to know either. What I need is some advice from folks who have been to some hotels/cafes and can answer-specifically my questions on those issues. We have been to Europe in the past and had problems in these areas because we were not able to connect with people who frequented these places and could address our specific needs.These types of questions are asked and answered frequently on the Asian forum.

We're not foodies, either. My method is to get a food glossary and learn the terms for things I -don't- want to eat, and then some for things I would eat. Then I try to find online menus for places to see if I'd like to try them.

All restaurants will have menus posted outside, so you can review them and then decide if you want to eat there. You can generally find chicken and veal dishes, often with a nice sauce sometimes with mushrooms. Also don't overlook ethnic places, such as Italian or Asian. And most 'corner cafes' will have roast chicken/frites, big salads, etc. We do like to try wine, but if not then I order bottled water.

You can see online menus and make reservations at this site:
http://www.bestrestaurantsparis.com/

Here is a food glossary:
http://www.intimatefrance.com/glossary.html

I can't really comment on hotels, as your budget is more generous than mine and I haven't had any problems with bathrooms in our hotels. I do think it is still a 'toss up' as many hotels are in older buildings and the room configurations can vary quite a bit within the same hotel.

A really good website for 'hotel shopping' is www.parisby.com as they post a lot of photos.

eur150 range with modern bathroom plumbing in a good location: try an ibis (seriously)

OK, I'll give a try. In 2002, a friend and I stayed at the Lyon-Mulhouse on Beaumarchais Blvd. in 11th. You mentioned big baths and it tweeked my memory. The Lyon-Mulhouse had the biggest, brightest bathroom I have seen in Paris. (Very nicely appointed, if I remember, a tub and shower with glass doors) Also, a VERY nice big bedroom with 2 double beds that That said, in 2002 it was about 70E's a night.
Bofinger's was right down the street; and we found a local mom&pop for dunner that was even better, but I can't remember its name to save me.
But, I can recommend that from experience.

Travelnut- thanks your advice will help!

Ooops, I posted THEN went to do a quick search - in your budget still .. "just" (I'm saying this kindly, its in MY budget range too! but it no longer is 70E's!!!)...and also, this hotel was a VERY easy walk to all the restos' around the Place de Vosge

Bill, don't miss this place..Restaurant Chartier..Go early 6 pm or you will have to wait in line. still worth it and no better prices anywhere in paris.www.bouillon-chartier.com A note of interest: all servers there must have at least twenty years of experience before being they can work for this rest..

How do you know that the hundreds of other posts won't answer your question if you don't read them? And what in the WORLD do you need to know about the plumbing other than it's clean and it works? The are many posts that describe in great detail about the rooms, beds, views and of course the restrooms. Tripadvisor.com does as well.

There are also hundreds of posts that give incredible details about restaurants. The only helpful post you want is one where someone makes the decision for you.

sandi_travelnut:

Give me a break- go bother someone else!

I'm sorry. I don't think sandi_travelnut said anything wrong. If you read the various comments at Trip Advisor you will get an idea of what to expect from all types of hotels. Go to the forums and there are discussions about all types of restaurants and hotels. There is not going to be any hotel and restaurant that will be perfect. Maybe it would help if you research some hotels and restaurants on your own and return to ask opinions about them. In all honesty, as you are familiar with European hotels, most likely for 150 euro you cannot expect a huge bathroom with excellent lighting. I'm not sure what you mean by 'unsual' plumbing however.

Well.. I can say that we heard all kinds of whooshing and sloshing through the plumbing system at Hotel St Chistophe when we stayed there, much more so than anywhere else we've ever stayed. Maybe that's what BillT means. And maybe he wants a shower that doesn't run out all over the floor, which I've heard others mention.

Just returned from a week's stay at Hotel St. Thomas D'Aquin in Paris, on the border of the 6e and 7e. Recently renovated, on a quiet side street, about 2 blocks from the Seine and 2 blocks from Bldv. St. Germaine (with two metro stops close by).

Bathroom was large'ish for Paris, and sparkling clean. Combination shower/tub, fixed shower head, good lighting, separate register to dry out your "laundry".

Our twin room had two night tables, desk and chair, separate arm chair, and a large armoire for bags and clothing storage. Not a huge room, though, but we really enjoyed it. Also had large windows opening over wrought iron flower box and a roller canopy for sun or rain.

You can read my lengthier review at TripAdvisor if you like.

E130/ni for a twin.

On our last trip to Europe we had hotels where there was no shelf space to put things in the bathroom- the lighting was really mimimal and we had a hard time figuring out how the plumbing worked- none of this was apparent from the research we did about the place- only from people who have actually stayed at the places will we be able to get the specific concerns addressed. My wife is VERY particular about these things and I have benn able to stay marfried to her for 19 years because I am cognizant of these needs!
Some women out there will understand- for all the others well....
Suffice to say when we go to Asia we have none of these issues to contend with!

Look into these:

Hotel Ecole Centrale
3, rue de Bailly, Paris, 75003

Hotel les Jardins du Luxembourg
Impasse Royer Collard, Paris, 75005

Hotel Minerve
13, rue des Ecoles, Paris, 75005

BillT - if you insist on getting only the answers <u>you</u> want, you may wind up not getting any at all.

I too have had issues with loud plumbing in the cieling over a bed..or a toilet that constantly ran. That would be a very logical question to ask about. I was wondering what your comment about &quot;plumbing that is not shall we say &quot;unusual&quot; meant.

I'm going to enter into the regular food issue, as I think any French restaurant serves that. At least any I've been in. A lot of restaurants may have one dish on the menu that is brains or thymus or whatever, but all restaurants have choices.

So, I think any place would fit your criteria on that one, I really do.

As for the hotels, I'll be honest, I think you are being pretty picky about the bathroom issues for only 150 euro. I have never had a problem figuring out how to use a toilet in a French hotel (there are only a couple possibilities, and a button or thing to pull or whatever is going to be around the toilet). But, a lot of budget hotels are not going to have special places to lay things out near the sink, nor plenty of lighting. Also, a lot of hotels in that range may have room sizes compared to closets, but I think your bathroom issues are the difficult thing. So, you never know.

A lot of people like the Muguet in the 7th, and it would be in your range for sure (maybe 110-130 euro now for a queen bed double?). They had new bathrooms with nice fixtures that worked, and I think the lighting was pretty good. But there was not a lot of space, places to lay things out, etc. At least not in my room, but I had a very small double (which wasn't exactly a closet, but pretty small). So, I'm not really sure if that fits your wife's criteria or not.

I know that from my stay at the Odeon Hotel in St. Germain the bathroom is all creamy marble, good-sized countertop so that you can lay out your things, the bath itself has an overhead, adjustable showerhead over a nice bathtub and there is a shower curtain. The toilet is very simple to operate with a button to push on the top of the tank. I did not hear any plumbing noises from other rooms. However, in American hotels that's quite common to me. The lighting is excellent not only in the bathroom but in the room itself. They installed those light fixtures with the tiny, bright bulbs on the ceiling. There is a comfortable amount of space to walk around the bedroom although it is not large and you can hear hallway noises as the entrance door is near the bed. The bathroom is small but well-laid out so that there is enough room to move around comfortably. The only thing is that the room cost us 170 euro/night.

Just spent 8 night at the Hotel de Varenne in the 7th and it has Grohe fixtures, quiet toilet, good lighting, a shower curtain, and enough space around the sink to put some of our stuff. The standard double was 147E, altho that may be an off season rate. Check out the trip advisor reviews. Some recent posts here were also singing this hotel's praises.

1- hotels-
I have to say that I cannot remember when or if I ever heard plumbing noises in hotels that I have stayed in. I do remember in a fabulous hotel in Paris , hearing the floor boards squeak at night when the person upstairs walked around. But it did not bother me and I would never mention it, but it might drive someone else insane.
This sort of fine tuning in finding a room can be tortuous.
I won't recommend that hotel and it probably suits your needs, although it is too $ now that I look at your price range.

Look into the Hotel Danube on rue Jacob.
Nice, clean, cannot remember how the plumbing sounded but the bathtub was deep enough to sink into after a long day of walking and there was plenty of light.

Restaurants-
We don't eat red meat, but love eating in Paris- the simplest salad is great.
Since you are not looking for anything in particular, you can eat in most restaurants and find something that will please you..although ( no offense) you do sound a bit hard to please..
Sud on rue Grenelle is SW French food, pasta with lovely sauces and salads ..
on rue Amelie, Petit Nicoise..seafood, English menu, non - smoking room, you should like it there.
Hope this helps some...you really should look up some places and see if they sound like you would like them, then post back here with questions..there are soooo many hotels and restaurants in Paris and you have specific needs.
Good luck~

Bill - typically the Paris hotels in your price range have adequate but far from spacious bathrooms, and the lighting is OK but not fabulous. Be it a European penchant for energy efficiency, culture, style or a combination, you will find in most places wall mounted lamps on either side of or over the bed, a ceiling fixture, probably no lamp. In the bath will likely be a ceiling fixture or one over the mirror. If your wife needs make up type lighting, best bring along a lighted mirror or look for a chain (Marriott, Hilton, etc) but be prepared to shell out lots more unless you get a real deal.
In terms of food, you will have little problem, as even the places doling out organ meats and other delicacies usualy serve staples such as steak frites (steak with fries) and poulet roti (roast chicken) along with some great salads, probably some pasta dishes and maybe seafood.

Thanks to those that gave me specifics - they help a lot. Yes we are very picky and if I don't get the hotel right its curtains for me if you know what I mean!
These quirky needs are what keeps us from going to Europe lot- and the prices of course. With your help I think we can satisfy these quirks!