Seeking Paris in August Advice
 

I'm planning a 10 day vacation for my family (my husband, my 19 year old daughter and myself) in August. I'm looking for advice on accomodations, and possible side trips.
We'd prefer to stay in an apartment centrally located. If we can't find that, we're looking for a hotel that serves breakfast or a bed and breakfast. We'd like an accomodation that is clean but don't want an expensive accomodation. I'm starting to look and so I'm not sure of the range of rates.
We're thinking of taking a day's trip to some area that will give us a taste of France near Paris.
I'd appreciate any and all advice.

Hi TP,

What is your budget for accomodations?

>We're thinking of taking a day's trip to some area that will give us a taste of France near Paris.<

Consider Dijon, Beaune and Troyes.

((I))

Any good guidebook will give you a list of the most popular and accessible local day trips (Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chantilly, Chartres, Giverny are probably the top ones). I imagine Fodors has the information free online, and probably Frommers, also, for two. Perhaps you could read about them and then ask specific questions for the ones that appeal to you.

As for accommodations, virtually all hotels will serve breakfast. Whether it is highest quality or worth the charge might be debatable. I never take breakfast in the hotel in Paris as I prefer to go out to a cafe, and in the city, there will be one within a block, probably. There are very few B&Bs in Paris, and I don't believe they are regulated yet (although there is some initiative to do that). There is no reason to stay in a B&B.

For accommodations, the price can range all over, of course, but just be aware that if you book a budget or cheaper apartment, you will not have A/C. For 10 days, I can see the appeal of that and it may be cheaper than a double plus single room. I imagine a triple room is not real likely with three adults, at least not desirable for that length of time. I sure would not have wanted to stay in a little room with my parents when I was 19.

A budget hotel with AC will not necessarily be cheaper than an apartment without AC, however, and hotels have a lot of discounts in August (usually 10-25 pct). YOu could probably get one for around 80-100 euro for a double room, and maybe 10-20 euro less for a single. YOu can certainly find cheap apartments that will sleep three (it will probably include sofabed or futon for one person) with one bathroom and no AC for around 100-150 euro per day. There are tons of Paris apt. agencies; to save costs, you can rent directly from an owner, see www.vrbo.com

These have A/C and triples (if you do want a triple)...

Hotel Residence Monge ** (5th)
http://www.hotelmonge.com/hotel-stan...52&lang=en
Triple 120-130€ / breakfast 6.5€ per person

Hotel Claude Bernard*** (5th)
http://www.paris-hotel-booking.com/
Triple 137€ - buffet breakfast included (Summer Promo)

Thank you ira, Christina, and Travelnut for your reply to my request for acommodation information for Paris.
I was able to locate a few apartments - but without a/c. I'm thinking that in August, I'd prefer having a/c if we can find that. They ranged in price from 800-1,000 euros/week. I guess I'll use this as a starting point for pricing. Less would of course be preferable.

Travelnut - you gave me the name of two hotels - I've written them for availability. I'm not sure what your notation of (5th) meant?

In my searching I identified Marais as an area that might be nice to stay in. Any ideas?

Thanks.

On you day trip outside Paris, would you rather see countryside or a charming small town? Would you be willing to drive if you did not have to drive in and out of Paris?

Hi Dave_in_Paris
Would prefer to see a charming small town. Sounds like you may have a suggestion?
We wouldn't mind driving if we didn't have to drive in Paris.
Thanks

Have a look at Europe Hotel, a 3 star hotel that have air conditionning and that have relatively good rates for its location. It is located in the 15th, a very safe and residential area but it is very close to Eiffel Tower, to Montparnasse area too, a very good shopping area.
For side trips, I particularly love Bretagne, in the west of Paris. It is about 2 hours by train to Rennes, it is a really lovely area. You can take the TGV to join it and then rent a car to go to Saint Malo(near the sea), to Dinan, Dinard, Mont St MIchel...A lot to see in this region..and if you love eating...they have great Crepes to taste!
For the hotel, check it on http://www.paris-europehotel.com
Have a nice trip!

Senlis is highly charming, with winding cobbled streets and a wonderful and very well-protected ensemble of 17th to 19th century architecture. You can go by train and bus from Paris -- train form the Gare du Nord in Paris to Chantilly and bus from Chantilly to Senlis, in roughly an hour and a half each way.

Hi to,

> I'm not sure what your notation of (5th) meant? <

Paris is divided into 20 districts (arrondissements). The 5th is the Latin Quarter, near the Sorbonne.

The Marais is in the 4th. It is currently considered a hip area.

((I))

Hi - and Thank you.

Since writing I've been doing my "homework." Thanks to Fodorite's I've been learning all about the arrondissements, various hotels, sites, restaurants, etc. Should have probably done more reading before I put out my request for information!

It does seem like we'll probably want to stay closer to the "sites" to avoid a lot of travel. While on vacations we love to walk various areas to get a "feel" of neighborhoods. I'm continuing to look for hotel/apartment accommodation. I've written to a few of the suggestions made here and waiting to hear replys.

I've been told and read that August is really a quiet time in Paris with most Parisians on vacation. Since we really wanted to make the trip this summer and this was our only available time to go, any suggestios on how to "do" Paris in August? Will we run into restaurants being closed, etc.?

Senlis sounds very charming. I'll look into a visit there. I know that my daughter definitely wants to go to Monet's garden as well. She is also talking about a day trip to Bruges. Is Bruges a day trip?

Last summer I used this site for our visit to London and Scotland. All the information was invaluable. And, once again, this site is already proving invaluable for our Paris trip.

I'll continue reading all of the many good suggestions and hope you'll all stay in touch to answer more questions!

Many thanks

My advice: Don't go. I just returned from my first visit and was very disappointed. It's dirty, crowded, expensive. Not just dirty, but dirty to a point that I would say people don't care. Trash thrown everywhere!

cherylm, which districts are you referring to? Your comments don't represent the majority who are here and to me you are generalizing. I feel that perhaps you did not care for Paris, but to make these comments is not fair.

Unless you have been to Paris many times in months other than August and can compare, I doubt very much you'll see Paris as being particularly quiet in August. It's true that a lot of Parisians leave the city, but that trend has been slowly disappearing in the past 10 years, and anyway loads of other tourists pour into the city. You may find the odd shop or restaurant closed, but it wouldn't be a citywide phenomenon.

I am surprised at cherylm's response. Of course nobody likes every city or country they visit but I think the vast majority of people on this forum disagree with those sentiments. I love Paris as do most visitors to this exquisite city.
I agree that Paris is much the same in August as any other time and you won't have problems finding restaurants and attractions open.

Paris has no more trash lying around than any major metropolis - Cherylm should provide a trip report following her Italy/Monaco/Paris vacation and give some validity to her comments. I have seen Paris (a number of times),London, Rome, Amsterdam,Brussels..I can't say any one of them is 'dirty' or has 'trash' lying around. Cherlym made a comment elsewhere that the Italians were so much friendlier than the French, so I suspect she has an ax to grind. It is interesting that a few recent posts others felt that the Italians were not as warm/welcoming as the poster was expecting but the French were more hospitable than expected...so... different experiences will lead you to feel different ways.

p.s. Bruges is in Belgium, and is offered as a 'day-trip' by some of the coach tours, but it takes a long day to do it that way. You could go by train, via Brussels but it will be expensive for a day trip. There are so many interesting options nearer Paris as mentioned above (Chartres, Fontainebleau, Senlis, Rouen, etc).

I knew I'd get some grief for my comments-lol, but it's true. We stayed at the Hotel Madison on St. Germain Blvd. We toured the city, went to many shops, cafe's, museums, etc.

Now, I never said the people were not nice, and I have no axe to grind (funny). Actually the people were much nicer than I had been told. Mind you, they weren't super friendly, but they were courteous and gave us adequate service.

Regarding the trash--I've never seen anything like it. It was most noticeable in the early morning, before the crowds hit the streets. There was trash everywhere! Most of the bathrooms I visited were filthy and did not have soap to wash your hands. This was encountered throughout the city, not just in one area. I was really disappointed.

By contrast, we stayed two nights in Barcelona and found that city to be incredibly clean and well maintained.

Also, I have to say that all of the tourists really added to our less than enjoyable stay. Yeah, I know, I'm a tourist, but I was actually telling my husband that possibly many years ago, before people travelled as much as they do now, I'll bet it was a beautiful and romantic city. Today it just seems like Disneyland, no make that Disneyworld.

Maybe I don't see it because I don't travel in the high-season periods.. also, don't stay in the busiest areas, either. I think the 6th north of Jardin de Luxembourg is very crowded and hectic - I actually hurried to finish a shopping errand so I could clear outta there. Maybe peak summer with more visitors adds more 'trash'... maybe my glasses are too rose-tinted.

OK, Cherylm, you took my comments very graciously, thank you for your details!

OK, not exactly what I expected in replies- but, all information welcome!

So, I guess I'm hearing that staying in the most crowded areas in August would not be pleasant. Which areas do you recommend we stay away from? Which areas do you recommend I look in for a place to stay?

I agree that traveling in our short time to Bruges doesn't make sense. But, my daughter is really wanting to make this visit. I'll put her on that detail and see what she comes up with. She may find that it is too much travel for her too.

My first order of business is to find a place for us to stay. Then I'll start to focus more on our itinerary for our stay.

As I think I've said before, we want clean, comfortable, A/C, safe, and in the $100-$200/day range for the three of us. Yes, I know, that is a HUGE range, but that is what I've been finding in my searching. Obviously, less is most desirable. But, this is a special family vacation and I don't want to stay someplace we aren't comfortable.

Thanks again, TP

..For a first trip to Paris I would choose the 6th near the 7th or the 7th near the 6th...why, central and I think quiet..but not too quiet for a 19 y/o. I love the Marais but I think for a first trip esp in August would prefer the previously mentioned arrond. I think many of the appt in your price range will not be airconditioned. As far as hotel rooms go, I think you have a choice of N.A. style hotels which will have the ammenities you are interested in without the quirks or a more European type hotel which can be quirky and if AC will likely be a 3*. In the central arr, $100 a day will be 2* if you are lucky. You will be more likely to get a "deal" in the chain hotels which rely on business travel for much of there trafic. In the European type, you are less likely, IMO,to get a deal as tourism doesn't fall in August. A room for 3 with AC arr 1-8 will likely be in the 160 euro range. Hope this helps.