Thanks to dln, marcy, and the sale at Northwest Airlines, I'm going to Paris next month! Any help with Carofftel Gobelins hotel?
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:01 AM
#41
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Hi Jocelyn,
Perhaps you wish to hear from someone who DOES travel budget-wise, such as I (and Christina & grandmère) do! I think being in the 5th, the Latin Quarter, certainly does qualify you for being in the "thick of things". Also, you have to consider what are things you'll be doing & what you'll be seeing in order to consider your proximity to these areas? If you'll be checking out Notre Dame & Ste-Chapelle & the Conciergerie on the Ile de la Cité, then certainly staying in the 5th is not that far away. If you'll be heading out to the Louvre then staying in the 5th won't be out of your way, either. If meandering the Marais is your wish then walking through the historic & charming Latin Quarter & crossing the bridges to get to the Marais certainly isn't outside of your proximity.
If you'll be going to the Eiffel Tower (7th arrondissement) or the Arc de Triomphe (8th) or up to Montmartre (18th) then you'll have to travel a bit, but then again, you'd have to travel a bit anyway to these places even if you were saying in, say, the 6th arrondissement/St-Germain-des-Prés area.
I think the initial hotel you mentioned has a great price (61€/single, 73€/double)! However, grandmère's & Christina's mention of the Port Royal is an excellent choice. It's well-written about in several guidebooks & the price is right. For 73€ here you get 2 beds, shower & bathroom (Chambre double avec un ou deux lits, douche et toilets, pour une ou deux personnes).
The Port-Royal-Hôtel is mentioned in the following guidebooks:
<u>Charming Small Hotel Guides - A Duncan Petersen Guide</u>
"<i>A family-run one-star hotel - no frills, but <b>spotlessly clean</b> and a great value. It has a cosy salon, breakfast-room and simple bedrooms (some with new bathrooms), unfortunately displaying too much plastic. There is a <b>tiny garden</b> where you can sit out.</i>"
<u>Cadogan Guides - Paris</u>
"<i>Family-run, simple, immaculately clean, with garden and lift.</i>"
And then there is this on-line article from the Washington Post; it's an oldy but a goody:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...tels041899.htm
"<i>Moving closer to 'Mouffe' is the spankingly well-maintained one-star Port-Royal Hotel (8 Boulevard de Port-Royal in the 5th, 011-331-43-31-70-06, fax 011-331-43-41-33-67). In the same family for 68 years, this hotel has 48 rooms, half overlooking a small patio. Among them is just-renovated room No. 2, which has warm red and yellow tones and an extra-large bath. Singles with sinks only start at $40, and the most expensive double is $75, with breakfast a mere $4.50.</i>
(of course, the prices will be just a bit off due to the age but still not that far - breakfast is still only 5&euro
And remember that the Métro & RER are very fast - from this area you should be in any area of Paris in 20-30 minutes so it's not like you'll be wasting <i>hours</i> trying to get to some place in Paris. And if you're WALKING well, then, spending hours walking in Paris is not really a waste, is it, cherie??!!
Perhaps you wish to hear from someone who DOES travel budget-wise, such as I (and Christina & grandmère) do! I think being in the 5th, the Latin Quarter, certainly does qualify you for being in the "thick of things". Also, you have to consider what are things you'll be doing & what you'll be seeing in order to consider your proximity to these areas? If you'll be checking out Notre Dame & Ste-Chapelle & the Conciergerie on the Ile de la Cité, then certainly staying in the 5th is not that far away. If you'll be heading out to the Louvre then staying in the 5th won't be out of your way, either. If meandering the Marais is your wish then walking through the historic & charming Latin Quarter & crossing the bridges to get to the Marais certainly isn't outside of your proximity.
If you'll be going to the Eiffel Tower (7th arrondissement) or the Arc de Triomphe (8th) or up to Montmartre (18th) then you'll have to travel a bit, but then again, you'd have to travel a bit anyway to these places even if you were saying in, say, the 6th arrondissement/St-Germain-des-Prés area.
I think the initial hotel you mentioned has a great price (61€/single, 73€/double)! However, grandmère's & Christina's mention of the Port Royal is an excellent choice. It's well-written about in several guidebooks & the price is right. For 73€ here you get 2 beds, shower & bathroom (Chambre double avec un ou deux lits, douche et toilets, pour une ou deux personnes).
The Port-Royal-Hôtel is mentioned in the following guidebooks:
<u>Charming Small Hotel Guides - A Duncan Petersen Guide</u>
"<i>A family-run one-star hotel - no frills, but <b>spotlessly clean</b> and a great value. It has a cosy salon, breakfast-room and simple bedrooms (some with new bathrooms), unfortunately displaying too much plastic. There is a <b>tiny garden</b> where you can sit out.</i>"
<u>Cadogan Guides - Paris</u>
"<i>Family-run, simple, immaculately clean, with garden and lift.</i>"
And then there is this on-line article from the Washington Post; it's an oldy but a goody:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...tels041899.htm
"<i>Moving closer to 'Mouffe' is the spankingly well-maintained one-star Port-Royal Hotel (8 Boulevard de Port-Royal in the 5th, 011-331-43-31-70-06, fax 011-331-43-41-33-67). In the same family for 68 years, this hotel has 48 rooms, half overlooking a small patio. Among them is just-renovated room No. 2, which has warm red and yellow tones and an extra-large bath. Singles with sinks only start at $40, and the most expensive double is $75, with breakfast a mere $4.50.</i>
(of course, the prices will be just a bit off due to the age but still not that far - breakfast is still only 5&euro
And remember that the Métro & RER are very fast - from this area you should be in any area of Paris in 20-30 minutes so it's not like you'll be wasting <i>hours</i> trying to get to some place in Paris. And if you're WALKING well, then, spending hours walking in Paris is not really a waste, is it, cherie??!!
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:08 AM
#42
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And here you'll find an unbiased review of the hotel from Virtual Tourist's website:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tv/d3e81/1/5/2/
Have fun, Jocelyn!!
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tv/d3e81/1/5/2/
Have fun, Jocelyn!!
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:11 AM
#43
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Wow...really are different strokes for different folks aren't there. Jocelyn, I know the hotel is a really big deal to some people but frankly to me it is just a bed, a shower and a tv set with mostly people speaking a language I don't speak.
I'm sure you have looked at a map and found the tourist attractions are pretty centrally located in Paris or they are within easy reach of the Metro or RER so just grab something that looks good, bite the bullet on the price and enjoy your trip.
Frankly there is probably no "perfect hotel". You will remember the lovely parts of Paris long after the memory of the hotel is gone. Enjoy.
I'm sure you have looked at a map and found the tourist attractions are pretty centrally located in Paris or they are within easy reach of the Metro or RER so just grab something that looks good, bite the bullet on the price and enjoy your trip.
Frankly there is probably no "perfect hotel". You will remember the lovely parts of Paris long after the memory of the hotel is gone. Enjoy.
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:15 AM
#44
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Jocelyn... from a fellow Oklahoman... have a fantabulous trip!!! What a fantastic airfare. (What airlines?) You've received loads of good hotel advice. Have you decided where to stay?
I'm looking forward to your trip report.
Bon voyage!
- Sharon (OKC)
I'm looking forward to your trip report.
Bon voyage!
- Sharon (OKC)
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:20 AM
#46
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JocelynP
The URL you mention leads to the Hotel AgoraSaint-Germain at 42 rue des Bernardins in the 5e .
A friend and I stayed there this past October on the 1st 4 nights of our "girl's trip".
We were very pleased with the hotel and its location. It's just a few minutes walk from the river , Notre Dame, the Cluny, and the Maubert-Mutualite Metro station.
We had a twin room for €150 a night. ( Your €99 rate is very appealing!)
Our room was on the second floor ; our bathroom was a decent size and had a combination shower & tub.
Everyone at the front desk was pleasant and very helpful. They made restaurant reservations, gave us directions, and made sure we had a taxi to take us to the train station on the morning we left to go to Montpellier.
P.S. There's a very nice patisserie just around the corner from the hotel.
The URL you mention leads to the Hotel AgoraSaint-Germain at 42 rue des Bernardins in the 5e .
A friend and I stayed there this past October on the 1st 4 nights of our "girl's trip".
We were very pleased with the hotel and its location. It's just a few minutes walk from the river , Notre Dame, the Cluny, and the Maubert-Mutualite Metro station.
We had a twin room for €150 a night. ( Your €99 rate is very appealing!)
Our room was on the second floor ; our bathroom was a decent size and had a combination shower & tub.
Everyone at the front desk was pleasant and very helpful. They made restaurant reservations, gave us directions, and made sure we had a taxi to take us to the train station on the morning we left to go to Montpellier.
P.S. There's a very nice patisserie just around the corner from the hotel.
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:23 AM
#47
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sorry I guess I saw the wrong reviews on Tripadvisor, so that's my mistake and ignore that.
I've seen the hotel, not just looking at a map or on pagesjaunes, so that's why I was referring to the road overpass. It's not exactly an overpass, the street kind of deadends and then right above that deadend is rue des Ecoles, up on a cliff, so to speak.
Actually, I'm a lot older and so less likely to be out on the town than you probably, so my opinion is not due to thinking the Agora is too quiet a location. I haven't stayed there, it could be a perfectly nice hotel, but I have seen it and just don't like the location. I do think that end of bd St Germain in-between it and rue des Ecoles is kind of dull, though, I'll admit. If you really like it, I'm sure it will be suitable. It depends what you want to be close to, though -- I stayed right around that area once (which is why I saw it) and didn't feel that comfortable walking around there at night alone, and I don't stay out that late, and there weren't that many good restaurants or cafes to pop into. There just weren't that many people around and I'm not positive you can easily get to that hotel from metro Maubert because of that street setup. Maybe there are stairs on that hill for you to go down.
Many other people on here disagree with me, though, so you shouldn't change hotels if you think it's fine because of anything I say, you can just dismiss it -- we all have different tastes for these things. Lots of folks do like being right near St Michel and the hubbub, find it convenient and exciting.
I do agree that a first-timer might like being closer in, which was why I pointed out that the Muguet is not closer in, just so you'll know.
I've seen the hotel, not just looking at a map or on pagesjaunes, so that's why I was referring to the road overpass. It's not exactly an overpass, the street kind of deadends and then right above that deadend is rue des Ecoles, up on a cliff, so to speak.
Actually, I'm a lot older and so less likely to be out on the town than you probably, so my opinion is not due to thinking the Agora is too quiet a location. I haven't stayed there, it could be a perfectly nice hotel, but I have seen it and just don't like the location. I do think that end of bd St Germain in-between it and rue des Ecoles is kind of dull, though, I'll admit. If you really like it, I'm sure it will be suitable. It depends what you want to be close to, though -- I stayed right around that area once (which is why I saw it) and didn't feel that comfortable walking around there at night alone, and I don't stay out that late, and there weren't that many good restaurants or cafes to pop into. There just weren't that many people around and I'm not positive you can easily get to that hotel from metro Maubert because of that street setup. Maybe there are stairs on that hill for you to go down.
Many other people on here disagree with me, though, so you shouldn't change hotels if you think it's fine because of anything I say, you can just dismiss it -- we all have different tastes for these things. Lots of folks do like being right near St Michel and the hubbub, find it convenient and exciting.
I do agree that a first-timer might like being closer in, which was why I pointed out that the Muguet is not closer in, just so you'll know.
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:26 AM
#48
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Try this one:
Best Western Hotel Aramis St Germain ***
I played with two sets of Feb dates, and got twin room rates from 97-115€. Good reviews on TripAdvisor, located feet away from Metro: St Placide in the 6th.
<u>for rates and photos:</u>
www.bestwestern.com
www.cybevasion.com
Best Western Hotel Aramis St Germain ***
I played with two sets of Feb dates, and got twin room rates from 97-115€. Good reviews on TripAdvisor, located feet away from Metro: St Placide in the 6th.
<u>for rates and photos:</u>
www.bestwestern.com
www.cybevasion.com
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:36 AM
#49
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oh good, a review from someone who stayed there so starspinners knows about the metro access, I wasn't sure.
For restaurants near Gobelins for Nikki, these are some I like:
Chez Lena et Mimile at 32 rue Tournefort -- this is a typical French homey restaurant, classic cuisine, not trendy enough to be called a bistro, probably, it's like private dinings rooms in a house, sort of; moderate prix fixe around 35-40 euro probably
Au Piano Muet at 48 rue Mouffetard
http://www.paris-lights.com/french/f...pianomuet.html
Delices d'Aphrodite at 4 rue des Candolle -- this is a very good Greek restaurant and often is crowded; they cater to some upscale gourmet stores, for example -- price also around 30-40 euro
La Comedia at 107 rue Monge is just a cheap local neighborhood Italian place, but good -- very cheap, and casual
Marty's at 20 ave des Gobelins is a trendy bistro, little more expensive than this area usually it, but it's gotten some good press recently. Very lively. Elaine wrote a little about that recently in her trip report.
The best cafe I liked in the area is just on the south side of St Medard church where rue Mouffetard ends (or starts) and corner of rue de Bazeilles. I don't remember the name, something obvious like Cafe St Medard, I think. Good for people-watching and drinks.
Two good places I haven't been to but have read a lot of good things about are Le Petit Marguery (www.petitmarguery.fr) and the bistro Le Terroir at 11 bd Arago. Both these are just across the border in the 13th. Underhill has recommended Marguery a lot. Both these are also moderate, probably 30-40 euro prix fixe.
Finally, if you don't want to make special plans and are staying around there a while, you can drop into the very large cafe/brasserie Le Canon des Gobelins right on the corner of bd des Gobelins and bd Saint Marcel. It has a great location and tables along the terrace and the meal I had there was pretty decent and good for the price, which is maybe 20-30 euro prix fixe.
For restaurants near Gobelins for Nikki, these are some I like:
Chez Lena et Mimile at 32 rue Tournefort -- this is a typical French homey restaurant, classic cuisine, not trendy enough to be called a bistro, probably, it's like private dinings rooms in a house, sort of; moderate prix fixe around 35-40 euro probably
Au Piano Muet at 48 rue Mouffetard
http://www.paris-lights.com/french/f...pianomuet.html
Delices d'Aphrodite at 4 rue des Candolle -- this is a very good Greek restaurant and often is crowded; they cater to some upscale gourmet stores, for example -- price also around 30-40 euro
La Comedia at 107 rue Monge is just a cheap local neighborhood Italian place, but good -- very cheap, and casual
Marty's at 20 ave des Gobelins is a trendy bistro, little more expensive than this area usually it, but it's gotten some good press recently. Very lively. Elaine wrote a little about that recently in her trip report.
The best cafe I liked in the area is just on the south side of St Medard church where rue Mouffetard ends (or starts) and corner of rue de Bazeilles. I don't remember the name, something obvious like Cafe St Medard, I think. Good for people-watching and drinks.
Two good places I haven't been to but have read a lot of good things about are Le Petit Marguery (www.petitmarguery.fr) and the bistro Le Terroir at 11 bd Arago. Both these are just across the border in the 13th. Underhill has recommended Marguery a lot. Both these are also moderate, probably 30-40 euro prix fixe.
Finally, if you don't want to make special plans and are staying around there a while, you can drop into the very large cafe/brasserie Le Canon des Gobelins right on the corner of bd des Gobelins and bd Saint Marcel. It has a great location and tables along the terrace and the meal I had there was pretty decent and good for the price, which is maybe 20-30 euro prix fixe.
Jan 28th, 2005, 11:06 AM
#50
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Ack! Obviously I stayed at the Lutece when the dollar was stronger and the prices were lower! Sorry, Joc!
I did hear wonderful things about the Delavigne, from someone who had just been there, so I will stop recommending hotels and stick with food and shopping
But this is such fun to read the recommendations and get new ideas all the time anyway~
I did hear wonderful things about the Delavigne, from someone who had just been there, so I will stop recommending hotels and stick with food and shopping
But this is such fun to read the recommendations and get new ideas all the time anyway~
Jan 28th, 2005, 01:34 PM
#51
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Okay, we're narrowing it down. I would like to have a phone in the room, and I don't see that Port Royal has one, so here's the list:
Agora Saint Germain
Perreyve
de l'Esperance
Pricewise they're all within about 15E. Based mainly on location (proximity to sites and immediate surroundings--we want good, cheap food), which would you choose?
We're almost there!
Agora Saint Germain
Perreyve
de l'Esperance
Pricewise they're all within about 15E. Based mainly on location (proximity to sites and immediate surroundings--we want good, cheap food), which would you choose?
We're almost there!
Jan 28th, 2005, 02:29 PM
#53
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Actually, travelnut, after all this we found out that Agora's sister hotel, Abbatial, is having the same promotion. Becky has a friend who's stayed there and loved it, so we'll probably end up there.
Now no one tell me anything bad about the Abbatial!
Now no one tell me anything bad about the Abbatial!
Jan 28th, 2005, 02:30 PM
#54
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I'd choose them in this order (noting that I have never stayed in any of them, just know my way around a bit)...
Agora St Germain - central, better-looking accomodations, many recs on TA
Perreyve - better metro connections, convenient to both St Germain and Montparnasse areas, and J. de Luxembourg
de l'Esperance - one of them has to be last
Agora St Germain - central, better-looking accomodations, many recs on TA
Perreyve - better metro connections, convenient to both St Germain and Montparnasse areas, and J. de Luxembourg
de l'Esperance - one of them has to be last
Jan 28th, 2005, 03:11 PM
#55
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I think you'd be happy at the Agora or the Abbatial. Each of these are a better location than the Perryve or d'L Esperance and you are getting a three star for a great price. For your first trip to Paris, I think you'd like a central location.
Jan 28th, 2005, 03:23 PM
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Alright, we've made a decision (sorta!). Earlier today I booked Agora since the booking site showed only one double/twin room available (and I blabbed here about it--lol), figuring we could cancel if we decided on something else. We've emailed Agora to see if we can switch to Abbatial. If not, we'll stay at Agora. Thanks for all your help. We're looking forward to our whirlwind trip in the cold!
Jan 28th, 2005, 04:06 PM
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Hi Jocelyn!
Congrats on your airfare. I'm also going to Paris next month on NWA due to this deal. $379 r/t out of San Diego which is an awesome deal for the west coast to Paris, unfortunately it does mean taking 2 connections! I did actually see this for $348 earlier in the day with 1 connection, but I had to get my 2 friends to coordinate and we missed out. Not like $379 isn't still fantastic, I just hate it when you KNOW you could have gotten a better deal.
Anyway, we were also looking at the Abbatial when it was just going to be 2 of us, now we have 3 and it doesn't look like they have a triple. It's too bad. That looks like a really good deal.
Anyway, have fun.
Congrats on your airfare. I'm also going to Paris next month on NWA due to this deal. $379 r/t out of San Diego which is an awesome deal for the west coast to Paris, unfortunately it does mean taking 2 connections! I did actually see this for $348 earlier in the day with 1 connection, but I had to get my 2 friends to coordinate and we missed out. Not like $379 isn't still fantastic, I just hate it when you KNOW you could have gotten a better deal.
Anyway, we were also looking at the Abbatial when it was just going to be 2 of us, now we have 3 and it doesn't look like they have a triple. It's too bad. That looks like a really good deal.
Anyway, have fun.
Jan 28th, 2005, 04:07 PM
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Hi Jocelyn!
Congrats on your airfare. I'm also going to Paris next month on NWA due to this deal. $379 r/t out of San Diego which is an awesome deal for the west coast to Paris, unfortunately it does mean taking 2 connections! I did actually see this for $348 earlier in the day with 1 connection, but I had to get my 2 friends to coordinate and we missed out. Not like $379 isn't still fantastic, I just hate it when you KNOW you could have gotten a better deal.
Anyway, we were also looking at the Abbatial when it was just going to be 2 of us, now we have 3 and it doesn't look like they have a triple. It's too bad. That looks like a really good deal. I'll just have to keep looking.
Anyway, I'm sure we'll all have a great time no matter where we end up staying. Wooooh! We're going to Paris!
Congrats on your airfare. I'm also going to Paris next month on NWA due to this deal. $379 r/t out of San Diego which is an awesome deal for the west coast to Paris, unfortunately it does mean taking 2 connections! I did actually see this for $348 earlier in the day with 1 connection, but I had to get my 2 friends to coordinate and we missed out. Not like $379 isn't still fantastic, I just hate it when you KNOW you could have gotten a better deal.
Anyway, we were also looking at the Abbatial when it was just going to be 2 of us, now we have 3 and it doesn't look like they have a triple. It's too bad. That looks like a really good deal. I'll just have to keep looking.
Anyway, I'm sure we'll all have a great time no matter where we end up staying. Wooooh! We're going to Paris!
Jan 28th, 2005, 04:13 PM
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Hi Jocelyn-
If you're still looking, check out this thread I started this past week. I have booked Hotel de Saint Germain on Rue du Four for < 80E/night! Hotel Monge (which is quite popular) rate is 85E/night (for end of Feb).
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34555297
If you're still looking, check out this thread I started this past week. I have booked Hotel de Saint Germain on Rue du Four for < 80E/night! Hotel Monge (which is quite popular) rate is 85E/night (for end of Feb).
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34555297
