Urgent, I need hotel advice!
Jul 27th, 2005, 04:42 PM
#1
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Urgent, I need hotel advice!
I will be going to paris august 1st, for 14 days. Im a student, and am on a bit of a budget, and have booked hotel de l'avre. its in the 15 arr. and im afraid now that it may be too far from main attractions, nightlife, shopping etc. there is a cancellation policy, 2 days before I check in. I'm considering grande hotel des balcons, any others? or am i ok where I am now? Also I'm a runner so if anyone has any advice.
Thank you so much
Thank you so much
Jul 27th, 2005, 04:49 PM
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Grand Hotel des Balcons is generally popular, you can search for comments on it at www.tripadvisor.com
I stayed there for two nights last January and couldn't wait to leave, I didn't care for it at all, but as I said, that's a minority opinion.
I MUCH preferred a nicer hotel down the street, the hotel Delavigne.
However, it does not have a/c.
You might want to consider instead the Hotel Bonaparte.
Again, comments available at tripadvisor, or right here if you search on it.
I stayed there for two nights last January and couldn't wait to leave, I didn't care for it at all, but as I said, that's a minority opinion.
I MUCH preferred a nicer hotel down the street, the hotel Delavigne.
However, it does not have a/c.
You might want to consider instead the Hotel Bonaparte.
Again, comments available at tripadvisor, or right here if you search on it.
Jul 27th, 2005, 04:51 PM
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thank you for the quick reply, i did see the hotel delavigne but its full. yeah ive been looking at tripadvisor for a while, but I have not heard of that hotel. Ill look it up now!
thanks
thanks
Jul 27th, 2005, 04:55 PM
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Check out www.hoteldulys.com, also; it's a nice little 2 star right in the heart of things in the 6th, near the 5th, yet the street itself (rue Serpente) is quiet.
Jul 27th, 2005, 05:02 PM
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try these also
(haven't stayed there, have generally seen good comments)
http://www.sahuc-hotels.com/abbatial
www.hoteljeannedarc.com
www.hotel-leveque.com
www-hotel-muguet.com
(haven't stayed there, have generally seen good comments)
http://www.sahuc-hotels.com/abbatial
www.hoteljeannedarc.com
www.hotel-leveque.com
www-hotel-muguet.com
Jul 27th, 2005, 05:04 PM
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my comments on the Balcons
First, I'll again offer the disclaimer that the Grand Hotel
des Balcons is a very popular hotel. However, my TC (travel companion) and I didn't care for it at all.
It is very well-located, about a 5 minute walk to the Odeon metro station. About a 20 minute walk to St
Michel metro station which is also an RER station. Our 'twin' room was the smallest hotel room for two
people I have ever seen. Two twin beds pushed together with no space in between. No bedside tables,
just about 10 inches of floor space to a wall on either side of the beds. About 3 feet from the edge
of the beds was a counter/desk top with some cubbyholes underneath for clothes storage. There was a
small closet which was of adequate size. The furnishings were plastic, and clean, but far from pretty or new.
Bathroom small, but ok, towels thin, Washcloths, soap, shampoo provided. Hand-held shower hose, no curtain
around tub. Small tv with one English-language channel (CNN). Hair dryer provided, but not installed in
bathroom, it was out on a shelf, and one had to crawl underneath the bedroom counter in order to
find the solitary room plug for the hairdryer. Worst thing was that the room, #406, REEKED of smoke. I don't smoke but am not an anti-smoking fanatic; this odor was
very unpleasant and made the room feel not fresh. Room rate 100 euro. The hotel's often-praised breakfast was okay imo. For 10 euro there was a choice of fruit juices, dried fruit,
yogurt, coffee, tea, and instant hot chocolate, good baguettes and croissants, butter and jams, wedges of flan, and scrambled eggs (stone cold each day) and bacon and sausage. We had it twice. I am among those who do like having breakfast in my hotel, but if we’d continued staying there we would not have had breakfast there again.
By the morning of our second day, having gotten a night’s sleep, we decided that our room was really too unpleasant and inquired about a larger room. We accepted room 303. Much larger, it
is a triple room, one double bed plus one twin day bed in its own alcove. Bigger bathroom, more electrical
outlets, two sinks in bathroom, toilet in its own wc. A couple of shabby area rugs, vinyl flooring. Posted price
for this room 180 euro, but they offered it for 150 euro. On our third day, we switched to a much nicer hotel down the street--the Delavigne.
First, I'll again offer the disclaimer that the Grand Hotel
des Balcons is a very popular hotel. However, my TC (travel companion) and I didn't care for it at all.
It is very well-located, about a 5 minute walk to the Odeon metro station. About a 20 minute walk to St
Michel metro station which is also an RER station. Our 'twin' room was the smallest hotel room for two
people I have ever seen. Two twin beds pushed together with no space in between. No bedside tables,
just about 10 inches of floor space to a wall on either side of the beds. About 3 feet from the edge
of the beds was a counter/desk top with some cubbyholes underneath for clothes storage. There was a
small closet which was of adequate size. The furnishings were plastic, and clean, but far from pretty or new.
Bathroom small, but ok, towels thin, Washcloths, soap, shampoo provided. Hand-held shower hose, no curtain
around tub. Small tv with one English-language channel (CNN). Hair dryer provided, but not installed in
bathroom, it was out on a shelf, and one had to crawl underneath the bedroom counter in order to
find the solitary room plug for the hairdryer. Worst thing was that the room, #406, REEKED of smoke. I don't smoke but am not an anti-smoking fanatic; this odor was
very unpleasant and made the room feel not fresh. Room rate 100 euro. The hotel's often-praised breakfast was okay imo. For 10 euro there was a choice of fruit juices, dried fruit,
yogurt, coffee, tea, and instant hot chocolate, good baguettes and croissants, butter and jams, wedges of flan, and scrambled eggs (stone cold each day) and bacon and sausage. We had it twice. I am among those who do like having breakfast in my hotel, but if we’d continued staying there we would not have had breakfast there again.
By the morning of our second day, having gotten a night’s sleep, we decided that our room was really too unpleasant and inquired about a larger room. We accepted room 303. Much larger, it
is a triple room, one double bed plus one twin day bed in its own alcove. Bigger bathroom, more electrical
outlets, two sinks in bathroom, toilet in its own wc. A couple of shabby area rugs, vinyl flooring. Posted price
for this room 180 euro, but they offered it for 150 euro. On our third day, we switched to a much nicer hotel down the street--the Delavigne.
Jul 27th, 2005, 05:11 PM
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I suggest you look up Hotel Carofftel Gobelins. My friend and I stayed in a triple for 89 euros and it was a very large room, a large and nice bathroom with bathtub and shower, a little balcony, lift, and, best of all, very close to Rue Mouffetard and to metro stations (we actually walked from the Hotel to Port Royal RER Station).
Jul 27th, 2005, 05:22 PM
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Jul 27th, 2005, 06:03 PM
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Hotel de l'Avre has been very popular the past few years. It is on a small side street and should be fairly quiet. You are less than 1 block from Metro la Motte Picquet Grenelle, and can walk to the Tour Eiffel (not <i>real</i> close, but walkable). There are quite a few boulangeries and Asian traiteurs along blvd de Grenelle. There is a Monoprix grocery/dept store at the corner of blvd de Grenelle and rue du Commerce. A couple of days a week, there is a market that runs underneath the metro tracks. There is another one that is held near Place de Breteuil/ave du Saxe.
So, it won't be bad at the Hotel de l'Avre. (expect small rooms anywhere you go!).
p.s. did you read reviews on Tripadvisor?
So, it won't be bad at the Hotel de l'Avre. (expect small rooms anywhere you go!).
p.s. did you read reviews on Tripadvisor?
Jul 27th, 2005, 06:20 PM
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Agree that if you wind up at Hotel de l'Avre, you'll be just fine. It's steps from the Cambronne metro station, with lots of bus routes, too (we prefer the buses to the metro). (see www.ratp.fr)
Because it's a just bit "over the edge" (but, most definitely "not too far"
of "tourist" neighborhoods, dining, shopping, nightlife is plentiful but much more economical. There's a plethora of casual, inexpensive, dining, along with one (I think) magnificent "crepe man" in Paris right by the Cambronne station. Unfortunately (if you think so), you'll also recognize many "chain" restaurants...but there are tons of others mixed in.
For a runner, the nearby (enormous, with the Tour Eiffel) Parc du Champs de Mars would be just fabulous! Also wonderful for "hanging out" evenings.
The neighborhood is more working class than "upscale", and on a budget, you'd likely appreciate that. And, it's chock full of folks in your age group. You could meet and make lots of friends!
Because it's a just bit "over the edge" (but, most definitely "not too far"
of "tourist" neighborhoods, dining, shopping, nightlife is plentiful but much more economical. There's a plethora of casual, inexpensive, dining, along with one (I think) magnificent "crepe man" in Paris right by the Cambronne station. Unfortunately (if you think so), you'll also recognize many "chain" restaurants...but there are tons of others mixed in. For a runner, the nearby (enormous, with the Tour Eiffel) Parc du Champs de Mars would be just fabulous! Also wonderful for "hanging out" evenings.
The neighborhood is more working class than "upscale", and on a budget, you'd likely appreciate that. And, it's chock full of folks in your age group. You could meet and make lots of friends!
Jul 27th, 2005, 06:41 PM
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Thank you everyone for your excellent advice! I think now I will most likely be staying where I am at now. Its a little to hectic to make any big changes, and I think I will be happy where I am now with all the reassurance! I have read traveladvisor reviews which is how I initially decided on the hotel. have any of you stayed at the hotel de l'avre?
also, I know august is a hot month, should I be running early to beat the heat?
Thanks,
alan
also, I know august is a hot month, should I be running early to beat the heat?
Thanks,
alan
