posted 01-15-2005 07:52               

I have been looking for accomodation for the three of us (self, wife and 10 yo son). Most of what I have come across in hotels 3* plus rated has been over 200 euros.

Would anyone have suggestions where to look? I have checked with the sites noted on an earlier post re: accomodations in S. France. If we don't find economical accomodations, any suggestions on interesting places to stay nearby? I wouldn't be averse to staying in the North longer and driving back to Paris to catch our flight on June 30th.

Thanks in advance for your insights.

posted 01-15-2005 09:10               

[This message has been edited by chouchou (edited 01-15-2005).]

posted 01-15-2005 18:53               

Alton, Have a great time in France! Talk to you when you get back.

posted 01-18-2005 14:49               

quote:

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Originally posted by keith:
This June, we will be a ... week in Normandy and 5 days in Paris.

... If we don't find economical accomodations, any suggestions on interesting places to stay nearby? I wouldn't be averse to staying in the North longer and driving back to Paris to catch our flight on June 30th.

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If not on your itinerary already we really enjoyed Honfleur, St. Malo, Mont St. Michel and of course the D-Day beaches.

posted 01-18-2005 19:16               

quote:

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Originally posted by keith:
I have been looking for accomodation for the three of us (self, wife and 10 yo son). Most of what I have come across in hotels 3* plus rated has been over 200 euros.

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Hi Keith,
We just made a trip to Paris with our 10-year old in July and she had a blast. We had reserved Hotel Leveque (for 3) http://www.hotel-leveque.com which is highly recommended by Rick Steves...along with the whole Rue Cler area in December of the prior year. Although I had these great, very inexpensive reservations I did start to get a little nervous about Hotel Leveque as I started to read the Graffiti Wall and Paris trip reports from the Rick's website. I don't want to offend anyone who likes the area. But these were several things I read that made me a little nervous about Rue Cler: (1) lots of early street market noise from vendors setting up at 5:30 in the morning, (2) that there's not much to do in that area of Paris in the evening/at night (3) that the whole Rue Cler area is swarming with too many American tourists carrying Rick Steves books, and (4) that the nearest metro line is not really one of the main Parisian lines, so you have to change lines a lot.

Then, in June our 20-year old college student broke up with her boyfriend and wondered if it wasn't too late to change her mind and join us in Paris. Hotel Leveque was totally booked and could not accomodate a family of 4. But it was just as well, because with a college student along staying someplace that is dead at night is out of the question. (In July the sun is not setting until about 10pm!)

So, I began reading up on Paris hotels using tripadvisor.com and discovered the Hotel Familia. http://www.hotel-paris-familia.com They emailed back that they were booked solid, and referred me to their sister property next-door, Hotel Minerve, which proved to be 3-stars and a real gem.

We spent 3 nights at Hotel Minerve which has a great family room for 3 or 4. It is not real large, but it had a queen bed for us, a rollaway for our youngest, and a nice alcove area with a separate bed and reading light that gave our college student her much-needed privacy for late night journal writing, and her own area for her stuff. Since you have only 3, you could forgo the rollaway and have a little more space. The beds were perfect-- not too hard, or too soft -- just right! I also enjoyed the black-out blinds, and quiet location (no street noise) that allowed us jet-lagged Californians to take a siesta each afternoon until our bodies converted to the 9-hour time change. Across the street from the hotel there is also an excellent pastry shop, with a small grocery store and internet cafe just around the corner as you walk towards the Seine. Although we seldom used the Metro, it was only a 5-minute walk.

It's a classy place that just FELT like Paris with lots of character, antiques and only 148 euros per night. The location was fantastic, as well. We were right in the Latin Quarter not far from the lively pedestrian restaurant zone (Little Athens), between Blvd. St. Michel and Shakespeare & Company. There were just so many great areas nearby that were perfect for strolling and eating out in the evening after a busy day of museums, cathedrals, and sightseeing. Notre Dame always has street entertainers, Hotel de Ville had set up huge screens to watch soccer matches, and the side streets of the Ile de la Cite are quite charming. It is also an easy walk to the Marais, Les Halles, or Beaubourg (Pompidou) where there are also pedestrian-only walkways, great atmosphere, cafes, and Parisians out enjoying their beautiful city. Besides, it is so much more enjoyable to be out walking, than to having to take the metro everywhere.

Also, if you have a car in Normandy, you might enjoy a side-trip to Giverny (Monet's home) which is not far from Rouen. As for Paris, definitely do not skip such a magnificent city when you are so close. We were there 10 days, 3 at Hotel Minerve followed by 7 days at the Royal Regency, and we all STILL felt like it wasn't really enough time to do it justice.

I also heartily recommend L'Open Bus Tours for sightseeing in Paris. We rode on the green double-decker buses, but there is another company with red buses. Go on a blue sky day and you will be all set. We got all our BEST photos from the upper deck on that bus ride.

Feel free to email if you have other questions I can answer.
--- Rene McDaniel

posted 01-22-2005 11:43               

The past week, I have been looking through the hotels and have a much better sense of where some accessible, affordable neighbourhoods are. I am checking out sites for discount rates for hotels.

I have tried to submit a bid to Priceline.com, but it seems that Priceline does not work for Canadians....it requires the "state" and "zip code" to be entered. I emailed Priceline to see if it is accessiblt to Canadians several days ago and have not heard a response yet.

I am so thrilled by all of your observations and suggestions....chouchou, I will certainly look for hotels in the Rue Clerc area in addition to St. Germain/ Latin Quarter.

Thanks again.

Will let you Know when I book something!

posted 01-27-2005 18:58               

Here are some that our family had in the "final running" in the Rue Cler/Eiffel Tower area www.vrbo.com/43121 www.vrbo.com/16467 (link to Pascal's other rentals, too) www.apartment-in-france.com/paris-apartment-eiffel-tower.htm www.yellowstay.com (we got a wicked good winter rate through them, so we took it)

posted 02-01-2005 07:24               

After researching numerous sites recommended by my fellow tuggers, we chose an apartment overlooking the River Seine adjacent to the Metro and Tour Eiffel.

We considered the St. Germain, Latin Quarter and other areas before deciding on this location. We will be renting a one BR apartment available for the dates we needed. It is a bit quieter location, and with a 10 yo boy in tow, think it may be a better choice for some down time just to walk around the neighbourhood.

We are thrilled with the location and once again a big THANK YOU to all of you for your help......your insights gave me a better sense of what to look for and a better understanding of the different neighbourhoods.

posted 02-08-2005 03:24               

Other units available were in the Latin Quarter for about the same price, but we thought we would pass and stay somewhere quieter for this stay.

posted 02-10-2005 06:06               

quote:

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Originally posted by hibbeln:
Doug, where is the $130/night one at? What is the website? Now you have me curious! .

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95 euro a night for this large studio http://www.vrbo.com/9528