There are 5 of us travelling to Paris between Christmas and New Years.
This will be the first trip to Paris for us all.
It will be Mom, Dad, 11 year old son + Grandma %26amp; Grandpa.
We generally like to stay in 4-5 star hotels, and appreciate the nicer rooms and service that usually comes with upscale properties.
However in Paris the cost seems to be extraordinarily high, and we are having a little trouble finding a hotel.
Adding to the problem is not having any idea what AREA we should stay in, and the fact that we need at least one room big enough to hold 3. (Mom, Dad, and son) + a normal room for the grandparents. Plus we are staying December 29, 30, and 31st which is New Years Eve!
This usually means having to book one a suite, at a huge premium as well as the normal room.
My # 1 choice would be either Four Seasons George V, or Fouquet%26#39;s Barriere, but for a triple room at either hotel is 1000 euro per night, which is more than double our budget.
I am considering three hotels at the moment, and would really appreciate your advice on which would be best, or any other suggestions.
Since we are only going to stay for three nights, and have seniors in the group, I would think the location of the hotel would be very important.
The Marriott Renaissance Vendome on Mont Thabor has fairly good reviews, and seems to be in a very good location.
I can get a triple suite for 500 euro a night, but that does not include anything except the room.
I am willing to pay up to 500 euro if the hotel and it%26#39;s location would make it worth staying at, but it does seem a little steep.
Our second choice is the Hotel Pavillon De La Reine. It has great reviews, and is located in the Marais neighbourhood. I am a little worried about this location. Do you think it would be alright for a first visit to Paris of only three nights? We want to be close to things. I can get a rate of 490 euros which includes: Junior Suite, Free buffet Breakfast, Free use of Mini Bar, Free PARKING, and a Seine river trip.
This sounds like a much better deal, do you know anything about the hotel or it%26#39;s location in Place Des Vosges? I understand it is the %26quot;gay%26quot; section of Paris, would it be suitable for children? We are leaning toward this choice at the moment, and would like any opinion, good or bad.
Our third choice is the Oceania Paris. It too has good reviews, but is located in the suburbs. I understand it is right near the end of the # 12 metro line at Porte De Versailles.
I am really worried that it%26#39;s remote location might not be such a good choice for a short trip. But it does have a beautiful pool that my son would love, and free Parking as well.
We can get a Suite for 245 euro per night, which is 1/2 the price of the other hotels.
We are not cheap, and do not mind spending more for a better hotel or location, but if this hotel is only a %26quot;little%26quot; farther away it might be worth considering for the price difference????
I would really appreciate any opinions or suggestions.
Thank you in advance,
Tagor.
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the Marais is a good location -- the mirror of the Latin Quarter -- both are well located in the center ring
you should see how close the hotel is to a metro stop -- as you will probably be using those to get to other parts of the city -- although the Marais area is good walking distance from many great spots if you are good walkers
absolutely don%26#39;t go to a distant site like Porte De Versailles
you don%26#39;t want to burn up the energy of grandpa and grandma just getting into the center --
but you really need a map of Paris -- why avoid a 10-15 dollar expenditure for a good Paris map at your bookstore while deciding on such expensive hotel rooms?
(oh and there is a skating riink set up in front of the Hotel DeVille not far from where you would be in the Marais at this time of year that your son might enjoy)
Christmas is a great time to be in Paris
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Have you tried Hotel Brighton? It is in a very upscale neighbourhood right across the street from the Louvre and Tuilleres Gardens. They have suites and the most amazing views of Paris city life. We are booked there for the fall and it comes highly recommended. The Metro is across the street and the batobus stations are within walking distance. Check their website they book fast as it is a popular destination.
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Thanks for the advice so far, I think I will pass on staying at Porte De Versailles. The Hotel seems nice, but I am also worried about the location being too far out for a three day trip, especially with kids and seniors.
I do have a map, but unfortunately without ever having been to Paris, it is not too much help. We really don%26#39;t know what we would like to be close to...
I think we are leaning toward the Pavillon de le Rein, but were a little worried about the Marais as a place to stay.
I was hoping that it too wasn%26#39;t too far away from the Tower and Champs-Élysées, etc...????
Their web site say%26#39;s it is a 5 minute walk to Bastille or St Paul metro.
I did check the Hotel Brighton, and it does look like it is in a good location. But the hotel it%26#39;s self just doesn%26#39;t look quite as nice as the Pavillon.
Please keep the opinions and suggestions coming they are greatly appreciated.
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people tend to stay near Notre Dame -- Marais or Latin Quarter or up around the Louvre or Tower
My preference is to be near the Isle and Notre Dame (and it is partly determined by my belief that Notre Dame at night is the world%26#39;s greatest sight --so I like to be where I can stroll around it every night I am there)
The Tower is also quite a sight at night -- and the Tuilleries are a marvelous place so that area is also fine.
If you stay in the Marais (and you are pretty far upriver at the Place du Vosges) then you will be taking the metro to get to the Louvre area and the Tower area -- although a long stroll up the Seine is a delight if everyone is up for it and the weather lends itself -- if you have a sunny cool day in December -- that would be a great way to spend it)
If you stay near the Louvre or Tower -- then you will be taking the metro down to the Notre Dame area
This is a very short trip so you definitely want to be very central -- otherwise, when everyone gets back to the hotel, they are not going to have the energy to get back into the center at night -- and you give up some of the charm you are coming to see.
We have had apartments in the Latin Quarter, Marais and the area near the Orsay -- and would rank them in that order -- there are charming more distant areas -- we have also had apartments in the 20th and 18th -- but not for a first trip
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First of all, don%26#39;t choose the suburb location; for such a short trip, you must be in the city center.
Le Pavillon de la Reine is a very good choice. The hotel is very nice and calm. You will be able to walk easily to the Hôtel de ville / Beaubourg district and to Ile de la Cié / Notre Dame. You are very close to the Métro and the line N°1 will allow you to go very quickly to the Louvre / Palais Royal district and to The Champs Elysées.
An other place I like very much (no tourist there!) is the port of Bastille, also within walking distance.
I understand that you are worried about staying in Le Marais. The hotel is not in the gay district. The gay district is located between the rue du Temple and the rue Vieille du Temple (trendy gay places are mostly around rue Sainte Croix de la bretonnerie). Have a look on a map!
There are other districts in between the gay district and your hotel: the jewish district around the rue des Rosiers, that you will surely enjoy, and the museum district with the musée Carnavalet and the musée Picasso. You will also enjoy the art galleries around the place des Vosges,
And anyway, you will find nothing inappropriate for a 11 year old child in this district: I think that Pigalle may be somewhere inappropriate, definitively not the Marais! Unless you think that Wellesley street in Toronto is inappropriate for your son?
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Thank you!
This is exactly the kind of information we were looking for.
I am feeling much more confident about staying in Place Des Vosges in the Marais.
The neighbourhood sounds very nice, and not too far from the sights we want to see.
I think we will most likely stay at the Hotel Pavillon De La Reine.
I do appreciate all the opinions and look forward to any more comments or suggestions anyone might offer, especially concerning the hotel and it%26#39;s location.
We always find Tripadvisor so helpful in planning our vacations.
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We just returned from a 6 night stay just steps from Place Des Vosges. We really enjoyed the area. The metro is fairly close maybe a 5-10 min walk to Bastille and St.Paul but at that time of year might be a tad to far with an 11 year old and grandparents if the weather is bad. The hotel looks absolutely lovely, it is tucked back from the street. The restaurants are really nice in the area and your 11 year old might like having the open space of the Place Des Vosage to vent some energy. Like I said my only concern would be the length of the walk to the metro if the weather gets nasty. As far as the area being gay, we didn%26#39;t even notice and I think it would be fine.
Enjoy your trip with your family.
Cheers,
Deb
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