Holiday to Paris

[seedlessgrape]

Can anyone help me out with recommendations for either hotel, apartment or b&b in Paris? I'm going in August with my boyfriend and my 11 year old DD (first holiday together for the three of us) and we want either adjoining rooms (hotel) or 2 bedroomed apartment. Don't necessarily want cheap and cheerful but everything I've looked at is so expensive.

Any ideas?
Thanks!!

We stayed at Le Price Regent

It is not especially cheap either - Paris just isn't - but the apartment did look like the picture. The location in St Germain was excellent - easy walk to the Metro, Notre Dame, Jardin du Luxembourg. There was even a washing machine/dishwasher. Lots of cafes, shops and restaurants in the surrounding area.

OMG they look fab!! Not sure my budget will stretch to that, although hey what are credit cards for??!! :)

Thanks Porto!

Seriously though, I wish I was made of money.

I might need to look at something between this and budget....

Try www.citadines.com. They have some apartments reasonably positioned too. How long are you going for?

We're going for four nights, which should be long enough to do Paris.

Citadines looks like a good site - I saw their name mentioned when I was doing a search for paris hotels with interconnecting rooms

Thanks again for your help :)

The Ibis chain has 41 hotels in Paris . Clean, cheap and functional the Ikea of Paris???

I agree with the suggestion of the Ibis chain of hotels. It might also be worth asking on the Trip Advisor Paris forum where the Experts there can help with more suggestions.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g187147-i14-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

As you have an 11 yr old have you thought about visiting Disneyland for one or two days? There are two parks, and plenty for all the family. It takes 40 mins from central Paris to Disneyland on the RER line A train, and you may be able to buy tickets for ? 30 which is cheaper than at the park entrance.
For information about Disneyland and buying the cheaper tickets see the Trip Advisor DLP or Marne La Vallee forums.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g226865-i2224-Marne_la_Vallee_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_de_France.html

As accommodation in central Paris is rather expensive, you may wish to think about staying somewhere close to the RER line A outside central Paris, so you have easy access into Paris or Disneyland, but cheaper prices.
It rather depends on how long you are planning to go for.

Just to add.....Disneyland is busy in the summer holidays, but has Fantillusion electrical parade followed by fireworks at 11pm, so you can have 13 hours in the park. Trains run frequently from early morning until very late, so not a problem getting back into Paris afterwards.
Marne La Vallee Chessy station is inside resort, just a few mins walk to both parks.You can buy a 1 day 1 park ticket, or a 1 day hopper ticket for both parks.

Thank you Celibin and Figgy.... information much appreciated.

I'd considered Disneyland but was hoping my DD wouldn't be interested, on the basis that she had two weeks in Florida with her father at Easter... surely 11 year olds get bored of theme parks??

Areas to avoid in Paris: Pigalle (girls of the night) Montmatre.Sacre Coeur!

Someone told me that it would be good to do the Sacre Coeur at night as apparently it is very impressive when all lit up, however that does mean we will experience the Moulin Rouge area with it's adult nightlife .... might be time for my 11 year old DD to learn about such things?!!

We have found really good value apartment rentals on www.vrbo.com. Our favourite place to stay is in the 1st or 7th Arrondisement. We usually pay around £700 for a week, though we haven't been for a couple of years so costs may have risen. We like the freedom of being able to cook a meal for ourselves.

Don't forget to take passport sized photos for your Navigo pass. We have always bought a standard Navigo pass but I think tourists are supposed to buy the Navigo Decouverte pass which is more expensive. If your French is up to it I don't think most ticket sellers argue with you and once you have the Navigo you can just top it up whenver you go back.

Taxis aren't too expensive within the centre, so that's another option if you're out late, though we have never found the Metro threatening. Rue St. Denis is another area that gets 'interesting' at night, though not as bad as the Pigalle.