Bonjour,
I just booked my first trip to Paris! I will be in Paris during the third week of May. I am totally excited and been reading up on the Trip Advisor%26#39;s Paris Forum for the past month.
For those that been to Paris and have stayed at Timhotel Palais Royal Louvre -- it will be greatly appreciated if you are able to provide any tips. IE:
[1] Cheap/Good restaurants in the nearby area - From what I understand, this hotel is nearby to the Louvre and other tourist sites, therefore, I assume that the restaurant bills can be quick pricey.
[2] What should I pack for the trip? My gf went to Paris during the same week last year and did her hw to check the weather beforehand. However, by the time she arrived it was a lot chillier then she had expected. What do people usually wear around that time of the year? Shirts, scandals, light jacket, no jacket? Also, would Puma be appropriate choice of footware for my entire stay in Paris? I do not plan on going to high end restaurant but did plan on going to reasonably priced restaurants.
[3] Because Timhotel Palais is located in Zone 1 (Metro Line 1), where most of the sites are, do you supposed its a good idea to purchase metro tickets per ride or the discount booklet of 10?
[4] What is the best way to get from CDG airport to Timhotel Palais Royal Louvre?
[5] Do I have to carry my passport wherever I go? If not, for those that have stayed at this hotel or similar 2 stars hotels -- is it safe to leave behind legal documents such as your passport?
Thanks in advance for all your help!!
- Sillybutt =)
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Springtime in Paris, should be great.
1 - there are restaurants on every corner, literally. Try smaller streets to find local favorites rather than over-touristed places.
2 - it can be cold; it may be warm. Springtime is unpredictable, so pack enough so you don%26#39;t get caught out. Footwear is really what makes you comfortable; rockport style shoes can be a good compromise between comfort for you and appearance for others.
3 - Get the books of 10. You%26#39;ll use them.
4 - Taxi is best, train/metro is cheapest, airport bus then a taxi to the hotel can be a combination.
5 - Yes, keep it on you, look after it like your wallet.
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Your choice of hotel is a good one. Apart from the rooms being small everything else is more than you would expect from a 2 star hotel.
The best thing about Timhotel Le Louve is its situation.
At night you can easily walk across the Seine to the Left bank if you are looking for reasonably priced restaurants. Its very safe to walk home even after the metro has closed.
Lock your passport in the Hotel safe,
We caught the Roissybus from CDG to L%26#39;Opera and then walked to the hotel. About 20 mins. Im sure you could take a taxi or venture onto the Metro if you dont have too much luggage.
Buy a carnet of 10 tickets at a time.
How many days are you spending in Paris.
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The only thing is it%26#39;s a bit far from any metro. We drove to the hotel but when we left, we took the Roissybus after taking metro at Bourse. To walk all the way it would be tough with luggage.
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l%26#39;afrique - We are staying for 7 nights.
bibimbob -- how much was the taxi fare from CDG to the hotel? I was wondering if anyone know the rush hour traffic in Paris, if so, I can try to avoid it as much as possible.
Thanks!!
- Sillybutt :)
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Opinions vary greatly but mine is that one should keep passport on one%26#39;s person, safely guarded underneath clothing in a security pouch (waist moneybelt or leg-safe are the most comfortable). It%26#39;s the most important travel item you have.
Most hotels have small safes in the room, but these can be accessed by others (as I have read accounts of this on this forum, in the reviews and other sites on the internet). Safes are always manufactured with a %26#39;master%26#39; key or code which the staff obviously has in case the customer has a problem with the safe.
May is often a nice temperature but not usually hot... you should pack for some light layers as it can go either way.
You can eat anywhere in Paris - no need to limit the area to your hotel%26#39;s. Enter %26quot;restaurant%26quot; in the search and you%26#39;ll have plenty of suggestions. There is a current thread about %26quot;restaurant databases%26quot; that has good websites to help you.
I%26#39;d buy the carnet of 10 tickets for the metro - that is only 5 trips out and back and your feet may thank you now and then.
The %26#39;best%26#39; way to get to Paris from CDG is a taxi but almost as good is a reserved shuttle seat for much less €. See www.parishuttle.com and www.beeshuttle.com for information. You can get there by train but you%26#39;ll have to transfer to metro then walk to hotel and it%26#39;s a bit much for a first-timer in my opinion.
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Hi,
1. Make a copy of your passport page with your picture and info. That is what I carry. The actual passport gets left in hotel safes. We stayed in 3 stars. Had no problems doing that last June in Paris, Dijon and Lyon. Also left my plane ticket and some jewelry and had no problems. I know others differ. But if you take the real passport then leave the copy in the safe so you have the numbers, etc.
2. We tended to walk most places and only used the metro and buses a few times. Thus we bought as we needed.
3. there are a number of shuttles that are less expensive than taxis. We use Yellow Shuttle and find them reliable. Our hotel makes the arrangements.
4. Weather can be variable so plan on layering. While sneakers or running shoes are more likely to sy %26quot;tourist%26quot; which of course, we are. I wera Black Mephistos as walking shoes.
5. The hotel we use is also in the 1st and there are a number of reasonable as well as expensive restaurants. There are several around the Palais Royal Garden under the arcades that are moderate.
6. Make sure you visit Ile St .Louis for Berthillon icecream and have a meal at Cafe Lutetia. You can walk there after exploring Notre dame and La Chapelle. Many moderate cafes and bistros, neat shops and just charming.
Have fun.
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I didn%26#39;t take the taxi to the hotel. I used Roissy Bus which stops at Opera station.
I believe this hotel charges a daily fee for using the safety deposit box.
Some room safes are accessible by hotel staff, some newer ones do not and only the security company has the master key/code. Some safety deposit boxes have no master key at all.
I generally carry my passport with my in a neck pouch.
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Your Pumas are fine, you will fit right in. THe last pair of Pumas I bought was at the Bon Marche in Paris and they had about 30 different styles. Very %26quot;in%26quot;, most of my French friends clod around in Pumas or Adidas, but maybe not at a nice restaurant.
Les
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hey all --
thanks for all the valuation feedback. so PUMA it is ;). i%26#39;m still collecting all the information and hopefully come up with a feasible itinerary.
Thanks again!!
- Sillybutt :)
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Hi Sillybutt - I was in Paris in 2006 in the last week of May and it was freezing (compared to normal Parisian standards). I was there again in July and it was steaming !
Bring whatever footwear you feel comfortable in. Paris is made for walking - and it will ruin your stay to get sore feet and blisters.
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; What do people usually wear around that time of the year? Shirts, scandals, light jacket, no jacket? %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
To be real Parisian, you are quite right: a pair of solid %26quot;scandals%26quot;
will always secure success ! LOL
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