|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 17, 2012 1:23:55 GMT
These are touted as a solution between traditional hotel stays and self-catering/short-term apartments. They are usually a room or a suite with a small kitchenette and perhaps other living facilities. Adagio www.adagio-city.com/fr/home/index.shtml seems to have places that are a bit cheaper than pricy Citadines, and more choices than Citea, though I'm sure that Kerouac and others are more knowledgeable about this. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 6:32:06 GMT
Well, I see them all over Paris, but I have never been inside one of them. If somebody else was paying, I would not hesitate to use them.
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 17, 2012 8:04:41 GMT
Lagatta - When I have more time today I will investigate these further. We have 4 nights to find accommodation in Paris on our return from Holland, and before we take occupation of our apartment.
I am leaning towards our old standby The Ibis Esplanade La Defense. Been there three times now and find it so handy to be on Line 1 which runs the length (or breadth) of Paris.
My problem is that the rate on their Happy 20 deal is running at 70euros. We have never paid more than about 45euros if I remember correctly, and have stayed for as little as 39E!! I thought there was a recession.....
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 17, 2012 18:59:10 GMT
Tod, it really depends on what you prefer. These are for people who don't want to eat out every meal (which I HATE doing when travelling; I had to do it often when on work trips) and want other facilities. I certainly wouldn't do any "serious cooking" in one, but I'm sure I could heat up Picard frozen foods (actually good), make a salad, enjoy a rôtisserie chicken etc and store a small amount of food in the little fridge.
I can see the benefit of Ibis Esplanade la Défense, but I dislike La Défense (I've been there for work reasons). There are other "proche banlieues" that I'd like fine, but those with more of a neighbourhood feel. Moreover, most of my friends live at the other end of Paris, so it would make a long trek. Ibis La Villette would be a better choice for me, though I don't know if such deals are available there. (If it is an Ibis - I forget)... Too bad about the rate increase, as that is an extraordinary price.
How is the € trading against the Rand?
I'd love to here if anyone else has familiarity with these.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 19:29:16 GMT
Although it is a real ordeal to pore over the Accor Hotels site for the best bargains, you might want to look at the 48 Ibis hotels inside Paris to see if any of them have a suitable rate or location. (And when I write "inside Paris" that means that I am not even counting the Ibis at La Défense.)
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 18, 2012 7:02:46 GMT
Yes, I have been doing that but so far none offer the 'Happy 20' deal. But I have time on my side so will continue to see what they come up with.
A big MUST for me is that there should be a metro stop just around the corner or no more than a block away.
Lagatta, The ZAR or Rand is trading at just over R8 for a US dollar and R10 for a euro. (Could you imagine paying 10 to 1!!) I looked into your link for Adagio but they are more expensive - also we are going to be in an apartment for over a week so I am prepared to 'eat out' for the 4 days we have in a hotel. Actually I have spotted some hotels offering tea & coffee making facilities and a bar fridge (for more money of course) but so handy when it comes to that first cup of coffee or tea as you wake up!
The alternative could be to travel with a camping tool which is very small but makes a hot drink in a cup. Has anyone ever done this, or know about it?
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 18, 2012 20:35:48 GMT
Bixa has reported doing that, but you'll have to ask her!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2012 5:55:46 GMT
I used one of those wire water boilers that you put in a cup or a bowl a long time ago. I used it to boil water for instant Chinese noodles back then in some difficult country where I did not want to venture outside alone after dark.
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 19, 2012 7:39:43 GMT
Oh I hope Bixa can enlighten me! I certainly won't be using it for anything but tea and coffee in the morning and at bedtime.
Doesn't old age and habits cramp one's style ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 20, 2012 16:20:33 GMT
Humph -- almost didn't answer you after that old age remark! ;D
Sorry, Tod, but I didn't re-check this thread until just now. I looked at it when LaGatta started it, wistfully wishing that I had something to add.
Re: the immersion coil, which is what I assume you mean by "camping tool" & Kerouac by "wire water boiler" -- yes, indeedy do, it is the cat's meow (pace, LaGatta!) for getting some essential caffeine into ones system in the mornings while traveling.
I take along a melmac cup, a spoon, the coil, & a small jar of instant coffee. This means I can have coffee as soon as I get out of bed, bracing me to dress & go out for real coffee.
Of course there are miniature electric coffee makers a la Mr. Coffee Jr., along with small-sized electric percolators, but this means having a supply of ground coffee plus more clean up. The coil method means having nothing but an easily replaced jar of instant java & some easily packed tea bags.
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 20, 2012 16:47:01 GMT
Thank you so much for that information Bixa . The old age remark was for me & Mr. Tod2!!Ha Ha!- Is there any chance that you can still read the manufacturers name on it? I might just have to order it over the internet. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 20, 2012 17:09:16 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Jan 20, 2012 17:09:32 GMT
I am also going to investigate into purchasing this item Tod! I require my tea in the morning and at night as well. It is a comfort that I enjoy more so when traveling (and with age!). With this September's trip including my sister who is equally comforted by tea, it will be at the top of my list while shopping.
Cheers!
Mich
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 20, 2012 17:22:15 GMT
You can buy them in camping stores. By the way, I have some instant espresso - think it is Nestlé? Not only useful for that, but can also turn the dishwasher served at many places along highways into a simulacre of real coffee.
Instant is also useful if you only have access to a microwave.
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 20, 2012 17:44:24 GMT
Bixa - Thank You!! I'll be at the camping store tomorrow - it's quite a large one so I'm hoping they will have it.
Lagatta, we use only one instant coffee everyday as it compares very favourably with filter coffee of good quality. It's Nescafe's Freeze dried Cap Colombie. I'm sure we will get it in Holland or when back in Paris. Thanks so much for the suggestion.
I am really going to need this immersion heater thing as after 2 days of deliberating and going to numerous hotel sights, I finally decided taking a chance on a "smoked in" hotel room( like we encountered on I'lle de la Jatte and had to be moved) , was not going to be good, so went with our old standby the Ibis at Esplanade la Defense. It will be out fourth stay there and I thought the 290Euro rate for three nights was acceptable. (Every night was a different rate!)
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2012 17:56:41 GMT
You should get a free A-club card from Accor, tod. I just printed up three 40€ vouchers for upcoming trips, and my A-club account still has enough points on it for 3 or 4 more vouchers. These vouchers are valid in the entire euro zone (and perhaps beyond -- you would probably receive your vouchers in USD) in the Ibis, All Seasons, Mercure, Novotel, SuiteNovotel and Sofitel chains. Ibis is the only chain that puts restrictions on the use, though -- you can only use them on the weekend there.
My next Ibis night is something like 86 euros, so with two vouchers, it will be as good as free.
|
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Jan 20, 2012 19:38:41 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Jan 21, 2012 4:29:04 GMT
My my Fumo, what an impressive device! I am not a coffee or espresso drinker but I know one that would love to have this.
Lagatta, perhaps I might find one at our local Canadian Tire store? They do have quite an extensive camping section at ours here, so hopefully. Our outdoorsman store was involved in a horrible fire here last week, everything lost, so CT would be my only alternative locally.
How nice to have those vouchers Kerouac! I will have to check that site for our two or three days in Paris next September.
Tod, I wonder why the different daily rates? Is it over a weekend into a weekday? Interesting...
I spent approximately 4 hours last night researching hotels in Caen, Bruge, Arras, Compiegne and Paris trying to find unique hotels since this trip will be the first for my sister.
Cheers!
Mich
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 21, 2012 13:31:01 GMT
Thanks for encouraging me to join the A-Club Kerouac. I see the 40E vouchers are for 2,000 points. WoW, I will never achieve that unless they never expire (like airmiles do)! Well I am giving it a shot and will sweet talk the manager/receptionist when checking- in to see if they can give me points on ALL the previous times we have stayed there.....If you don't ask, you don't get  |
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 21, 2012 17:16:16 GMT
The Canadian Tire just down the street from me is a small, old-fashioned one, kept open because it gets a lot of customers from nearby older, very urban areas. So their camping department is relatively small (I'd look first at Le Baron outdoors store, also nearby; they have everything) but in a larger Canadian Tire they might well have them. I could also get them (perhaps would cost a bit more) at a travel gadgets store. Remember to check out the voltage if you want to use them in Europe.
I assume you are visiting the War Memorial near Arras? Bruges is beautiful, but I've only done it as a stopover between Amsterdam and Brussels, so I can't help with hotels or inns.
I like fumobici's "Twist" but will settle for a little stovetop manual espresso when I have access to a stovetop. Hereabouts there is no shortage of espresso bars, and many are old working-class ones where the coffee is not pricy (and better than at pricy chains).
|
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Jan 21, 2012 18:23:34 GMT
The next time I am at Canadian Tire, the camping department will be my first search. Ours is extremely large and new so I hope to be successful there Lagatta. We always bring our power converter.
Yes, my plan is to take my sister to Juno Beach, the Canadian Cemetary nearby, The Canadian War Memorial and Museum in Vimy, the battlefields near Bruge, the castle in Pierrefonds and finishing with a few days in Paris.
Cheers!
Mich
|
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 21, 2012 18:24:57 GMT
Hi Mich, Unfortunately we are not over a weekend - in on Wed 2nd May - out Friday 5th.
This is how they structured the rates: Wed 155.00 Thurs79.00 Fri59.00
These prices are the most we have ever paid at that hotel. First time 39euros for a double, second time around 44euros, third time around 55euros I think.
I could have held out longer but this hotel always has loads of coach trippers staying there so in the end decided to go for it.
I can only hope we meet up with a nice receptionist like last time who upon hearing my disappointment at being allocated a room without a view of the Seine and Eiffel Tower, immediately asked if we would mind being on the newly renovated14th Floor with a view. MIND? Are violets blue?!! I was thrilled and had a very happy week there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2012 20:20:57 GMT
Thanks for encouraging me to join the A-Club Kerouac. I see the 40E vouchers are for 2,000 points. WoW, I will never achieve that unless they never expire (like airmiles do)! Well I am giving it a shot and will sweet talk the manager/receptionist when checking- in to see if they can give me points on ALL the previous times we have stayed there.....If you don't ask, you don't get The points don't expire as long as you stay in an Accor hotel at least once every 365 days. |
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 22, 2012 14:58:25 GMT
Around Bruges and many places in Belgium and Northern France, the ghosts of the world wars are palpable. I'm not as familiar with the battlegrounds on the French-German border.
Obviously we have huge, more modern Canadian Tires here too, but I'd have to take a bus; the closest one like that is too far to walk and there is far too much ice to ride my bicycle there. I'm really glad to have the little one down the street - they even have the best prices for cat litter!
|
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Jan 22, 2012 16:26:52 GMT
Yes Lagatta, I would assume your city has more than one Canadian Tire, the one near you sounds more interesting though because it would be a traditional store, not the big commercialized ones being opened now. Yes they are nice and seem to have everything, but it is the smaller older shops that have more character and, I agree, better prices sometimes.
My sister has a keen interest in history and I am so excited for her to see the sights she has read and studied about for years. I have shared personal knowledge with her on the German/France battlefields and cemeteries as my mother-in-law was a young girl living in a town on the border between the countries and were occupied during the war. Her school was on the road that separated the countries, one side France the other Germany. It is a lovely town and region to visit but we just do not have the time this trip.
Cheers,
Mich
(apologies for commenting so much off topic)
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jul 17, 2015 15:04:19 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 16:19:32 GMT
I know the name of the chain, but that's about it. Another appart-hôtel that I often pass on the T3 tramway at the Delphine Seyrig stop is Suite-Home. Technically it is in Paris, but it is about 2 centimetres from Pantin. www.suitehome-paris19.com/fr |
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jul 17, 2015 18:25:43 GMT
When I clicked on the link, there was a message saying the two companies had joined together.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 18:28:34 GMT
AppartCity and Park & Suites have merged, but not Suite Home. I remember seeing a big Park & Suites place on Avenue de France in the 13th, but I haven't seen a name change yet.
|
|
