Choosing the right hotel is essential when planning your holiday in Paris. Before you begin your search for that perfect accommodation, it is a good idea to know what you are looking for. A comfortable bed is important so that you can get a good night’s sleep before heading out to explore the city . The size of the bed should be taken into consideration, especially if you are travelling with your family and need a big bed for comfort.
Air conditioning is a must during the summer months from June to August, so that you escape the heat and relax in your room. Having a private bathroom and a shower with good water pressure is preferable. Cleanliness and safety are other important considerations. If you are staying in an unsafe area, it may be problematic to arrive back at your hotel late at night.
Depending on your priorities, additional features such as a swimming pool can offer a place to unwind and soak up the sun. A mini-kitchen and free internet accesses can provide extra comfort during your stay. Seeking a Paris hotel which includes breakfast in the room price could save you on meal expenses during your stay.
The location of your Paris hotel is crucial. A central location in Paris may be convenient for sightseeing but establishments on the outskirts offer guests peace and quiet away from the noise of the city. Most areas can be reached by public transport but if you are using cheap car rental in Paris, you will have more flexibility when deciding on where to stay. Another consideration for guests using car hire is parking. Ask you hotel if there are any additional charges for parking.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide
An interesting place to stay in Paris is the Bastille area, in the 11th arrondissement, situated around Bastille Square , which was built in 1803 and features the 52-metre Colonne de Juillet constructed in memory of people who died during the French Revolution. Another site in the area is the Bastille Opera. The area has seen a lot of redevelopment and has become a trendy place to be, with its jazz clubs, wine bars, art galleries and theatres. There is also a good selection of 2- and 3-star hotels to choose from.
Party lovers will not be disappointed by the nightclubs in Bastille and with a Paris hotel nearby you won’t have far to go after a night out. There are plenty of places to choose from and you can start your night out with a drink at a bar before hitting the dance floor.
Upmarket cafés and restaurant lounges serve a range of cocktails from martinis to mojitos. If you are on a tight budget, head to the bars during happy hour to get discounted drinks and remember that some bars have specials during the week. Wine tasting is a popular activity and you can sample a range of wines before heading out to the bars. The wine tasting provides participants with a lot of information as well as a good time.
Bastille is an area that is now renowned for fashion and you can see the creations of upcoming designers and trend setters. Sites in the area include the Cirque d’Hiver, which is used for fashion shows and performances. It was constructed in 1852 and was used by circuses during bad weather.
It is possible to visit the Edith Piaf Museum, but you need to make reservations ahead of time. Accessing other parts of Paris from Bastille is easy by using the metro or car hire services.
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Categories: Entertainment, Paris - City Guide, Paris Culture
A trip to Paris can cost a lot but if you are travelling on a tight budget, there are ways to reduce your expenses. Equipped with all the necessary advice, you will find you can afford to have an enjoyable stay in the city, eat well and visit numerous attractions.
To ensure that you get the best airfare, compare ticket prices online across a number of different airlines. If you book in advance or travel during off-peak times, costs will be lower. Another way to reach the city is by train or bus. Package deals that include flights and accommodation can offer a cheap way to travel.
Not only will airfares for out-of-season travel times be cheaper, but accommodation at these times will also be reduced in price. An added bonus of visiting during low season is that attractions will be less crowded and you will spend less time waiting in long lines to enter sites. The best deals on Paris hotels and flights can be had in the winter months from November to December, with price reductions also widely available from January to March and in August.
The City of Light is equipped with good public transportation, so it is cheap to get around. Bus tours are available and can also reduce travelling costs.
Paris boasts numerous free attractions including interesting sites such as museums. Famous sites that are not to be missed include the Notre Dame Cathedral and Sacre Coeur Basilica, which both have no entrance fee.
Another suggestion for budget-conscious travellers is to visit the banks of the Seine River, which offer picturesque views and places to relax. The city’s beautiful parks are free of charge and offer the ideal setting for an afternoon picnic. Enjoying a picnic is cheaper than eating in a restaurant and it will allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide, Things to do in Paris
From your comfortable Paris hotel , you can attend a range of events in the vibrant French capital. Paris is easy to get around using cheap car hire or public transport, both of which provide access to just about all areas of the city .
Events are a great introduction to the local culture and a fantastic way for visitors can experience local art, music and theatre. The Paris Street Music Festival is a not-to-be-missed event that takes place across the city at the end of each June. During this one-day event, musicians fill the streets and local bars, offering free performances in a range of styles.
Study the programme to choose performances that suit your preferences. There is something for everyone, from jazz to rap. The easiest way to get around during the festival is by metro, as many roads are blocked off due to the performances. Once you arrive in the district of your choice, the best way to reach the different venues it to walk. This will allow you to soak up the atmosphere and see different shows along the way.
Another much anticipated event is the Open Air Cinema, which shows movies in the summer. Take a blanket and picnic to relax and watch a free movie in the fresh air. This event takes place between July and August, with one film a night, ranging from classical hits to modern favourites. If you take the metro to the event, use Line 5 and disembark at Porte de la Villette Station.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide
Paris is a costly holiday destination and it is important to find a hotel which suits your budget. There is a range of accommodation options available, making it easy to find a quality room at an affordable price. With luxurious hotels, three-star establishments and cheap Paris hotels, there is something to suit everyone.
Another criterion is location as it is convenient to be near the sites that you particularly want to visit, especially if time is limited. If you are staying in the city’s 1st arrondissement, it is easy to reach the Louvre and Royal Palace. The third district is close to Notre Dame, and for visits to the Arc de Triomphe the eighth district is the place to be.
Travellers on a tight budget can find a good selection of budget and mid-range hotels in the outlying areas of the city such as Versailles and Pontoise , both of which have good public transport connections to central Paris.
More budget-friendly places to stay are also available near the railway stations although these are less pleasant areas. The central part of the city is the most expensive; however, it is easy to reach the top tourist sites such as the Louvre.
Visitors can also find better priced accommodation in the 3rd arrondissement close to various museums, Metro stations and the Ile de la Cite. Those looking for a place to stay in a relaxing area farther away from the crowds of tourists may prefer the eleventh district but will need to make use of cheap car hire or public transport to go sightseeing.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide
The Eiffel Tower is an icon of Paris and from the top there are views over the whole city. It was constructed in 1889 and is the tallest building in the country. Visitors can view the three levels of the tower, and the top can be reached by lift or stairs. Paris hotels near this structure are convenient and range from luxury to 3-star options. From these it is easy to visit various sites such as the Musee d’Orsay, the River Seine, and the Pont Alexandre III. Other parts of the city are easily reachable via the Metro.
There are also numerous museums in the area and the Palais de Chaillot is nearby. The original structure, named the Palais du Trocadero, was built in 1878 for an international fair, but it was subsequently demolished and a new building was constructed on the same site for the 1937 World Fair. At the same time the Jardins du Trocadero were laid out. Visitors can visit the Naval Museum, Museum of Man. The Architecture Museum exhibits remarkable French architecture dating back to the Middle Ages. Don’t miss the National Theatre, which is still in working order, catering to an audience of 1,200 people.
The Trocadero gardens, featuring a pond and a fountain, are huge, and a great place to relax or go for a nighttime stroll. After a day of sightseeing it is easy to adjourn to your hotel, and perhaps take in a view of the Eiffel Tower from the window of your room.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide
Paris hotels in the Latin Quarter are conveniently located close to some of the city’s top attractions. This wonderful quarter on the Seine’s left bank has long been home to students thanks to the Sorbonne, yet today its students run shoulders with tourists year round. A tip for booking Paris hotels in the Latin Quarter is to reserve a room on the upper levels of the hotel to reduce the amount of noise from the streets below.
After relaxing in your luxurious hotel room, head out to the Pantheon or spend the afternoon at the Delacroix Museum. It is recommended that you spend at least three hours at this museum dedicated to the painter of the same name as it has many interesting and educational exhibits.
There is also a shop where you can buy refreshments and rest after a day of walking. Be sure to inquire about group tours or go on a self-guided tour using the audio guides.
If you are staying in the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you are tired of sightseeing, you can take a picnic to the park and relax amid the beautiful flowers. This is an activity for the whole family and a good option for travellers on a budget as there is no park entrance fee. Toilet facilities are available and there are snack shops near the park.
From Luxembourg Gardens, it is not far to the St Germain-des-Pres shopping zone, which is a well-known shopping haven. There are a range of unique boutiques waiting to be discovered here. If you are not in the mood to shop, you can sit in a cosy coffee shop and people-watch. The cafes in this part of Paris are good spots to grab a bite to eat.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide, Things to do in Paris
Tags: Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens, the Delacroix Museum, top attractions
Once you have settled into your comfortable Paris hotel, you can head out to explore the city using cheap car hire in Paris or even public transport. The iconic Eiffel Tower is a must-see feature of the city. It is worth visiting this site at night as the structure becomes illuminated against the night sky. To reach the top, you can walk the stairs or catch a ride with the lift. This site is located in district 16.
There are beautiful gardens near the Eiffel Tower which provide the perfect place to go for a walk, and there is also a lake with activities such as rowing. If you go to district 8, you can walk along the famous Champs-Elysees shopping street and visit the Arc de Triomphe.
If you are interested in art , Montmartre is a good place to explore. Here, you can watch painters, inspired by the beautiful city, at work. The streets in this area come alive with music and street performers each evening. Party lovers can dance the night away in district 4 where there are many trendy bars to choose from. Parties continue until sunrise and international DJs are hosted at top clubs like the Rex.
If you are looking for something different, Chinatown is the place to be as there are interesting markets and a mix of cultures. Here, you can try different Chinese food and stop for freshly made Chinese tea. There are also flea markets situated in district 11 where you can buy crafts which are ideal gifts or souvenirs.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide
Tags: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Paris Hotel, The Eiffel Tower
It is easy to get around Paris, so wherever you choose to stay, a range of tourist attractions will be accessible. Car hire in Paris is one way of getting around the city and is a particularly convenient means of getting from the airport to your Paris hotel. There are numerous vehicles to choose from and dozens of affordable options for travelers on a tight budget.
Public transport is another viable option for getting around Paris, with the majority of the main tourist attractions in the city easily reached by metro, bus or train. The Paris metro is well designed and easy to navigate, so many tourists use this system. It may be more difficult to navigate Paris buses, but they can be a cheap and fast way of getting to your destination.
One way of arranging your holiday is to arrive in the city and simply explore. However, if you have a clear idea of the sites you want to visit, you might want to choose accommodation in the area which is nearest to these sites to minimize travel time. If you have a limited amount of time in the city, choosing a Paris hotel near the main tourist attractions is the way to go.
The left bank of the Seine River offers cheaper accommodation than the right bank and proximity to renowned streets such as Saint-Germain Boulevard. This boulevard is the ideal place to stay if you are interested in art. The right bank of the Seine River offers luxurious accommodation at higher prices and important shopping streets such as Champs-Elysees and Rue de la Paix.
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Categories: Entertainment, Paris - City Guide
Tags: bus, Saint-Germain Boulevard, tourist attractions, train
If you need to book a cheap Paris hotel, it is helpful to understand the layout of the city in relation to major tourist attractions. To make an informed decision on where to stay, it is advisable to make a list of the attractions that you most want to see and choose a Paris hotel that is situated nearby.
Paris is separated into 20 districts, or arrondissements, with the city centre located near Notre Dame Cathedral. The districts, numbered 1 to 20, radiate from the centre in a clockwise direction. Each district has a different atmosphere and understanding the ambience of each neighborhood will help you to pick a suitable spot for your holiday.
There are numerous museums situated in districts 1 and 2, including the famousdistricts. The Louvre is a must-see for anyone interested in history, and it is advisable to set aside at least three hours for this site. District 4 is quieter than other areas and district 5 has long attracted writers from around the world. It has a lively atmosphere and is packed with interesting bars and cosy cafés where you can have a cup of coffee and people-watch.
Districts 6 and 7 offer atmospheres of sophistication as well as much in the way of shopping. There are a range of shops in these areas, including outlets selling designer brands and unique local fashions. After a day of shopping, you can head to one of the upmarket restaurants in these areas for a delicious meal accompanied by local wine.
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Categories: Paris - City Guide
Tags: attractions, districts, Notre Dame Cathedral, restaurants
