4 replies to this topic

[Redish]

Hi

I know there are quite a number of members on this forum that have traveled to Paris and do so quite often for business or vacations.

Could anyone suggest a few 3* hotels that you've stayed in? My brother, his wife and I are planning to go next year and I'd appreciate the input.

Rgds
Redish

[twentieth]

Hotel Raphael

[Izziwhizzi]

wow! That Hotel Raphael looks absolutely amazing but not in most peoples budget at all, or is that what people expect to spend nowadays? For sure I can't, especially when the reason you are there is to see Paris and not the inside of your hotel room.

When looking for hotels I always look up Trip Advisor. Trip Advisor's second best hotel in Paris - out of 1858 hotels - is 3 star and significantly less money than Hotel Raphael. Its web site says it was a wheelchair accessible room. But read both reviews, and others and see what grabs you attention.

Or work out what you want to do in Paris exactly and find hotels close to the area they like or else you may spend a lot of the time travelling between places. Hotel Raphael is very central and close to the Arc de Triumph. Remember too access at older places like the Eiffel Tower is limited. It does however mean you can skip queues in a wheelchair as they have to take you via an exit gate for you to get on the lift. And also you can only get to the 2nd level and not the very top. The views are still great.

If you are brave enough I'd hire a car if only for a day (and if its summer go for a convertible) to drive around Paris. The buildings, avenues and boulevards are amazing, as well as driving down the Seine pretending you are in a scene from Ronin.

Hope that helps.

I

Edited by Izziwhizzi, 21 October 2011 - 12:36 PM.

[Redish]

Izziwhizzi, on 21 October 2011 - 12:11 PM, said:

wow! That Hotel Raphael looks absolutely amazing but not in most peoples budget at all, or is that what people expect to spend nowadays? For sure I can't, especially when the reason you are there is to see Paris and not the inside of your hotel room.

When looking for hotels I always look up Trip Advisor. Trip Advisor's second best hotel in Paris - out of 1858 hotels - is 3 star and significantly less money than Hotel Raphael. Its web site says it was a wheelchair accessible room. But read both reviews, and others and see what grabs you attention.

Or work out what you want to do in Paris exactly and find hotels close to the area they like or else you may spend a lot of the time travelling between places. Hotel Raphael is very central and close to the Arc de Triumph. Remember too access at older places like the Eiffel Tower is limited. It does however mean you can skip queues in a wheelchair as they have to take you via an exit gate for you to get on the lift. And also you can only get to the 2nd level and not the very top. The views are still great.

If you are brave enough I'd hire a car if only for a day (and if its summer go for a convertible) to drive around Paris. The buildings, avenues and boulevards are amazing, as well as driving down the Seine pretending you are in a scene from Ronin.

Hope that helps.

I

I also checked out Hotel Raphael but as you said the place is awesome but the price a bit steep. In a previous post a few months ago, Hotel OOPS was suggested which is very much a budget hotel and seemed perfect, neat cheap, slightly of the beaten track. Just could not get my sibling to buy into this. I'll check out Trip Advisor.

Thank you
Redish

[Izziwhizzi]

If you want chain hotels in France try

Campanile, Kyriad, Novotel and Mercure

Thats Campanile and Kyriads site http://www.campanile...en/default.aspx

and Novotels http://www.novotel.c...els-paris.shtml

They show which hotels have 'handy rooms' (accessible rooms).

Good web sites I found for you

http://www.sagetrave...le-Paris-hotels

http://www.venere.co...e-paris-travel/

http://goparis.about...s_accesible.htm

I'm sorry I've not tried the underground in Paris and have no idea about its accessibility although I've been to Paris several times. I'm lucky enough that Paris is within a long days drive of where I live. I have flown into Charles de Gaulle, used their wheelchair accessible bus (like most you need a steady hand to hold on) and took the train to Disneyland - sorry I have kids and thats where they always persuade me to go!

Don't expect access to be good in France. When I was young and foolish I have been pushed across all the traffic to the Arc de Triumph as it was only stairs to the underground paths. A frightened Gendarme took us back. When you get there you'll see it was a bit of a foolish thing to do.

Theres obviously loads to see in Paris. I've been to Monets house at Giverney a couple of times and have eventually seen his original huge Waterlilly paintings in their proper home (In the Orangerie, just off Place de la Concorde). They were stunning. The Museum is fully accessible, but you need some decent help getting up the slope and someone to go in and get the wheelchair access door open.

http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/

Also the Eiffel Tower is great, and so is a boat trip on the Seine.

Whats on your wish list to do? Are you going anywhere else in Europe. I've just come back from a week in Barcelona, and the underground there is mostly accessible, it was fabulous. Can't wait to go there again.

Good luck on your plans

I