France
Paris
Hotel Saint-Honoré
85, rue Saint-Honoré - 75001 PARIS - FRANCE
Tel. : + 33 1 42 36 20 38 - Fax : + 33 1 42 21 44 08
Contact : Adnane - Informations :
59 € a night (prices have changed significantly since I stayed there). I'm staying there again in 2005.
I discovered via the guidebook Let's Go Western Europe 2001 this great little hotel in Paris by using:
On the Parishotels Website go to the "Find Hotel on the Map" icon and click on District 6, Louvre/ Opera. Then pick it from the list, or just email the hotel directly.
It turned out to be mediocre little one star place, but the personnel is extremely
friendly, the price is low, and the location totally awesome. For the more adventuresome
and more money-conscious traveler, this place is perfect. Reserve way in advance,
because it is virtually booked months in advance all year long. A laundromat
is right across the street, run by an English-speaking Asian, a supermarket
around the corner at Les Halles, a gym (Club Gymnase, free for members of 24
HR Fitness), up rue Saint-Honoré to the left on the same side as the
hotel, a great boulangerie to the right, also on the same side of the street.
An Easy Everything 24 HR Internet place a few minutes walk, beyond Las Halles.
You find yourself just minutes from the Metro, the Louvre, and the river front. Don't bother with the breakfast, although the coffee is quite good.
Here is the contact info:
85, - 75001 PARIS - FRANCE
Tel. : + 33 1 42 36 20 38 - Fax : + 33 1 42 21 44 08
Contact : Adnane - Informations : paris@hotelsainthonore.com
Caen
Hotel de la Paix
14 Rue Neuve St. Jean
(33 2 31 86 1899)
Private bath/WC
Click on image for link:
Conveniently located, friendly owner, always happy to hold your luggage on departure
day it can be reached from the main station by bus. If you were to get off at
the city center, near the large church, the hotel is just steps away. Likewise,
it is minutes from the original keep of William the Conqueror and his successors.
Nice, a little basic, but I am sure that it is about par for the area. The price
and the location were good enough for me. And the bathroom was ensuite. I like
it that way. Aside from local exploration, I used Caen as a base from which
to take a train and visit Bayeux, a 30 min train ride away, and the Normandie
Beaches (a great tour is available in the restaurant right across from the Bayeux
station), the Bayeux Tapestry, and the great Bayeux Cathedral. The latter two
just a 10 minute walk from the Bayeux station.
Rennes
Hotel Richemont
(33 2 99
30 38 21)
8 Rue Dupont des Loges, 3500 Rennes
I keep thinking it was around $30 in 2001. I upgraded to a slightly larger room. All ensuite.
A sturdy walk from the station, I still had little problem finding it. Once
there, it was a charming place, run by an even more charming French woman and
her son. Rennes' two universities are in easy reach as is the beautiful and
busy old town. Going left along the canal, on the right hand side one gets to
a sizable supermarket with a wonderful selection of Brittany cheeses and French
wines. From Rennes one can catch a public bus to Mt. Saint Michael. A trip to
be started early. Be schedule-conscious to make sure you catch the last bus
back to Rennes. I made mine, after walking the silt at low tide to a nearby
island, a bird sanctuary, with barely 3 minutes to spare. I raced across the
parking lot, feet still wet from hosing them down at the local constabulary.
It is an inexpensive excursion no one should pass up. Rennes was a wonderful
and highly recommended stay. A laundromat is on the way toward the station on
the left side. Bring change, there is no change machine.
From Rennes, I also took a train to Nantes. There is a huge Ducal Palace there
and either a long walk along the Loire river, or a short ride by trolley, takes
one to the Jules Verne Museum. It is small, but, after all the inspiration to
so many of us died-in-the-wool Sci Fi fans, I had to pay homage to the old master.
Avignon
Hotel Splendid
(33 491
90 1293)
17. Rue Agricol Perdiguier
It too may have been back then around $30-35/night, including a very nice breakfast.
Reserve
the extremely popular Hotel Splendid early
I took the high-speed TGV train from Paris to Avignon. What a ride.
I kept thinking I was in an aircraft. The new TGV line is exclusive for the
high-speed trains racing between Paris and Marseille and the French Riviera.
The Avignon TGV station is outside of town, but a bus will take you directly
to the correct old city gate, just across from the regular railroad station,
and part of the impressive medieval wall that surrounds old Avignon. Walk through
the gate and take the first right, down a narrow alley, next to a park, where
you will see a short distance away the sign of the Hotel Splendid. A lovely
little place that also serves a nice breakfast. It is a highly recommended hotel
in a truly enjoyable town. I loved that place and it's many little restaurants
and its gorgeous riverfront. In the little park, near the hotel is the tourist
information office where one can buy souvenirs and a combination ticket that
consists of a short riverboat trip, access to the Pont D'Avignon, and a tour
of the Palais De Papes (wine tasting included).
From Avignon I also took short train rides to the interesting, historically
rich neighboring towns of Arles (lovely Antique Museum, Roman Arena, & Van
Gogh) and Nimes (the most complete Roman Arena anywhere & Le Maison Carre
- a Roman Temple). Both definitely highly recommended day trips.
For the
record: For my 2005 trip, I found Hotel Splendid fully booked for all of July
already in March. My loss.
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BLACKLISTED: While in Arles, I wandered into
the lobby of this small place, hoping to find a map on the wall or some local
info, and the proprietor of the Hotel
MIRADOR came
yelling at me to get out of his hotel. That the info in the lobby was for his
guests only. I mean it was ugly. The worst thing was, he didn't even know if
I had planned to ask for room availability to spend a night or two in Arles.
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Marseille
Hotel d'Athenes
(33 491 90 1293)
I was not going to spend much
time in Marseille, but discovered it to be a very interesting and multi-faceted
town worth far more time than I had planned to spend there. I did, however take
the opportunity to ferry out to the nearby islands, past the fortress-prison,
the Chateaux D'If, that was featured in Alexandre Dumas' story of the Count
of Monte Cristo (here's a link to a summary of the dramatic novel:
The Count of Monte Cristo )
The hotel itself is a seedy little
place though incredibly conveniently located, immediately at the base of the
steps leading from the railroad station. The price was right, it was reasonably
clean and I usually bought my own food elsewhere. Right across (hang left),
below the station there is access to the subway (two lines) that takes you anywhere
in town you need to go. Since I had planned to use Marseille just as a hub for
my excursion to the Riviera, the proximity to the station was highly desirable
and allowed for a rapid getaway. The railway tourist information desk was immensely
helpful and responded pleasantly to a minimum of French. I could not have planned
it better. Access to the Riviera from Marseille is easy and reasonably fast.
The hotel will do, or you can use the travel guides "Go Europe" or
the "Lonely Planet Guide for Europe to find other cheap accommodation.
Chamonix
Best Western, Le Morgane
Click
to reserve at Le Morgane
or go here
for other Best
Western Hotels
I received a discounted room rate. Best Western gives (off-season) discounts for a variety of organizations, e.g. AARP. Military, and the like. You can always ask. Mine was $64/night, excellent breakfast included. You may do better or worse. Times and prices change - always up.
I reached Chamonix changing trains in Lyon, then changing one more time
to get on the Mt. Blanc Express. Hotel Le Morgane is easy to recommend. It's
expensive and luxurious, though excellent discounts can be had in the off- season
(i.e. summer). I loved my stay there. My window looked out at Mt. Blanc and
the Mt. Blanc cable car was just a minute away from the hotel. Two major sights
in town were the Mer De Glace, the glacier that can be visited via a lovely
ride on a narrow-gage private train that departs from behind the Chamonix station,
and, of course, the main attraction being Mt. Blanc. Dress warmly for both excursions.
Even in the summer, entering the world of ice and snow and ice caves is a chilling,
though unforgettable experience. By the way, since I keep mentioning things
such as laundromats, there is one immediately across from the hotel. McDonalds
is your cheapest Internet place in town. One day I went into a place, not far
from the hotel, that was selling mainly sausages and smoked meats, just to look
around, and discovered that they were cooking excellent (that's healthy) and
inexpensive meals to take out, during the week only. I also noticed that there
is, aside from mountaineering and skiing, another great past time to be done
here: para-gliding off the high mountains and cliffs surrounding the town. Chamonix
is a place where that hobby is taught and cultivated.
Grenoble
Hotel Institut
10,
rue Barbillon - 38000 GRENOBLE - Tél. 04.76.46.36.44 -
Tél international :00.33.476.46.36.44 - Fax 04.76.47.73.09
E-mail : contact@institut-hotel.fr
Please click on the image to go to their website.
The ads did not lie. It was really
close to the station. Coming out of the station, hang a slight right, cross
the station square, and you'll see a sign, on a corner, next to a Chinese restaurant,
pointing the way to the hotel. The hotel is quite acceptable and comfortable.
The breakfast, not included, is very sufficient, including the cereal option.
I would definitely stay there again. There is an internet cafe, not too far,
but it's pretty much the most expensive I have found anywhere in Europe. Supposedly
overhead is really high. Staffed by friendly and helpful young people, it is
still a nice place to use. Also, not very far are all manners of stores, including
an Asian, all night place, open on weekends, where one can buy the necessitites.
During regular business hours, the Casino supermarket is probably the place
of choice. A laundromat is conveniently near, across the main street, leading
to the train station. On my next visit to Grenoble, I will stay here again,
no question about that.
Cannes
Hotel Atlantis
4,
rue du 24 Aout - 06400 Cannes
Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 39 18 72 - Fax: 33 (0) 4 93 68 37 65
email : contact@cannes-hotel-atlantis.com
Please click on the image to go to their website. Nice picture of the car. The Hotel itself is strangely misbuilt and in cases somewhat cramped. Forget about the weight room. Don't even go up there and look. It's junk. Go swimming instead. The hotel is a bit on the crummy side, but kept clean enough. You get what you pay for. The employees are super, and do all they can to make you feel at home. The location is just minutes from the beach (round two corners) and that makes it very, very convenient. Also, a Monoprix supermarket is just about 1 minute or less away from it. They have Internet access next to the lobby. There is TV, and for me, there was a German station and the BBC. CNN had no sound. I think later they swapped places. For a short stay, keep in mind, you only sleep there, so, considering all else, it's ok. I took a room streetside and never was bothered by noise. A/C is optional, for a fee. From the station hang a slight right and walk straight into the alley. You'll see their sign on the left side. Use it as a base from which to explore the riviera. Get an all-day cote d'azur train ticket in the station and you can get off and on at any place you like.
