I just booked the 14 Day Best of Europe Tour for May 2025. The hotel in Rome will be the Hotel Museum across from the Vatican museum. Has anyone stayed there? It looks very nice, but seems like it will be a long walk or subway to most of the sites in Rome. The hotel in Paris will be Tourisme Avenue Hotel by the Eiffel Tower. It is a 4 star hotel. Has anyone stayed there? Any recommendation regarding the tour by those who have taken it? I have taken RS Best of Italy tour so I will probably go off on my own seeing things I have not seen in Rome on the previous tour. I will be getting to a Rome 3 days early and taking a private tour to Pompeii and the Amalfi coast. I am very familiar with Paris having been there there a number of times. If anyone has special place in Paris that is out of the ordinary tourist stops, I would like your recommendations.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4546 posts
We have stayed at Hotel Museum 3 times and love it. It is down some steps from the Vatican Museum. On your 3 days pre-tour, I suggest you stay somewhere closer to the sights you want to see. If you did not go to San Clemente Church on your previous trip, you should make it a priority. I also really liked Sophra Minerva Church near the Pantheon. It is Gothic style, which is not the norm in Rome.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14533 posts
In Paris have you done the Liberation and Resistance Museum? It's right across from the entrance to the Catacombs and is an easy Metro ride from your hotel.
Anything you are particularly interested in? Art Nouveau in Paris? WWII in Paris? Gardens?
Posted by
OP
Placentia, CA
1067 posts
I like WWII history and have been to Normandy, Caen, etc. I like the WWII exhibition next to Napoleon’s Tomb. Is there any other WWII sites in Paris? Last time I was in Paris was 2009 for 9 days. Paris and Venice are my two favorite cities.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14533 posts
Oh yes! Then definitely do the Liberation and Resistance Museum which opened in the last few years. It is a City of Paris Museum so is closed on Mondays but is also free.
There is a cafe that is between your hotel location and Les Invalides along Avenue de la Motte-Picquet that was used by the Resistance. It's placement between Les Invalides and Ecole Militaire where German troops were stationed made it an ideal meeting place for them and the cafe staff could eavesdrop.
https://www.cafemax.fr/en
https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/where-to-eat-in-paris/restaurant/articles/282172-cafe-max-generous-french-cuisine-in-this-resistance-stronghold
I have NOT eaten here as the menu is fairly meaty and I'm vegan, lol. BUT some day I will just to acknowledge the history of this building.
I also recommend the Paris Walks tours of sites from the Occupation and Liberation of Paris. The one that starts on the Right Bank is so good I've done it twice thru the years.
I have not done this program and it's not WWII related but it is at Les Invalides and looks interesting.