we are a GS troop of 6-2 adults and 4 teens 16-17, ending our 15 day euro adventure with 3 nights in paris. because we are paying for this trip with cookie earnings and other fundraising, we are of course budget travelers. that being said, we have allotted for approximately $350 p/night for lodging. i have found an "ancient-historical" apartment, rue des Grands Augustins 75006 Paris, where picasso once resided which i think my girls would find interesting priced at 700 euros complete for our trip and also hotel foch, which includes a family room and a double including breakfast complete at 1160 euros. my question, is for the money, if we can swing it, would you seasoned travelers recommend the hotel or apt? i am trying to vary our lodging to give the girls unique perspectives and in paris, seeing our hopes of a barge on the seine have been dashed, we want to experience paris and typical parisian girls! merci!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
"typical parisian girls" ,, I have to wonder what you think that really means.. lol The apartment is in a lovely area,, but what is bedding arrangement? Often its pull out sofas ,, can be very tight for two adults( and 16-17 yrs old girls are adult sized ) .. If bedding looks ok I would be tempted to take apartment if big enough. You can save money by having breakfast in each morning, (a trip to the market would be fun for girls,,even the grocery store is fasicinating) and you can pack some snacks for the day,, you will save alot of money and try some locals cheese, bread etc.. (a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens is a great thing to do, plus girls will see locals picnicing and sunning during their lunch hours)
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Forgot to add, look at this hotel too, its in a great area also, and has larger room types,, its budget but apparently well liked, clean, and if you have to split into two rooms the advantage with 6 women is two bathrooms!
Hotel Marignan in the 5th( Latin Quarter, not the one with similar name near Champs) is a hotel but has a small shared kitchen.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33842 posts
I think that a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens would be perfect. The girs would have a neat picnic in a fabulous location, surely they would have the opportunity to see typical Parisien girls (maybe typical Parisien boys, too!). Have you thought of seeing if there is a French GS troop meeting during the time you are there. If you went there they could see just how the French girls do their scouting.
Posted by
OP
los angeles
16 posts
thank you so much for this info! i think we will go ahead and book the apartment so that we can indeed live a few days of typical "parisian" life by shopping the boulangeries, charcuteries and other markets. i love your suggestion of a picnic in luxembourg gardens. i do not recall visiting it when i was last in paris many years ago...do you know of the restaurant sergeant d-recruiter on the ille de st. louis? i enjoyed a meal there and thought it may be one good dining splurge for us. and of course, because our teens are 16-17, we are scheduling free time for them to just explore and google at parisian shops, boys, whatever! and thanks for bringing up the thought of meeting with local girl guides. our trip includes visits to 2 of the world girl centers, pax lodge in london and our chalet in switzerland so we will be meeting with local scouts there and also we are in contact to meet scouts in venice and paris. additionally, we will be performing service in each of our destinations so our trip has a purpose that will extend beyond our fun memories. if you have any other tips and suggestions, thanks in advance for sharing.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
Another good restaurant on Ile St. Louis is Cafe Med. Really good food and very inexpensive. It's $15-$18 for a three course meal with great atmosphere.