Hi all,
I'm looking for cheaper accommodations around Gare du Nord. I've been to Paris, and I've done the youth hostel thing, but this trip I'm taking my mother, so I'd rather stay in a hotel. We'll be starting out in London and taking the Eurostar to Paris...and I'd like to stay around Gare du Nord...mostly because of the RER stop that we'll have to take to the airport! Any suggestions?
Check out accorhotels.com , a worldwide chain based in France. They have several different marques ranging from luxurious to very basic. They have several hotels around Gare du Nord and Est. Enter Paris and your dates, then select the portion of the map that covers the 9th, 10th, 18th, and `19th arrondissements to see their hotels around the railway stations. There's a very nice Mercure (Paris Lafayette) from about $100/night that's not far from the stations. There are also their less expensive Ibis hotels closer to the stations, and cheaper.
Try the Ibis chain. I stayed at the Ibis Gare du Nord Chateau Landon. Ibis often runs specials online and you can frequently get a good deal. This particular Ibis has both air conditioning and an elevator, which your mother might appreciate. It is within walking distance to the RER, Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est as well as at least 3 Paris Metro stations. Good neighborhood - quiet and safe.
And yes, someone here will post and tell you the area around Gare du Nord is "seedy"...and, just like any large city, you will see a few homeless people and some adult video stores that are in the blocks right near the station. I had no problems staying in the area for an extended solo trip, taking public transit late at night and then walking a few blocks from the station to my hotel. I found up by the Ibis it was surrounded by all middle class Parisian families and there were good deals to be had at restaurants, cafes and stores in the neighborhood.
Right at the station are a Campanile and a Kyriad, both run on the order of a hundred euros per night.
Anything else that I can think of close by might be a little unsophisticated for mom.
There's an ETAP at Porte de St Ouen, but that would entail a ten minute walk to the metro and one line change going to either Paris Nord or into the heart of the city. It runs about fifty euros. Some folks might balk at the area, but I have no problem (nor does she) with my wife going out to the store or something alone at night.
Husband and I stayed in the Ibis located there. Found it to be very nice, friendly staff, decent decor, plentiful breakfast and A/C. We were extremely happy about this as the week we were there in July, it was very, very hot. We came in from walking around, just drenched. Elevator was good to have too.
There was a lovely little bakery near-by with good sandwiches and we had a nice dinner in one of the Italian restaurants near the hotel.
I didn't think the area was seedy other the typical beggar types that hang out at any train station. They certainly did not bother us or even speak to us.
Nooooooooooo, Steve!
Read the post -- mom's along.
Get out and walk around and quit looking at your little diagrams.
Chatelet is the biggest mess in the city. Tunnel-hiking down there to switch lines will wear a giraffe's legs down to nubs. It's probably a half mile from one end to the other, maybe more to get to the east-west lines. Plus, you need three apps, an atlas, a radio direction finder, and maybe some bread crumbs to make sure you find the right exit.
Looks, like a super hotel, however, and the price has only crept a little bit -- good job on that. And the surroundings sure have a bit more ambiance.
Thanks for the replies, guys...but my mom is fairly young (53) and I'm 24. So, if need be, we can take a bit of a hike. I mean, goodness, the ups and downs of the Metro stairs are hikes in themselves! I checked out the Ibis, that seems like a good option, but I'm definitely open to more suggestions. =)
The things I liked best about the Ibis:
1.the low price. We had more money to do other things and I could care less whether my hotel had charm or not, I am just sleeping there. I know that staying in a charming hotel is very important to some people coming to France, so this part is personal
the closeness to the train station, we could catch the Metro from here so easily.
I enjoy walking around neighborhoods like this. Seeing all the small businesses, ethnic stores and restaurants is interesting to me.
